CLINICAL DIETITIAN SPECIALIST

UNM HOSPITALS; Monte Largo Hills (NM); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation assistance

Job summary

UNM Hospitals in New Mexico seeks a nutrition professional to deliver Medical Nutrition Therapy, assess nutritional status, and implement care plans within the Food and Nutrition team.

The role emphasizes evidence-based practice, patient education, and collaboration with healthcare staff across diverse age groups, including neonate to geriatric, with opportunities for credentialed advancement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nutrition or dietetics required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 6 months of directly related experience required.
• Advanced credentials (CDR/NBNSC/NCBDE) may qualify for Specialist designation.

Responsibilities

• Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols
• Perform nutrition screening, assessments and care-plan development
• Monitor clinical indicators and anthropometric data to assess nutrition status
• Provide nutrition education to patients and families
• Direct the nutrition care aides and supervise interns as a preceptor
• Maintain accurate records to meet regulatory guidelines
• Collaborate with the health care team on rounds and staff teaching

Skills

Medical Nutrition Therapy

Dietary assessment

Patient education

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nutrition/Dietetics

Master's degree

Job description

Selected candidate is eligible for a $15,000 sign on bonus and relocation assistance.

Candidates that have advanced credentials from CDR, NBNSC, or NCBDE or Master's Degree in Nutrition, and at least one year of directly related experience may be eligible for a Specialist designation and increased compensation.

Compensation Disclaimer

Compensation for this role is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to experience, education, and other business and organizational considerations.

Department: Food and Nutrition - UH

FTE: 1.00
Full Time
Shift: Days

Position Summary:
Collaborate with members of the healthcare team to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy, and monitor the effectiveness and outcomes of nutrition interventions. Evaluates the nutritional status of patients utilizing diet recall/history, physical appearance, oral intake, laboratory values, and by performing anthropometric measurements. Complete patient assessments and implement interventional strategies to improve nutrition status of medically complex patients. Effectively apply advanced level of knowledge and/or evidence-based research to improve patient care. Provide nutrition education to patients and family members. Manage delivery of nutrition care services on assigned units. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment may include neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric age groups.

Detailed responsibilities:

• PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols
• PATIENT CARE - Perform key functions of nutrition care according to system policy including nutrition screening, assessments, development of care plans
• PATIENT CARE - Follow-up monitoring/reassessment of patients identified to be at nutrition risk; base clinical practice on sound scientific principles, current research and theory
• NUTRITION - Direct the nutrition care aides in assuring that patients receive nutrition care that meets the nutrition therapy care plan
• NUTRITION - Identify, monitor, and evaluate effectiveness of enteral and parenteral nutrition support regimes
• PATIENT CARE - Provide care according to organization ethics, licensure, and the Standards of Professional practice for Dietetics professionals
• PATIENT CARE - Assess patient's learning needs and provide nutrition education appropriate to patient's literacy and/or cognitive ability
• COMMUNICATION - Share knowledge and expertise with other health care team members through activities such as participating in patient care rounds, in-services to staff, participation on assigned committees and teaching classes
• PRECEPTOR - Serve as a preceptor for dietetic interns in applying nutrition knowledge and skills
• RECORDS - Maintain accurate records to meet regulatory agency guidelines and assist in statistical analysis of data
• DEVELOPMENT - Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops
• PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes
• PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk
• PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner
• PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right"
• RESEARCH - Locate, review, and utilize evidence-based best practices to improve patient outcomes

Qualifications

Education:

• Essential: Bachelor's Degree
• Nonessential: Master's Degree

Education specialization:

• Essential: Related Discipline
• Nonessential: Related Discipline

Experience:

• Essential: 1/2 year (6 months) directly related experience
• Nonessential: 1 year directly related experience