Dietetic Assistant

The County of Santa Clara; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Santa Clara is seeking a Dietetic Assistant to support hospital dietary services. You will assist in collecting nutrition data, processing diet orders, and guiding patients in menu selections within their prescribed dietary plans.

Working under supervision, you will collaborate with Registered Dietitians and food service staff to ensure accurate diet orders, proper tray assembly, and clear communication with patients and families.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school and completion of a Dietetic Assistant program OR 30 semester units in nutrition coursework, with related experience.
• Knowledge of diet orders, nutrition principles, and patient education.
• Ability to interview patients, collect diet information, and explain dietary restrictions.
• Proficiency with basic computer applications and record-keeping practices.
• Good communication with patients, families, and staff in English.

Responsibilities

• Process diet orders and update patient menu information in the diet system.
• Inform cooks of diet changes and ensure accuracy of modifications.
• Interview patients to obtain dietetic information including allergies and preferences.
• Assist in calculating calories and nutrient content for prescribed feeds.
• Explain dietary principles and restrictions to patients and families.
• Maintain and reconcile diet orders with Registered Dietitian requests.

Skills

Communication

Patient interaction

Judgment

Attention to detail

Record keeping

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma

Dietetic Assistant program (AND approved)

30 semester units in nutrition coursework

Experience as Dietetic Assistant

Two years institutional food preparation with nutrition course

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Databases

Job description

Under supervision, to perform specialized clerical duties in an institutional kitchen; to monitor tray line assembly in a hospital or correctional facility kitchen, to assist patients in selecting menu items; and to assist Registered Dietitians in collecting nutrition assessment data for patient education.

The established list may be used for full-time/part-time/extra help/pm shifts/weekends vacancies as they occur.

Because we serve patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics, you may have to work at different sites. We will meet any obligations we may have when this occurs.

The Power of WE: Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes three acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.

Because we serve patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics, you may have to work at different sites. We will meet any obligations we may have when this occurs.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - SCVMC is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.

O'Connor Hospital - O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

St. Louise Regional Hospital - Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.

Regional Medical Center - Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.

Learn more about Santa Clara Valley Healthcare: https://www.scvh.org/home and follow us on: LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/county-of-santa-clara/

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• Processes and implements diet orders and diet order changes by completing or modifying individual patient menu information on a form or by entering into the Food Service Unit's diet system;
  
• Informs the appropriate cook of diet changes ordered;
  
• Interviews patients to obtain pertinent dietetic information, such as allergies, food preference, food intolerances, texture modifications, and/or religious dietary restrictions;
  
• Tallies specialized menu items requested for assembling meals;
  
• Receives and transmits phone messages between Physicians, nursing staff, Dietitians, and the kitchen staff;
  
• Monitors and labels prepared food trays for compliance with diet orders, cleanliness, and attractiveness;
  
• May set up menus for the tray assembly line;
  
• On request, calculates calorie, protein, and carbohydrate content of specified feedings;
  
• Assists patients in making selections of menu items within their prescribed dietary pattern, ensuring nutritional balance and that special restrictions are observed;
  
• Explains dietary principles and special restrictions to patients and relatives, as appropriate;
  
• Reconciles patient menu selections to ensure conformance with diet orders and Registered Dietitian's requests and advises appropriate parties of discrepancies;
  
• Updates diet file to confirm the diet modifications;
  
• May oversee and participate in the distribution of meal trays and/or between meal nourishments;
  
• Acts as trayline checker and/or provides direction to food service staff who are performing trayline duties;
  
• Keeps track of supplies as necessary;
  
• May assist in special dietary related projects;
  
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
  
• Performs other related duties as required.

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through graduation from high school

and

Successful completion of a Dietetic Assistant program approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics;

OR

Possession of 30 semester units (45 quarter units) in nutrition coursework, including diet therapy;

OR

One (1) year of experience equivalent to a Dietetic Assistant in the County of Santa Clara working under the direct supervision of a Registered Dietitian.

OR

Two (2) years of experience in institutional food preparation, including modified diets, and completion of one (1) college level course in nutrition.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of food preparation and service;
  
• Basic principles of nutrition;
  
• Special diets;
  
• Kitchen sanitation methods;
  
• Record keeping methods;
  
• Common computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases;
  
• Basic arithmetic.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with co-workers;
  
• Meet, guide, interview, instruct, and deal tactfully with patients regarding diet;
  
• Exercise independent judgment and decision making;
  
• Work accurately with figures and other detail;
  
• Maintain a record system and operate office equipment;
  
• Follow written and oral instructions in English.