Full Time Temporary Aide - Dietitian II - Registered Dietitian - Nutrition Services- CMHHIP

State of Colorado; Pueblo County (CO); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo is seeking a Temporary Aide – Dietitian II (Registered Dietitian) for full-time, in-person work at CMHHIP. The role focuses on clinical medical nutrition therapy, nutrition diagnoses, and care planning within a mental health hospital setting.

The position requires a valid RD license, five years of related experience, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams. End date is 2027-06-30; residency is required. 100% in-person at the Pueblo site.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of relevant experience in dietetics or nutrition.
• Current, valid Registered Dietitian license must be attached.
• Bachelor’s degree in dietetics or related field; ACEND didactic program completed.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential required.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical nutrition therapy to patients in a hospital setting.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop nutrition care plans.
• Document nutrition care processes in the patient record.
• Assess and monitor nutrition status and outcomes for patients at risk.
• Adhere to HIPAA, state regulations, and hospital policies.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal relations

Analytical thinking

Customer focus

Education

Bachelor's degree in dietetics

ACEND Didactic Program in Dietetics

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (CDR)

Tools

Nutrition software

Job description

Department Information

Temporary full-time position.

Temporary Aide - Dietitian II - Registered Dietitian - Full Time - Nutrition Services

Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)

1600 W 24th St, Pueblo, CO 81003

Shift details will be discussed during the interview process

100% In-Person

Anticipated End Date: 6/30/2027

Please note: this position is open to current Colorado residents only. This position requires to work at the assigned work location during scheduled work times.

About us

As a cornerstone of the Pueblo community for over a century, the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo is a leading employer, provider of quality mental health services, and a community partner.

About The Nutrition Services Department

The Nutrition Services Department exists to provide quality food service and medical nutrition therapy to more than 1600 clients in a mental health care facility and the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC). With over 100 employees, the department strives, within available resources, to provide adequate nutrition to clients based on medical, spiritual, ethnic, cultural, and mental health needs.

About This Position

Registered Dietitians fulfill a didactic role in providing clinical dietetic services and managing the food service subsystems/resources in the execution of the department's mission as stated above. The purpose of this position is to provide medical nutrition therapy to patients in a mental health hospital setting. The position works closely with departmental and interdisciplinary teams to provide inpatient care. Utilizes the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology to assess nutrition status, identify nutrition diagnoses, and develop, implement, and evaluate outcomes of nutrition care plans for patients at nutrition risk.

Position Duties

Medical Nutrition Therapy

Role

• Nutrition Assessment: Independently assesses the nutrition status of patients by systematically collecting, recording, and interpreting relevant complex data from patients, hospital clinicians, caregivers, and other individuals and groups. Utilizes food/nutrition-related history; anthropometric measurements; biochemical data, medical tests and procedures; nutrition-focused physical findings; and patient history to determine factors affecting nutrition and health status, and compares data to criteria, relevant norms, and standards for interpretation and decision-making. Organizes and categorizes the data in a meaningful framework that links nutrition assessment parameters with nutrition diagnoses, and determines when a problem requires consultation with or referral to another health care professional.
• Nutrition Diagnosis: Finds patterns and relationships among the nutrition assessment data to identify a nutrition problem that can be resolved or improved through medical nutrition therapy. Prioritizes the relative importance of problems for patient safety. Utilizes standard nutrition diagnostic terminology to write a PES (problem, etiology, and signs/symptom) statement that describes the problem, its root cause, and the assessment data that provides evidence for the nutrition diagnosis.
• Nutrition Intervention/Plan of Care: Formulates a nutrition intervention plan based on the nutrition diagnosis and its etiology that prioritizes diagnoses based on urgency, impact, and available resources including Standards of Practice (SOPs), up-to-date medical nutrition therapy practices/evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines; coordinates care with other healthcare professionals; and considers patients’ rights and expected outcomes.
• Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation: Studies and identifies patient outcomes relevant to the nutrition diagnosis and intervention plans and goals to determine the amount of progress made and whether goals/expected outcomes are being met. Monitor and measure outcomes by selecting nutrition care indicators that are relevant to the nutrition diagnosis and its etiology and signs/symptoms, as well as to the nutrition intervention, medical diagnosis, and quality management goals for nutrition, patient population, and disease state and/or severity.
• Documentation and Communication: Documents relevant, accurate, and timely information performed in the Nutrition Care Process in the patient’s electronic medical record. Communicates and influences treatment interventions determined by the healthcare team through interdisciplinary team meetings, rounds, and nutrition-related in-services; serves as a subject matter expert and resource of nutrition. Works collaboratively with food service staff and other RD/RDNs to ensure conformance and continuation of the individualized nutrition care plan.

Quality Improvement And Regulatory Compliance

• Operates independently as a fully operational professional to design and implement continuous quality improvement activities for nutrition care services.
• Utilizes professional discretion and creativity to evaluate patient council and surveys client input to enhance food service operations.
• Interrelates with other departments to exchange information, elicit support, and in collaborative decision- making.
• Serves on committees and oral boards at the hospital, CDHS, and state level.
• Participates in planning, developing, and implementing nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals.
• Assists in developing and revising patient or staff education materials, clinical forms and protocols.
• Demonstrates accountability with rules for use and disclosure of patient/client protected health information requested by HIPPA.
• Assures the care delivered to each patient is in accordance with state regulation and licensing, certification, or registration for the nutrition and dietetics practitioner.
• Assists in achieving compliance with the Joint Commission and other accrediting agency standards to continuously improve both the safety and quality of care for the patient/client and the organization’s overall performance.
• Complies with state and federal requirements set forth under CMS.
• Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities.
• Develops and maintains positive and trusted working relationships.

Standards of Practice

• Responsible for creating and finalizing designated menus in compliance with regulatory standards, the defined diet manual, the menu guide, and explicit facility needs.
• Uses nutrition software to build and manage patient-specific menus, food allergies, and specialized texture modifications.
• Assesses and updates nutrition standards of practice for the Registered Dietitian at the CMHHIP.
• Develops recommendations and provides critical evaluation on clinical nutrition-related policies and procedures.
• Supports review and development of clinical nutrition protocols and menus for use within the hospital.
• Participates in nutrition projects and communicates findings through reports, presentations, etc.
• Develops and implements an individualized portfolio plan based on competencies and performance indicators that demonstrate professional growth and development.
• Continuously improves performance to advance knowledge based on applied practice-informed evidence and feedback from others.
• Applies Scope of Practice and Standards of Practice (SOPs) tools for credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners.
• Communicates effectively with patients and staff through professional communications, writing, and presentations.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or Appointing Authority.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience must be specifically documented in the work experience section of your application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must attach a CURRENT and VALID Registered Dietician license to be considered for this position. Failure to provide the required documentation will remove your application from consideration.

Experience

• Five (5) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position
• Acceptable relevant experience in: dietetics experience or nutrition experience as a licensed dietitian , registered as a dietitian with the American Dietetics Association (Please submit required license at time of application).

Education And Experience

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to five (5) years
• Related education in: Bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or related area, granted by the US regionally accredited college or university, or foreign equivalent. Completion of required dietetics coursework and supervised practice through a Didactic Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Position must possess Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential by the Commission of Dietetics Registration (CDR).

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in Google Suite and GMAIL
• Experience in behavior health or eating disorders
• Clinical experience in hospital setting or high security facility

Key Competencies

Communication

• Provides clear and consistent written and verbal communications and counseling.
• Communicates comprehensive knowledge and application of nutrition services.
• Communicates clearly and effectively with patients, the public, and hospital and medical staff through professional communications, technical writing, and presentations.

Interpersonal Relations

• Develops and maintains positive and trusted working relationships.
• Addresses customer, client, and employee concerns and needs.
• Treats all with respect, dignity, and compassion.

Technical Knowledge

• Possesses knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology (NCPT).

Analytical Thinking

• Systematically gathers information from a variety of sources and utilizes critical thinking to integrate facts, informed opinions, active listening, and observations.
• Analyzes information to help identify implications, solutions, and conclusions based on appropriate data.

Customer Focus

• Demonstrates service excellence and patient- and family-centered care by showing respect, honesty, fairness, and a positive attitude toward all customers.
• Strives for high customer satisfaction when working with patients, families, coworkers, other departments, physicians/providers, and the community.
• Meets customer service needs quickly and effectively; takes action to review and remedy customer complaints.

Conditions of Employment

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges.
• Full Background - Name and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification, Drug Screen, Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS
• May be required to travel to offsite trainings, meetings and conferences
• May be required to work nights and weekends
• Must possess and maintain registration as a registered dietitian
• Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials
• Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal, or financial relationships with patients during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates the relationship; all relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application.
• Ability to read, write, and fluently communicate in English to successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum, relevant clinical competency assessments, and institutional safety and security protocols.
• Demonstrate the physical endurance to navigate a large, multi-building hospital campus, which requires extended periods of walking, standing during interdisciplinary rounds, and the ability to safely maneuver through clinical units to conduct in-person patient nutritional assessments.
• May be designated as a \"Critical\" or \"Essential\" employee, requiring compliance with mandatory emergency reporting requirements and attendance during adverse weather, facility emergencies, or public health crises to ensure continuous clinical and dietary operations for the hospital.
• Ability to work compliantly and safely in a high-security, locked psychiatric environment, which includes strictly adhering to facility protocols regarding contraband, key control, and emergency de-escalation, while maintaining composure during unpredictable or volatile patient interactions.
• Comply with mandatory emergency reporting requirements to ensure continuous facility operations during adverse situations.
• Must successfully complete a 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening upon hire and maintain compliance with annual influenza vaccinations and any other vaccinations required by the State of Colorado.
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
  • Disclose that information on the application.
  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
  • Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment. This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL” of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.