Inpatient Registered Dietitian

Boston Medical Center; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Medical Center is seeking an Inpatient Registered Dietitian to assess and coordinate medical nutrition therapy for hospitalized patients, interpreting physician diets and planning individualized care.

The role requires RD credential, a completed internship, and strong ability to document in the EHR, participate in rounds, and educate patients and families; rotating weekend/holiday coverage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition or related discipline; Master’s preferred.
• Must complete approved dietetic internship and be Registered Dietitian (RD).
• Experience in hospital nutrition and nutrition support beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provides nutritional care to hospitalized patients and assesses needs.
• Develops diet plans and monitors patient responses via the EHR.
• Consults with physicians on nutrition orders and recommendations.
• Educates patients and families on nutrition and diet plans.
• Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and discharge planning.

Skills

Nutrition knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Computer proficiency

Nutrition therapy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nutrition or related discipline

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY: Assesses and coordinates medical nutrition therapy and nutrition education activities for patients. Plans and provides nutritional care to patients by interpreting and adapting physician prescribed diets and nutrition support interventions to individual needs. Responsible for creating diet regimens for patients and for educating individuals on the benefits of maintaining proper dietary standards. Evaluates and assesses patient responses to diet therapy through direct interview, calculating nutrient intake and lab values and monitoring tolerance of foods, tube feedings and/or parenteral nutrition. The work of the dietitian may vary based on assigned patient population or department. Position: Inpatient Registered Dietitian Department: Nutrition Clinical Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES

• Provides nutritional care to hospitalized patients;
• reviews MD prescription for patients’ feedings and interviews patients to obtain information regarding nutrition history for guidance in planning diet or nutrition support interventions;
• assesses nutritional status based on laboratory values, medical and nutritional history and medical/surgical condition;
• develops nutritional care plans based on this information in accordance with accepted (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) standards of practice and written department protocols;
• Documents in the electronic health record (EHR) using the nutrition care process, consults with physicians regarding possible changes in diet orders or enteral nutrition regimens; develops and plans individual diet therapy including necessary supplements and tube feedings;
• Maintains record of all patients seen and recommended therapeutic action, makes referrals for follow-up nutritional care when appropriate;
• Monitors patients to determine changes in nutritional status; i.e., check weights and lab values; assess nutritional adequacy of patient’s intake of food, tube feeding or parenteral nutrition solutions as necessary;
• Recommends supplements and/or tube feedings; monitors tube feedings for tolerance and assists physician in determining changing to tube feeding regimen, including formulation selections, rate and amount as appropriate;
• Performs nutritional support assessments (including intravenous or other peripherals nutrition solutions ) as assigned;
• All clinical data is documented in the EHR based on departmental policies;
• Consults with physicians regarding managing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, suggesting interventions to help improve oral intake and assisting with GI-related interventions as needed;
• Performs Nutrition Focused Physical Exams (NFPE) on all patients, as able, to assess for malnutrition diagnosis and micronutrient deficiencies;
• Instructs patients and their families, singularly and in groups, regarding diet therapy after hospitalization; i.e., the principle of nutrition, the purpose and use of diet, food selection and preparation, and adopting food plans to individual needs;
• Participates in multidisciplinary discharge planning rounds to receive information on condition, treatment, and discharge planning of patients on assigned units ; discusses dietary requirements, treatments, diet plans and case studies;
• Participates in daily rounds with medical/surgical teams as necessary;
• Meets with the nutrition support dietitian to discuss continuity of care for critically ill patients with stabilized conditions who become the responsibility of the staff dietitian;
• Participates as needed in the weekly multidisciplinary, Nutrition Support Rounds;
• Provides in-service education in nutrition to hospital personnel (i.e. nurses, medical students and residents); compiles and develops educational materials for use in individual and group classes;
• Acts as preceptor in the education/training of dietetic interns and medical staff;
• Provides nutritional care when consulted for several malnourished and/or critically ill patients; diagnoses malnutrition and documents in EHR using BMC approved malnutrition diagnostic criteria; utilizes the nutrition-focused physical exam to assess nutritional status; evaluates patient’s nutritional needs and develops nutritional care plan; determines solutions for total parenteral nutrition and tube feedings when appropriate and submit to MD for approval as well as chart in the medical records;
• Monitors patients throughout their course to assess nutritional status; i.e., reviews daily intake, laboratory values, anthropometrics and the nutrition focused physical exam; prepares diet plans for the patient’s transition from TPN or Tube feeding, to supplements and regular food;
• May cover in other specialty areas trained for, when needed, such as NICU and pediatric units;
• Utilizes hospital’s behavioral standards as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals;
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.

OTHER DUTIES

Performs related duties as needed / as assigned (The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree required in Nutrition or related discipline (e.g. Public Health Nutrition, Dietetics/Nutrition Education, Exercise Physiology, Food and Nutrition, Food Safety, Food Science, Food Service System Management, Hospitality Management, Medical Nutrition Therapy/Human Nutrition, Nutrition Biochemistry/Metabolism, Nutrition Science, Sports Nutrition).
• Master’s degree preferred, but not required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

• Must have completed an approved dietetic internship or comparable alternate through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
• Must be credentialed as a Registered Dietitian (RD) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and maintain the registration status.
• Licensed (LDN) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure is required by the department.
• LDN (Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist) preferred.
• Additional advanced board certifications preferred for complex patient population: Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition (CSPCC), Certified Pediatric Nutrition (CSP), Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), or other advanced board certification.

EXPERIENCE

Must have completed AND-approved internship or comparable alternate.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• General clinical understanding of metabolism in relation to clinical nutrition; knowledge of food chemistry and macro/micro nutrient composition of foods.
• Work requires the interpersonal skills sufficient to explain nutritional care o patients and alleviate apprehensions, as well as effectively interact and communicate with physicians, fellows, nursing, etc.
• High level of analytical skills to interpret laboratory data, identify and plan individual nutrition therapy and assess nutrition care plans and their physiologic effect.
• Ability to work in a fast paced changing environment.
• Basic computer proficiency inclusive of ability to access, enter, and interpret computerized data/information.
• Competent to provide nutrition support to assigned population group.
• Rotating weekend and holiday coverage.

COMPENSATION RANGE

$33.36- $42.52 This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, and licensure/certifications directly related to position requirements.

BENEFITS

• In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), contract increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, earned time cash out, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family wellbeing.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER / DISABLED / VETERANS

Boston Medical Center is an equal employment/affirmative action employer. We ensure equal employment opportunities for all, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or any other non-job-related characteristic.

BACKGROUND CHECK AND VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

Boston Medical Center participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. As an E-Verify employer, prospective employees of BMC must complete a background check before beginning their employment at the hospital.

BMC requires all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu, as well as receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.