Nutrition Assistant

CommonSpirit Health; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield, part of CommonSpirit Health, is seeking a Nutrition Assistant to support patient meal service and staff dining. You will help prepare and deliver meal trays, assist with food preparation, and maintain clean, safe work areas while following dietary guidelines.

The role emphasizes attention to detail, food safety, and excellent customer service to ensure a positive dining experience for patients and colleagues.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED upon hire.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• None, upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and deliver patient meal trays and assist with food preparation.
• Maintain cleanliness and food safety compliance in work areas.
• Monitor temperatures and prevent cross-contamination during cooking, holding, and storage.
• Assist with cashiering or serving in the retail area, when required.
• Support inventory maintenance and general cleaning of equipment and work areas.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As a Nutrition Assistant, you will assist in delivering high-quality, safe, and efficient food services to patients and staff.

Every day you will prepare and deliver meal trays, assist with food preparation, maintain cleanliness, ensure food safety compliance, and interact with patients regarding dietary needs.

To be successful, you will demonstrate meticulous attention to detail, strong food safety knowledge, and excellent customer service, contributing to a positive dining experience.

• Follows healthcare foodservice industry standards, regulations, guidelines and procedures including monitoring and maintaining food temperatures during cooking, holding, and storage processes. Avoids cross-contamination of foods and adheres to personal hygiene requirements. Maintains proper labeling of food products and ensures storage of food equipment, and machinery per regulations & facility guidelines.
• Prepares and serves food within guidelines of menu & dietary requirements using required kitchen utensils and equipment. Maintains knowledge of recipe ingredients to respond to food allergy questions or requests.
• Follows organizational standards and guidelines for a high quality patient and customer experience. Ensures proper meal portioning and an aesthetically pleasing presentation
• May be responsible for one or more of the following:
  • Cashiering
  • Serving in the retail area
  • Assembling, delivering and retrieving patient trays
  • Performing cold food prep
  • Performing utility assignments (e.g., dishwashing, washing pots & pans, maintaining equipment)
  • Performing catering functions and or delivering/picking up catered food
  • Supporting inventory maintenance duties
  • Performing general cleaning of equipment and work areas (e.g., mopping, sweeping, emptying trash cans, etc.)

Job Requirements

Required

• High School Graduate General Studies, upon hire or
• High School GED General Studies, upon hire or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience
• None, upon hire

Where You'll Work

Founded in 1910, Dignity Health - Mercy Hospital is a 229-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Bakersfield, California. Serving nearly 90,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including Level II NICU, cancer care, women’s health, and orthopedics. Additionally, Mercy Hospital Downtown & Mercy Hospital Southwest have been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. They are both Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Centers. Mercy Hospital Downtown offers the only inpatient Oncology Unit in Bakersfield while Mercy Hospital Southwest has the only Obstetric Emergency Department in Bakersfield.

One Community. One Mission. One California