Nutrition Assistant II

Penrose Hospital; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

CommonSpirit Health in Colorado Springs seeks a Nutrition Assistant II to support healthcare food service operations. You will help prepare and serve meals that meet prescribed diets and allergies, while maintaining safety and hygiene standards.

You will work with facility staff to ensure accurate portions, appealing presentation, and compassionate patient care. Using diet manuals and electronic records, you will align meals with orders and assist with nutrition reporting and service excellence.

Qualifications

• 1 year of food service experience required.
• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• If a Food Handler Permit is required by state/county/local health code, obtain it within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve food according to menu and dietary requirements, using appropriate kitchen equipment and considering food allergies.
• Adhere to healthcare foodservice standards and regulations by monitoring temperatures, preventing cross-contamination, maintaining hygiene, and proper labeling/storage of food and equipment.
• Provide high-quality patient experience through accurate meal portioning, appealing presentation, and service recovery; escalate issues to leadership when needed.
• Follow therapeutic diet modifications and allergy restrictions for patient meals, using electronic diet office software and health records to access diet orders and nutritional reports.
• Explain basic therapeutic diets to patients and families, collect food preferences, and escalate complex nutrition questions to the support team.
• Support department operations by managing production tools, cleaning work areas, and performing other duties as assigned by leadership.

Skills

Food service experience

Customer service

Food allergy awareness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Nutrition Assistant II, you will participate in and support all aspects of healthcare food service operations. You will play a key role in ensuring that our dietary services are executed efficiently and in full compliance with established standards.

Every day, you will work with facility staff to provide optimal nutritional care to our patients. By utilizing the diet manual handbook and diet spreadsheets, you will ensure that every meal served is in strict compliance with the patient's prescribed diet order.

To be successful in your role, you will demonstrate excellent customer service to patients, guests, and staff. Your ability to combine technical accuracy with a compassionate, professional approach is essential to delivering high-quality nutritional support.

• Prepare and serve food according to menu and dietary requirements, utilizing necessary kitchen equipment while maintaining knowledge of ingredients to address food allergy requests.

• Adhere to healthcare foodservice standards and regulations by monitoring food temperatures, preventing cross-contamination, maintaining personal hygiene, and ensuring proper labeling and storage of all food, equipment, and machinery.

• Provide a high-quality patient experience by ensuring accurate meal portioning, aesthetic presentation, and service recovery, escalating issues to leadership when necessary.

• Follow therapeutic diet modifications and allergy restrictions for all patient meals, nourishments, and snacks, while utilizing electronic diet office software and health records to access diet orders and nutritional reports.

• Act as a communication liaison by explaining basic therapeutic diets to patients and families, collecting food preferences, and escalating complex clinical nutrition questions to the appropriate support team.

• Support efficient department operations by managing production tools, performing general cleaning of work areas and equipment, and completing other duties as assigned by leadership.

Job Requirements

• One (1) year food service experience
• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• If a Food Handler Permit is a requirement by your state, county or local health code, you must obtain it within 30 days of hire or what is required by your state, county or local health code.*
• Arizona - Maricopa, Yavapai - ANSI Accredited FHP or ServSafe
• California - Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego
• Kansas - Leavenworth
• Kentucky - Jessamine, Fayette, Madison, Montgomery
• Nebraska - Lancaster
• Nevada - Clark
• Oregon
• Texas - ANSI Accredited FHP or Servsafe
• Utah
• Washington - Food Handler Permit required upon hire

Where You'll Work

Penrose - St. Francis Health Services is a full-service, 712-bed acute care provider in Colorado Springs comprising Penrose Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and St. Francis Hospital - Interquest. Penrose Hospital serves as the anchor hospital of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services with 300-licensed beds and the ability to provide tertiary (high tech) medical-surgical services with an emphasis on elective and outpatient care. Established in 1890, Penrose Hospital has grown to become a major health treatment and referral center, specializing in cancer care, cardiac care, emergency trauma care and physical rehabilitation. It's an incredible time to join us as we are a proud Magnet Hospital with designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for superior quality in nursing care. With more than 300 days of annual sunshine, mild winters and easy-to-access recreational areas like Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and some of Colorado's top destination resorts, you will enjoy an incredible lifestyle while having the career you've always wanted.