Registered Dietitian - Outpatient Oncology

ADCES Connect; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

St. Luke's University Health Network seeks a registered dietitian to provide comprehensive nutrition care to cancer patients across hospital and clinic settings. You will assess, plan, monitor and counsel, with documentation in the EMR, while collaborating with the oncology team to optimize patient outcomes.

You will educate patients and families, contribute to community outreach, and participate in quality improvement activities, maintaining confidentiality and high standards of service.

Qualifications

• Registered Dietitian with ACEND-accredited credentialing and state licensure.
• Masters degree required by 2024 or grandfathered bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in hospital-based nutrition care is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, monitor, and counsel on medical nutrition therapy for hospitalized patients.
• Document nutrition assessments and interventions in the EMR.
• Collaborate with oncology team and inpatient nutrition staff.
• Provide patient and family education on diet and nutrition.
• Participate in PI/quality improvement and research activities as appropriate.
• Lead or participate in community outreach and education programs.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Time management

Organizational skills

Counseling skills

Problem solving

Education

Active dietetic registration (DPD/CPD + DI)

Masters degree or BA grandfathered

Tools

EMR documentation

Job description

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

• Plans, implements, and evaluates individualized and targeted nutrition therapies for cancer patients
• Provides evidence-based practice nutrition recommendations
• Provide patient focused education to patients and their significant others.
• Serves as an advocate for cancer patients by identifying, creating and implementing programs to address their needs
• Participates in support groups, presentations as requested
• Attends bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly meetings/others as requested
• Develops web forum, pod casts, written patient resources
• Be available by phone or email for patient questions
• Functions as support person for cancer patients
• Works collaboratively within oncology and with the inpatient nutrition team
• Serves as a cancer and nutrition resource
• Participates in oncology department PI/research as appropriate
• Supports oncology activities within the St. Luke's University Health Network
• Develops and presents community outreach and patient education classes
• Possesses the ability to creatively problem solve, work independently with minimal supervision and make decisions while working within a self-directed and team-oriented work environment
• Has excellent interpersonal communication skill, the ability to interact with a wide variety of individuals and groups
• Possesses strong time management and organizational skills
• Utilizes adaptive counseling skills to meet needs of a diverse client base
• Develops and follows through on performance improvement/quality improvement activities focusing on ways to improve processes and outcomes.
• Provides an innovative approach to nutrition and oncology care
• CSO or experience in oncology is a plus

Responsible for providing comprehensive, high quality nutritional care to patients in the hospital, clinics, and related entities. This includes, but is not limited to: assessments, care planning, monitoring, and diet counseling/ instructions for patients/families. RD will make appropriate recommendations to physicians. Assessments will be documented in the electronic medical record or on the network paper nutrition assessment form. Other duties may include outpatient counseling, research, teaching, or community service. Implements/conducts professional and business practices in order to uphold St. Luke’s University Health Network mission and values.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Refer to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Standards of Practice (SOP) and Standards of Professional Performance (SOPP) for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to evaluate individual skills and competencies for providing care to individuals.Demonstrates competence in the assessment, range of treatment, appropriate to the population served.

• Acquires additional on-the-job skills and engages in tailored continuing education to further enhance knowledge and skills obtained with formal education. Obtains technical training and professional interaction for advancement and expanding breadth of competence.

• Independently works to prioritize and provide routine medical nutrition therapy according to theoretical concepts and established evidence-based standards of care.

• Through the nutrition screening process, proceed with the appropriate nutrition diagnosis and intervention to provide optimal patient outcomes.

• Coordinates all phases of nutrition care including nutrition assessment, care planning, monitoring, education and counseling of hospitalized patients in a variety of settings.

• Performs duties in support of and in compliance with customer satisfaction initiatives, performance improvement plans, The Joint Commission, and other licensing, accrediting, and regulatory agencies.

• Provides care to patients implementing medical nutrition therapy for basic and complex patients in assigned areas.

• Precepts dietetic interns and actively participates in department area projects. May suggest projects and outcome studies and participate in the data collection.

• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team such as in rounds, individual consultation and formal/informal teaching.

• Participates in community activities.

• Actively seeks solutions to problems/systems/issues.

• Completes assigned Performance Improvement Activities

• Maintains confidentiality of all information/materials handles within the network/ entity as well as proper release of information.

• Complies with network and departmental policies regarding issues of employee, patient, and environmental safety, and follows appropriate reporting requirements.

• Provides patients, visitors, and co-workers with outstanding customer service. Demonstrates/models the network’s service excellence standards of performance in interactions with all customers (internal and external)

• Demonstrates financial responsibility and accountability through the effective and efficient use of resources in daily procedures, processes, and practices.

• Maintains/exceeds required productivity target.

• Is able/willing to cover at other campuses as needed.

• Other related duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Sitting for up to five (5) hours per day, one (1) hour at a time. Standing for up to two (2) hours per day, at one (1) hour at a time. Walking for one (1) hour per day, ten (10) minutes at a time. Frequent use of fingers in operation of computer. Frequent writing, twisting and turning with whole hands. Rare lifting of objects weighing up to ten (10) pounds. Rarely stooping, bending or reaching above shoulder level. Hearing as it relates to normal conversation. Seeing as it relates to normal vision and frequent use of color computer monitor.

EDUCATION:

Active dietetic registration through Successful completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) plus Dietetic Internship (DI) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and Licensed as appropriate per state requirements. Masters degree as required by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (effective Jan. 1, 2024) or bachelors degree grandfathered prior to this update.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Active dietetic registration, and for Pennsylvania:PA state license maintained through PA state nursing board.

St. Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.