Employment Type:

Full time

Shift:

Day Shift

Description:

SCOPE OF SERVICE/CUSTOMER:
Collaborates with members of the health care team to provide optimal medical nutrition therapy in accordance with established standards of care. Identifies patients at risk and assesses nutrition needs according to age specific physiological and developmental assessment criteria. Designs, coordinates and implements nutrition care plans, monitors outcomes of intervention and adjusts when indicated. Participates in performance improvement, employee/staff training, hospital committees, policy development, menu/product review and development of educational materials. Evaluates and maintains professional development/competency. Provides care to neonate to elderly clients in inpatient, outpatient, and shared service settings. Supports the highest possible patient satisfaction levels.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8a-4:30p
No weekends, no holidays

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Adheres to the principles of caring and expected behaviors outlined in MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center's Model of Caring and Trinity Health's Code of Conduct, fostering a climate where all customers are treated in a manner consistent with MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center's Mission and Values.
2. Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations, Trinity Health’s Organizational Integrity Program, Standards of Conduct, as well as other policies and procedures in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical and professional behavior
3. Patient Care – Performs key functions of nutrition care according to policy including; nutrition screening, assessments, development of care plan and follow up monitoring/reassessment.
a) Implements quality practice by following system policies, procedures, practice guidelines, Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) protocols and organizational ethics.
b) Collaborates with patient and/or family and health care team to assess, develop care plan, monitor and evaluate outcomes. Identifies, monitors and evaluates enteral and parenteral nutrition support regimens
c) Develops and implements transitional feeding plans. Utilizes resources throughout the continuum of care to foster patient outcomes. Communicates nutrition care issues through interdisciplinary care rounds, individual consultation with health care team members and appropriate documentation in the medical record.
d) Acts as a liaison between patient care units and food service operations.
4. Education – Educates patients, family members/caregivers, healthcare team, and the community. Assesses learning needs, barriers to learning, educational level and provides education accordingly.
a) Collaborates with health care team, patient, family members/caregivers, and community partners to assess educational needs and develop/implement education plan.
b) May conducts classes on sound nutrition practices for patients and community members.
c) May provide in-services to health care team members
d) Communicates nutrition education issues through appropriate documentation, consultation with individual health care team member(s) and participation in interdisciplinary care rounds.
e) Develops nutrition education materials/tools, researching source materials and submitting revisions for peer review.
f) Actively markets services to physicians and other referral sources.
g) Obtains and continually updates all insurance information to ensure patient is aware of cost of counseling.
h) Works with coding and finance departments to ensure all consults are appropriately billed.
5. Patient Service – Directs nutritional care of patients on assigned units.
a) May conducts patient rounds to determine adequacy of intake and assesses acceptability of meals, service and overall patient satisfaction.
b) Recommends appropriate patient satisfaction and care processes/programs.
c) Communicates and documents pertinent service information accurately through appropriate communication channels.
6. Quality Assessment & Performance Improvement – Evaluates the quality and effectiveness of practice/services and recommends revision(s) to incorporate results of evaluation. Participates in interdepartmental and intradepartmental performance improvement activities related to patient care and service.
a) Identifies performance improvement criteria for nutrition care.
b) Assists in development of departmental standards of care. Utilizes outcome data to improve patient care and nutrition processes.
7. Prepares professional goals, objectives and plans to facilitate personal and departmental growth, specific to patient population served. Complies with regulations and continuing education requirements regarding licensure with the state of Iowa and registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
8. Specialized services – Directs patient care (#3 & #5), education (#4), and quality assessment and performance improvement (#6) for patients in specialized areas.
a) Administration and instruction in Certified Diabetes Education Program. Certified Diabetes Educator certification preferred, but not required.
b) Long-term/skilled care and Critical Access Hospital contracts within and outside of MercyOne Dubuque.
c) Cancer Center nutrition care, Certified Oncology Specialist preferred, but not required.
9. Performs other related duties as assigned or required.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
1. Strong verbal and written communication skills along with excellent interpersonal skills.
2. Independent problem solving, decision-making, time management and leadership skills to perform job duties.
3. Computer skills required. Familiarity with an electronic medical record system preferred.
4. Self-starter and motivated individual who can perform job duties with limited supervision.
5. Ability to interpret and evaluate medical, nutritional and related data.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
1. Frequently (21-90% of work time) sits, stands, and walks.
2. Job requires occasional (6-10% of work time) bending, stooping, and reaching.
3. Job requires the ability to lift and carry approximately 10 lbs.
4. Must have fine motor skills in order to grasp and manipulate items.
5. Must be able to see at a near visual acuity level. Must be able to speak and hear speech.
6. Must adhere to applicable organizational requirements on an annual basis for Employee Health
Directives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
(EDUCATION, LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED):
1. Bachelor’s degree in Coordinated Program or Dietetic Program in Dietetics and Dietetic
Internship or pre-professional practice program accredited by the Accreditation Counsel on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
2. Registered with Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Licensed or eligible to be licensed with the State of Iowa.
3. One year of experience in hospital setting is preferred.
4. Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training is required within 6 months of hire and every 3years thereafter.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Trinity Health is a family of 115,000 colleagues and nearly 26,000 physicians and clinicians across 25 states. Because we serve diverse populations, our colleagues are trained to recognize the cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of the communities that we serve and to apply that knowledge to produce positive health outcomes. We also recognize that each of us has a different way of thinking and perceiving our world and that these differences often lead to innovative solutions.

Our dedication to diversity includes a unified workforce (through training and education, recruitment, retention, and development), commitment and accountability, communication, community partnerships, and supplier diversity.