Nutrition Assistant

Creating Life Better Here starts with you. At San Juan Regional Medical Center, we're more than a healthcare provider—we're a values-driven organization dedicated to delivering exceptional care. As a team member, you help fulfill our mission to make life better here for our community.

Required Behaviors:

• As you go about fulfilling this mission, your work habits and work relationships should embody SJRMC's values.  These values are our culture, our identity as an organization.  Sacred Trust, Personal Reverence, Thoughtful Anticipation, Team Accountability and Creative Vitality ask more of us than merely completing some list of tasks.  Our values ask for a deeper level of commitment, and what is asked of us we freely give because we believe in our mission.

Required Qualifications:

• Must have food handler permit issued by accredited provider by 1st day worked: (https://www.env.nm.gov/fod/Food_Program/Regulation_Update.htm)
• Must be over eighteen (18) years old
• Ability to work individually and in a team
• Self-directed and motivated
• Ability to prioritize
• Excellent customer service skills (i.e., interpersonal communication skills, phone etiquette, etc.)
• Must have critical thinking skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• General computer skills
• Basic knowledge of prescription diets
• Basic knowledge of disease states and parameters (i.e., renal diseases, cardiac diseases, diabetes, etc.)
• Basic knowledge of other diets (i.e., gluten free, etc.)

Duties and Responsibilities:

Patient/Customer Service:

• Delivers appropriate menu to new patients and those with a diet change.
• Explains the ordering process to patient/family.
• Assists patients who are unable to call with a menu selection of each meal.
• Enters meals in GEMserve computer software following nutrient limits for special diets.
• Answers phones promptly and courteously.
• Guides patients through menu selection adhering to nutrient limits for special diets.
• Assists with patient meal tray assembly at any station as needed.
• Checks patient meal trays for accuracy, completeness, and quality.
• Delivers patient meal trays and snacks at the time requested by patient or the designated meal wave.
• Verifies patient’s name and date of birth with tray ticket each time patient is served.
• When appropriate moves tray table to patient and sets up tray.
• Alerts nursing staff if patient needs assistance with meals.
• Adheres to posted signage including NPO and Aspiration Precautions; checks with nursing if discrepancy noted.
• Retrieves patient meal trays within one hour of delivery and returns soiled meal trays to the dish room.
• Records patient meal intakes in electronic medical record for each meal.
• Records calorie counts when ordered.

Maintain Clean and Safe Working Environment:

• Keep the work area clean (i.e., cleans food objects on floor, wipes up spills promptly, etc.).
• Pick up objects on floor immediately.
• Follows safe food handling procedures 100% of the time.
• Maintains a clean and sanitary environment throughout shift.
• Cleans and sanitizes equipment each shift as indicated by cleaning logs.
• Log documentation reflects equipment condition.
• Uses equipment safely and properly.
• Reports any equipment issues to the supervisor.
• Follows safe food handling guidelines.
• Applies food certification training to task completion throughout shift.

Department Education:

• Attend department in-services and meetings.
• Participate in QA/PI programs when assigned.
• Complete all annual HealthStream modules successfully and on time.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work Nutrition Assistant position when scheduled (see purpose description for Nutrition Assistant).
• Help with various duties on the tray line (i.e., create trays, drinks, condiments, supplements, etc.).
• Place the trays on heated and cooled carts.
• Demonstrates willingness and follows through with other duties requested.
• Works with the Clinical Nutrition Department for the exceptional care of patients.
• Notifies Dietitian verbally or in writing of patient with poor intake or eating difficulties.
• Takes count of nourishment items daily per par list and delivers stock to units assigned.
• Cleans refrigerator.
• Labels, dates, and rotates product.
• Discards outdated items and food of unknown origin.
• Records temperatures of assigned refrigerators 100% of the time; alerts supervisor immediately if a problem is noted.
• Completes all logs and documentation in a timely manner, such as tray line cleaning.
• Maintains the snack jars and retrieves breakfast items in the Physician Lounge
• Demonstrates cooperation and willingness to always help coworkers.
• Each employee is responsible for implementing SJRMC’s Service Standards into their daily work:

                                                     Safety, Courtesy, Effectiveness, and Stewardship

• Other duties as assigned and demonstrate willingness and follows through with other assigned duties.

Physical Demands and Environmental Work Conditions:

• Extensive computer and phone usage.
• Extensive walking, standing, and sitting.
• Minimal bending and light lifting.
• Exposed to varying degrees of kitchen elements (i.e., heat, wetness, and odors).
• Exposed to loud noises within the department.
• Exposed to injuries, slips, and falls.