Registered Dietitian Advanced Practice

Primary Purpose
Provides advanced level nutrition care to patients at risk. Trains others in the practice and principles of nutrition therapy. Participates in institution/department initiatives for the purpose of improved patient care including quality assurance, performance management, practice guideline and competency development projects and committees.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education

• Must have a Bachelors degree in Food and Nutrition.
• Prefer Master's degree in Food and Nutrition.

Experience

• Three (3) years of related dietetic experience in a hospital or comparable institutional setting.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• May have an equivalent combination of education and/or experience in lieu of specific education and/or experience as stated above.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must be a registered dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (A.N.D.).
• Must be licensed to practice dietetics by the Texas Board of Dietitians.
• Must show evidence of one of the following or obtain within six months from date of hire:
• Certified Nutrition Support Clinician with the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification (NBNSC).
• Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with the National Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education.
• Certified in one of the following: Pediatric Nutrition, Renal Nutrition, Oncology Nutrition, Gerontological Nutrition, Obesity and Weight Management, or Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (A.N.D.).

Skills or Special Abilities

• Must be able to demonstrate an advanced knowledge of nutrition and support practices.
• Must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with departmental personnel, hospital staff, and vendors.
• Must be able to demonstrate basic computer skills with a working knowledge of various software programs and electronic medical record charting.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors.

Responsibilities

• Screens patients for nutritional risk, when applicable. Works closely with physicians and support staff to ensure that nutritional needs are being met. Develops individualized care plans in accordance with each patient's schedule, preferences, age, disease state, and resources. Assesses and reassesses nutritional status of patients with high risk or who are part of a specialty population at advanced level. Documents pertinent objective and subjective data pertaining to patient status and care and makes necessary entries to patient charts and records.
• Instructs, educates and counsels patients of all ages and their significant others in nutritional therapy. Individualizes instructions based on patient’s preferences, resources, ethnicity, language, and literacy level. Provides age appropriate educational material and adapts teaching method based on needs.
• Serves as leader in specialty practice areas of nutrition, establishing practice guidelines, developing competency measures and establishing professional goals in the practice of nutrition.
• Participates on committees and/or interdisciplinary teams, for providing patient care expertise while maintaining a positive working relationship to assure optimal cooperation between and to internal and external customers of the hospital and PHHS.
• Identifies and analyzes the design of services, especially for the area of specialization, with regard to patient educational materials, work processes, work forms and prioritization of patient care activities, etc. for the optimal provision of nutrition services and implements or recommends appropriate changes to improve and promote effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency that supports the overall goals of the hospital and PHHS.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge and practice, especially in specialty area, by serving as a nutritional resource person to other health care professionals, interns, trainees, community civic groups, media, etc. Responsible for actively conducting and integrating research, providing in-services, workshops or symposia presentations, authoring professional publications, and providing other forms of continuing education to contribute to the education and understanding of nutritional services to the hospital’s and PHHS’s internal and external customers.
• Trains and mentors clinical dietitians, dietetic technicians, and student interns or trainees, or other assigned staff in the basics of providing quality nutritional care and services.