Nutrition Technician

Job Summary: 

Nutrition Technician will work on assigned units and provide services that include helping patients make menu selections and delivering / picking up their meal trays.  Duties include:  Receiving patient information regarding allergies, likes, dislikes, meal choices and entering this data into the Diet Office program, processing data to provide tray line with correct meal choices for patients, delivering and picking up patient meal trays and documenting meal intake.  Technicians are a part of the nutritional care team by referring patient needs to the Registered Dietitians as indicated and ensuring foodservice satisfaction goals are achieved by providing meals that are accurate and delivered at the right time and temperature.  Executes other related duties as assigned by management. .  Demonstrates knowledge and skills to appropriately communicate and interact with patients, families, and visitors of all age groups while being sensitive to their cultural and religious beliefs.

Performance Expectation:

• Exhibits a friendly, caring attitude to patients when taking menu selections, delivering trays and retrieving trays.
• Helps patients understand their menu selections and work with nursing to ensure their orders comply with nutritional requirements and restrictions.
• Obtains patients’ menu selections prior to each meal
• Offers alternatives to menu as allowed on prescribed diet in accordance with food allergies, cultural, ethnic and religious preferences when patient inquires or needs additional selections.
• Ensures the tray is positioned properly for the patient; assists the patient with the opening of any tray elements and checks with patient for the need of any additional missing items.
• Picks up soiled trays in a timely manner and return trays to kitchen for proper cleaning and storage.
• Records meal intake for all meals.
• Ensures and maintains proper food quality and temperature.
• Maintains accurate and current information for each patient on assigned units.
• Assists Registered Dietitian with monitoring patients who are NPO, on liquid diets or have a calorie count ordered.
• Maintains patient confidentiality
• Contributes to patient satisfaction goals by providing quality service.
• Complies with federal, state and local health department sanitation regulations and department policies.
• Utilizes equipment in performing job functions according to department procedures.
• Demonstrates the ability to use department software (Computriton and EPIC)
• Follows FGH infection control policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates willingness to assist in other areas as needed. 
• Must be able to maneuver and push food delivery carts.   

Qualifications:

Education/Skills:

High school diploma or GED required.  Computer technical skills to operate hospital systems.  Prefer Bachelor/Associate degree or current pursuit of a degree in nutrition, institution management, dietetics, home economics, education, or other related fields.

Work Experience:    

Must be able to type, use computers/software programs, and write legibly.  Must have working knowledge to handle office equipment. Will provide on-the-job training.

Mental Demands:     

Must have average clerical aptitude and be able to do simple mathematical calculations. Visual acuity required for computer terminals and printouts. Ability to hear soft verbal communications. Must have strong communication skills to maintain positive, professional interaction with patients, family members, nursing personnel and co-workers. Tact, courtesy, and care must be used in dealing with patients and family members. Must be prompt in providing requests and clinical nutrition assigned tasks. Must be customer focused and practice value system of organization.  Considerable initiative and judgment are involved in handling general/confidential information.  Must have an understanding of basic nutrition and diet composition.