Senior Registered Dietitian

Job Summary  

Works under general supervision to provide medical nutrition therapy for patients.          

Experience and Education

• One (1) year experience in a healthcare setting
• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition or Dietetics Registered Dietician by Commission on Dietetic Registration; Licensed Dietitian in Texas; if awaiting examination/credentialing at time of hire, must be obtained within 6 months of hire date Additional Advance Certification required by one of the following: Certified Nutrition Support (CNSC), Oncology Certificate (CSO), Diabetes Educator (CDES), Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM), Pediatric Nutrition (CSP), Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition (CSPCC), Sports Dietetics (CSSD), Gerontological Nutrition Certificate (CSG), Renal Certificate (CSR), or Nutrition Wound Care Certified (NWCC).        

Job Duties

• Coordinates and provides individualized medical nutrition therapy for patients with consideration of any age-related factors for pediatric, adolescent, and geriatric patients. 
• Acts as an education resource for students, clinics, hospital staff, other RDs and Nutrition department staff and provides feedback and guidance when appropriate.
• Coordinates and provides student evaluations. Communicates student and staff issues/performance to department/program director/clinical manager as appropriate.
• Supports relevant committees and/or programs as assigned. Including planning, rounding, participating, coordinating, and follow up for aspects of the committee.
• Demonstrates knowledge of complications associated with medical/surgical procedures, and effectively identifies predictable problems and plans for the provision of patient care.
• Assesses learning needs of all patients and provides appropriate education as a component of the nutrition care plan.
• Collaborates with other members of the healthcare team to complete nutrition consultations.
• Attends meetings/conferences with medical team, nursing, clinics, social services, and other allied health professional personnel concerning patient care and Nutrition department initiatives.
• Actively works on process improvement, data collection, and research related to Clinical Nutrition and overall Nutrition department initiatives and also in support of the Nutrition Support Committee.
• Programs and audits as needed or directed the Health Touch Patient Nutrition Software Tool and the Epic interface, if applicable.
• Notifies the diet office of new diet requirements or of changes to diets as needed. Maintains established department productivity standards.
• Documents all relevant aspects of nutritional care for patients in accordance with departmental standards.
• Attends continuing education programs to remain current in the field.
• Regularly updates knowledge of assessment techniques and regulations appropriate to the age of patients served.
• Edits, tracks, writes, and maintains established new department policies, procedures, objectives, and performance improvement projects.
• Maintains established objective and performance improvement monitors by maintaining appropriate records, environment, reviews of staff/data, reports, and statistics to achieve Joint Commission/Clinical Gold Check standards.
• Plans, develops, and conducts formal and informal educational nutrition programs for medical and nursing staff and students. Is actively involved in department, community, and retail programs.
• Provides support and direct participation in patient satisfaction to influence the Press Ganey scores for the Nutrition Services department Performs other duties as assigned.      

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Work requires knowledge to accurately assess nutritional status.
• Work requires ability to provide appropriate medical nutrition therapy.
• Work requires computer skills.
• Work requires effective communication skills.
• Work requires ability to use hands to key, handle, or feel.
• Work requires ability to walk and lift up to 10 pounds.
• Work requires ability to read, write, and understand English.
• Work requires ability to apply arithmetic, mathematical reasoning and analyze data and/or report information.
• Work requires ability to develop and implement new goals or plans.  

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in an office setting. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimums require prior approval of the Vice President for Human Resources Administration, or his/her designee.  

Security

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information  

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.