The Dietitian is the expert responsible for independently planning and directing all nutritional activities for assigned clients, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. He/she coordinates nutritional care with other health care providers, the client, the client's family and the community. Theprimary area of coverage will be dialysis/nephrology.

The Clinical Dietitian may be scheduled and assigned to any nutrition practice area, and must possess the required knowledge and skills in order to perform the following functions:

Nutritional Care:
- Conducts a comprehensive nutrition assessment for patients at nutritional risk.
- Develops and implements an individualized plan for medical nutrition therapy for all dialysis unit patients in accordance with the patients' medical program goals and objectives. Accurately obtains and interprets medical information pertinent to the patient's nutritional care to determine risk, assess nutritional status and develop individual specialized care plans to simultaneously address several disease processes.
- Calculates nutritional requirements and necessary diet restrictions or food/drug interactions. Diet prescribed is tailored to each individual client's according to physical and metabolic needs and designs the nutritional treatment plan with consideration for psychosocial, behavioral, ethnic and cultural factors to obtain desirable outcomes and promote long term adherence to a medical nutritional care plan.
- Utilizes assessment and evaluation techniques that consider age-specific needs as well as cultural, religious, and ethnic concerns.
- Orders labs, diets and consults per Scope of Practice/Clinical privileges.
- Evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcome of medical nutrition therapy interventions. Evaluates the patient's response to care based on identified, measurable outcomes and reviews the plan as appropriate.
- Assists in management of bone disease. Reviews vitamin supplements and medications such as phosphorous binders and vitamin D.
- Consults with physician regarding adjustments that may be needed.
- Documents nutrition care plan in the patient's medical record, including nutrition assessment data, medical nutrition therapy initiated and recommendations, results of nutrition counseling and discharge planning. Documentation supports an interdisciplinary approach and continuity of care.
- Works cooperatively with Foodservice staff to assure conformance to diet prescriptions, as applicable.

Nutrition Education:
- Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition counseling for individuals and groups, incorporating a learning approach that considers the cultural, religious, educational, and medical situation of the patient. Includes information regarding budgeting, menu planning, food purchasing and preparation, food storage and sanitation.
- Evaluates achievement of learning objectives by the patient and/or family. Adapts nutrition education materials and counseling techniques to client's level of understanding.
- Participates in community projects and education as needed/assigned.
- Documents in the medical record, the education materials provided, the care plan determined by the provider and the client, an assessment of the client's comprehension level to the education given and the expected compliance.

Quality Improvement/Research:
- Supports performance Improvement activities by participating in the development of nutritional care indicators, evaluation criteria, collecting continuous quality improvement data, monitoring outcomes and initiating corrective actions, as appropriate.
- Participates in planning and developing nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals.

Participation as a Member of the Health Care Team:
- Serves as the nutrition expert on the interdisciplinary team which includes physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals.
- Attends interdisciplinary meetings and advises interdisciplinary health care team of nutritional recommendations, goals, and efficacy of nutrition therapy. Discusses pertinent findings and interprets nutritional information which will assist the team in developing comprehensive patient treatment plans.
- Presents seminars, workshops, and lectures to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts. This includes the development and participation of in-service educational programs directed to members of interdisciplinary teams, Nutrition and Food Service personnel, Nursing, and various students, interns, residents, etc.
- Conducts self in a manner that demonstrates adherence to standards of professional performance.
- Performs others duties as assigned.


Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Telework: May be available on an ad hoc basis
Functional Statement: Clinical Dietitian/000000
Location: The location for the work site is as follows:

South Charlotte VA Clinic

Travel Required

Not required