Clinical Dietitian - Primary Care

What you will do:

• Coordinate all phases of nutrition care including nutrition assessment, care planning, monitoring, education and counseling of hospitalized patients and outpatients in a variety of settings.
• Perform duties in support of and in compliance with performance improvement plans, JCAHO, and other licensing, accrediting, and regulatory agencies.

**DUHS offers career growth and enrichment within our Nutrition services. There is a clinical ladder program with various steps and opportunities at each hospital within the health system. 

Duties and Responsibilities of each Level:

Level I

• Providie nutrition services and medical nutrition therapy integrated with the patient's medical goals.
• Evaluate, interpret, monitor, and document the nutritional status and nutritional needs of inpatients and outpatients using established standards of care and practice guidelines.
• Identify and provide age-specific nutrition counseling to meet the cultural needs of the patients and their families.
• Develop, review, update and implement educational materials to meet the needs of patients and professionals.
• Write orders for diet, supplement, enteral/parenteral nutrition and laboratory data per hospital policy.
• Function as an integral member of the clinical interdisciplinary team.
• Maintain Registered Dietitian (RD) status including continuing professional education per the Professional Development Portfolio.
• Maintain North Carolina Board of Nutrition and Dietetics licensure.
• Precept dietetic interns and provide on the job training for newly hired clinical staff.
• Supervise daily work of dietetic technicians (registered -  provide input into evaluation but not directly evaluate their performance).
• Comply with Nutrition Services meeting and attendance standards.

Level II

• In addition to Level I, Dietitian works in an assigned specialty area and integrates research and education into practice as evidence by competencies.
• Is a liaison and advocate for the profession by utilizing and sharing new practice knowledge and skill into other areas of the profession (management, public health) and or other disciplines.

Level III

• Thinks critically, displays a range of highly developed clinical and technical skills, and formulates judgements acquired through a combination of education, experience and critical thinking.
• Based on department's need, have the ability to provide expertise, oversight and leadership in a designated specialty area.These areas include: Student Advisor, Malnutrition Specialist, Adult Nutrition Support Specialist, Pediatric Nutrition Support Specialist, Program Coordinator, Clinical and Quality Specialist, IT Specialist, Outpatient Clinical Coordinator, Lead, Subject Matter Expert.

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Level I, II, III - Baccalaureate degree in Food and Nutrition, Dietetics, Nutritional Sciences, Human Nutrition, or comparable major.
• Successful completion of coordinated program or dietetic internship of not less than 900 hours under the supervision of a Registered Dietitian.

Experience

• Minimum of one (1) year of outpatient nutrition experience strongly preferred

• Level I - One year in an acute care environment preferred; experience may be waived for specific positions.

• Level II and Level III - At least 5 years of clinical experience or at least 3 years' clinical experience plus an approved, nutrition related certification.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

• Level I, II, and III - Registered dietitian (RD) by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. 
• Licensed dietitian/nutritionist (LDN) by the North Carolina Board of Dietetics and Nutrition; provision for license-eligible dietitians as above.
• CDCES certified preferred