Clinical Nutrition Asst

1. Carries out functions in a compassionate and sensitive manner regarding needs of pediatric patients admitted for psychiatric diagnoses and/or autism and developmental disabilities.

2. Works independently while maintaining a high level of communication with Clinical Dietitian(s) Dietetic Technicians nursing interdisciplinary team members and the food service operations team.

3. Accurately enters and updates patient data in CBORD such as meal selections/orders/ preferences/ special requests for food.

4. Collects patient intake information and calculates calorie counts for dietetic technicians to record in the patients� medical records.Assists patients with combination and difficult diet orders and allergies with finding menu selections.

5. Checks meal trays for accuracy on assigned units. Rounds on patients at meal time to obtain patient satisfaction information and supplement preferences.

6. Communicates effectively timely and courteously with patients staff and the production team when obtaining meal choices to enter into CBORD.

7. Communicates patients� needs with the clinical nutrition and food production team to ensure patients� safety following Clinical and Food and Nutrition policies.

8. Reviews LifeChart records of patients to obtain information about admission dates discharges food allergies and diet orders to ensure that data is interfaced to CBORD.

9. Problem-solves technical problems as needed.

10. Develops and updates menus/meal plans for special diets and corrects menus for nutritional balance.

11. Prints menus tray tickets reports calorie count worksheets and updates menu selections throughout the shift.

12. Monitors patients� intake for nutritional adequacy as appropriate; relays information to Dietetic Technician and/or Clinical Dietitian.

13. Assists with nutrition related in-services to departmental and hospital staff. Guides and educates interns and other staff as assigned.

14. Completes other duties as assigned by Clinical Dietitians Dietetic Technicians and/or Foodservice Management Team.

Strong background in computers and/or food service.

Basic knowledge of the nutritional values of food and food groups through attending an ASCEND recognized nutrition program or comparative experience.

Strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills.

Oral and written communication skills necessary to communicate effectively with patients families and hospital personnel in communicating nutrition care plans etc.

Demonstrate knowledge skills and compassion necessary to provide care to pediatric patients with the consideration of psychiatric diagnoses developmental disabilities and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

Basic computer skills with ability to utilize CBORD LifeChart and other software databases Microsoft Word Excel Outlook iRounds.

EXPERIENCE:

One-year experience in food service is preferred. Experience with pediatric and/or psychiatric patients is highly desirable.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Minimal exposure to communicable diseases when in contact with patients. Must be constantly aware that some patients may exhibit physical behaviors.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Provides functional guidance to junior staff as required.