Nutritional Assistant

The Nutritional Assistant assist the Nutrition Department by processing diet orders, menus, checking tray line for accuracy and assisting with tray assembly and delivery. They rely on established guidelines and diet knowledge to accomplish tasks. Works under minimal supervision. 

1. Essential Functions:

•  Review diet orders messages received and process/prepare menus for patients according to diet. 
•  Answers telephones and relays messages for continuous departmental function. 
• Customer Service skill set 
• Assist in taking food orders based on patients' diets. 
• Follows HACCP guidelines as per policies and procedures. 
• Serves on tray line with accuracy and within diet standards. 
• Delivers food trays to patients and/or units following established procedures to meet JCAHO guidelines. 
• Performs all daily cleaning assignments.
• At times may assist in other areas of dept including but not limited to MD Lounge, Cafeteria, Catering, and Production. 
• Other duties as assigned throughout the dept as assigned by Nutritional Services Manager and/or Director.

TECHNICAL TASKS

• Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of therapeutic diets and ability to perform simple math for diet calculations. Updates and prepares menus and diet for each meal timely and accurately and carefully checks them against the computerized diet list. Updates menus with changes, allergies, preferences, and other pertinent information.
• Demonstrates the ability to tally menu production for the preparation of meals with little or no mistakes (missing items, over production, under production, etc.) Prepares the tallies accurately, neatly, and legible. Completes tallies and has diets prepared for tray line by specified deadlines. Demonstrates time management skill in completing all tasks accurately and on schedule to reflect productivity/efficiency.
• Prepares and delivers nourishments/between meal feedings to 100% of those patients as indicated by the dietitians, diabetic diet orders, or patients on Antenatal unit.
• Checks tray line for adequate serving temperatures, final production accuracy (with regard to food items), tray completeness, appearance, portion control, condiments, etc.
• Ensures patient tray accuracy before loading into food cart for delivery.
• Prepares and delivers late trays in a timely manner that adheres to HACCP standards for reheating.
• Pediatric, PICU, and Antenatal patients on a standard diet are visited/called for menu selections.
• Patients on diet regimens other than regular, GI Soft, and liquids require a referral to the dietitian.
• Demonstrates a cost-conscious attitude toward supply use in order to use department resources more efficiently.
• Maintains HACCP forms for temperatures, tray delivery, sanitation, etc.
• Completes daily report with all necessary information. Temperatures, meal count, employee illness, variances, kitchen lock up and opening, etc.
• Follows call-back policy to ensure that all patients have the opportunity to order and eat a meal in a timely fashion. Records and processes phone and computer messages accurately and timely. Follows through with computer / telephone messages. Communicates clearly, politely and professionally on the phone during all conversations. Assists patients by completing food preferences/tolerances and/or assist with patient education materials for the dietitian or other needs as appropriate
• Uses customer service standards and JCAHO guidelines upon delivery of trays to patient rooms to assure correct distribution when needed to assist hostess. Maintains HIPAA restrictions regarding privacy and asks for 2 patient identifiers to assure correctness of delivery.
• Communicates effectively with the Managers of Nutrition Services and Clinical Dietitians regarding any questions or problems in the diet office
• Maintains an inventory on menus, supplements, and supplies assuring that these are always well stocked. Alerts Registered Dietitian or Managers ahead of time that items need to be ordered. Performs other tasks as directed or required in the department including but not limited to patient, production, dishroom, catering, and/or MD Lounge.
• Consistently demonstrates compliance to infection control policies - demonstrates proper hand washing techniques when appropriate, uses Personal Protective Equipment, and follows guidelines for disposal of waste. Maintains established policies/procedure and quality assurance to assist in the care and maintenance of department facilities and equipment/supplies.
• Ensures security of the department through key control.

CRITICAL THINKING

• Demonstrates a complete understanding of all policies and procedures concerning the responsibilities of the Nutritional Assistant.