Job Summary

• Responsible for the planning and implementation of the nutrition care of the patients in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local standards and regulations, clinical guidelines, and policies and procedures. Provides oversight in coordination with the Culinary Services Manager to ensure that safe and accurate food service is provided to the patients. 

Essential Functions 

Leadership 

• Completes annual competency testing and maintains professional growth and development to maintain registration and licensure/certification
• Performs job based on applicable federal, state, and local regulations, company policies and procedures and evidenced based clinical guidelines
• Performs job within defined scope of practice
• Participates in the planning of the department budget
• Submits capital budget requests to the Controller/CFO
• Participates in developing and implementing policies and procedures related to nutritional care of the patient. 
• Participates in the hospital’s Performance Improvement program by conducting aggregating, trending and acting on data for key clinical nutrition indicators
• Annual QAPI department plan is developed with mandatory components
• Monthly reports are taken to hospital committees as per facility policy
• Monitors quality assurance in the kitchen by ensuring quality measures are routinely done; spot checking logs for accuracy, ensures safe sanitary conditions in the kitchen by completing kitchen safety/sanitation audits and test tray audits per policy.
• Participates in the survey process; instructs staff in matters of conduct and disclosure; always maintains a presence while surveyors are on site and directs the timely collection of information required by the survey team
• Undertakes corrective action while survey is in progress if appropriate; works with other hospital departments to develop survey plan of correction as needed
• Services on various committees as required by company standards, regulations, and/or appointment by immediate supervisor

Direct Patient Care 

• Conducts initial and reassessments on all patients admitted to the hospital
• Ensure proper completion of documentation (assessments, care plans, education, discharge planning
• Prescribes nutrition therapy to meet estimated needs and monitors tolerance
• Provides ongoing reassessment to ensure optimal nutrition therapy is provided
• Participates with Interdisciplinary Team meetings to develop, implement, and monitor nutrition care plans
• Interviews patients, family members, legal representatives, and/or significant others, and staff to obtain diet history, food preferences, and other pertinent information needed to develop and/or update plan of care
• Advocates for patients to protect and promote patients’ rights and accommodate individual needs and cultural/religious preferences
• Involves the patient/family in planning objectives and goals for the patient
• Conducts nutrition education individually and in classes to patients, families, staff, and community as appropriate
• Conducts meal rounds to ensure that patients are receiving therapy that meets patien