Outpatient Renal Dietitian

Position Summary

The Outpatient Renal Dietitian provides individualized medical nutrition therapy and ongoing counseling for adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3–5, including patients who are not yet receiving dialysis and other medical conditions. This role helps patients slow disease progression, manage related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, maintain nutritional status, and make practical, sustainable dietary changes.

The Dietitian collaborates closely with nephrologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, and primary-care teams to deliver holistic medical nutrition counseling.

Essential Responsibilities

* Conduct comprehensive outpatient nutrition assessments, including dietary intake, weight history, nutrition-focused physical findings when appropriate, laboratory values, medications, comorbidities, food access, health literacy, cultural preferences, and readiness to change.

* Provide individualized medical nutrition therapy to patients with kidney related medical conditions such as CKD stages 3–5, adapting recommendations for kidney function, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, protein, fluid needs, along with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, malnutrition, and other relevant conditions.

* Counsel patients on practical approaches to sodium reduction, protein intake, potassium and phosphorus management, label reading, meal planning, dining out, hydration/fluid guidance, and use of renal nutrition supplements when indicated.

* Develop nutrition care plans that balance kidney-protective dietary goals with prevention or treatment of protein-energy wasting, unintentional weight loss, frailty, and inadequate intake.

* Educate patients and caregivers about CKD progression, nutrition-related laboratory results, medication–food considerations, and preparation for renal replacement therapy when applicable.

* Provide counseling through in-person visits, telehealth, and follow-up telephone or electronic communication, according to clinic workflow and patient needs.

* Monitor outcomes such as weight trends, dietary adherence, blood pressure, relevant laboratory values, symptoms affecting intake, and progress toward individualized nutrition goals.

* Document assessments, diagnoses, interventions, goals, and follow-up plan accurately and promptly in the electronic health record.

* Communicate nutrition recommendations and clinical concerns to the medical team.

* Participate in development of patient education programs, and renal nutrition resources.

* Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based renal nutrition practice, CKD guidelines, and documentation, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications

* Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or a related field.

* Active Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN) credential.

* Current state dietitian licensure or certification, if required by the practice location.

* Completion of supervised dietetic training required for RD/RDN credentialing.

* At least 1–2 years of clinical nutrition counseling experience; experience in nephrology, diabetes, hypertension, or outpatient chronic disease management preferred.

* Strong ability to interpret nutrition-relevant laboratory data and translate complex medical information into understandable patient guidance.

* Excellent counseling, motivational interviewing, documentation, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.

* Ability to work independently while managing a caseload, prioritizing follow-up needs, and meeting documentation requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

* Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR) or eligibility and commitment to pursue certification.

* Experience counseling patients with CKD stages 3–5, dialysis, kidney transplantation, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.

* Familiarity with electronic health records, telehealth platforms, and outpatient medical nutrition therapy billing.

* Bilingual or multilingual communication skills relevant to the patient population.

* Experience addressing food insecurity, limited health literacy, cultural food practices, and barriers to adherence.

Key Competencies

* Patient-centered and culturally responsive counseling.

* Motivational interviewing and behavior-change support.

* Clinical judgment regarding nutrition risk, malnutrition, and escalation of concerns to the care team.

* Ability to simplify renal nutrition guidance without using unnecessarily restrictive diets.

* Professionalism, empathy, confidentiality, and strong attention to detail.

* Effective management of competing priorities in a high-volume outpatient setting.

Work Environment

This position is primarily based in an outpatient nephrology or multidisciplinary kidney-care clinic. The Dietitian may provide services through clinic visits, telehealth, community outreach, and coordination with referring providers. Typical work involves prolonged computer and patient-facing work, review of clinical records, and regular collaboration with the renal care team.

Sample Performance Expectations

* Complete initial nutrition assessments and follow-up visits within established clinic timelines.

* Maintain timely, complete documentation in the electronic health record.

* Establish measurable nutrition goals with patients and monitor progress over time.

* Demonstrate patient satisfaction, effective interdisciplinary communication, and adherence to evidence-based renal nutrition practices.

* Participate in ongoing education and quality-improvement activities related to CKD nutrition care.