Clinical Dietitian II

Where You’ll Work

Founded in 1941, Dignity Health - Dominican Hospital is a 188-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Santa Cruz, California. Serving over 80,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including heart care, orthopedics, and a Family Birthing Center.

Additionally, Dominican Hospital has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center, and has been awarded the AMA/ASA’s Get the Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to providing the best stroke care.

One Community. One Mission. One California

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As a Clinical Dietitian, you will provide expert nutrition care, developing and implementing individualized plans to improve patient health outcomes. Every day you will clearly communicate nutritional data across all systems and participate in health team meetings as the resident nutrition expert.

To be successful in this role, you will integrate robust clinical expertise with empathetic, evidence-based care, consistently adhering to professional standards and fostering effective communication with patients and healthcare teams.

Conducts patient screening in accordance with specialized clinical guidelines for those at a specific nutritional risk.

Performs nutritional assessment using age and gender appropriate standards, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds; and utilizing validated assessment tools resulting in nutrition related diagnosis when indicated. Conducts routine screening to identify patients at nutritional risk.

Collaborates within an interdisciplinary environment to contribute to facilitating care and identifying patients at nutrition risk or needing higher levels of care.

Implements targeted and specific nutrition intervention(s) based on the specific medical condition. Provides customized nutrition education to patients and/or families and caregivers. Actively participates as a member of the multi-specialty, interdisciplinary care team to contribute toward overall patient care. Closely monitors, evaluates and rescreens patient nutrition status as appropriate. Updates plan of care as necessary. Follow up with patients as needed.

Develops an intervention plan which includes appropriate feeding route, mode, and nutrition prescription unique to patient's specific needs, in accordance with physicians' orders.

Monitors and evaluates patient response to interventions by meeting specific measurable goals documented in the nutrition care plan in a timely and thorough manner in the medical record. CA Only: For neonates and pediatric patients, coordinates nutrition services with California Children's Services (CCS).

Must be a California Children's Services (CCS) paneled provider if providing nutrition care to NICU or pediatric patients with a CCS-approved facility.

Collaborates with the Food and Nutrition Services team to enhance patient experience.

This includes participating in test trays, menu reviews, periodic auditing of trayline for accuracy of diet orders, validating menu compliance with the facility Diet Manual Handbook and Nutrition Care Manual (NCM), supporting with patient interactive positions (i. e. dietitians, diet clerks, etc.), maintaining communication with patients, staff, and guests and providing excellent customer service.

Participates in peer reviews and chart audits, and collaborates in Diet Manual Handbook training for all clinical staff (new registered dietitians, nurses, therapists, physicians, etc.), including how to access it in hard and soft copy.

Supports in the training/development of Clinical Dietitian I, patient interactive positions (i. e. dietitians, diet clerks, interns, etc.) as well as other positions as needed.

This may include leading Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) training sessions and workshops for overall hospital clinical staff such as nurses, therapists, and physicians.

Functions routinely with high acuity patients requiring advanced competency to provide expert level of care and nutrition therapy in Neonatal intensive care units, Pediatric units, enteral/parenteral nutrition support and order writing privileges, oncology, renal, diabetes, and gerontology.

Job Requirements

Required

Bachelors Other completion of accredited dietetics program (ACEND - Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition Dietetics). and Three (3) years acute care hospital or similar experience working with patients in more complex levels of care to specialized populations., upon hire

Bachelors Other completion of accredited dietetics program (ACEND - Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition Dietetics). and Three (3) years acute care hospital or similar experience working with patients in more complex levels of care to specialized populations., upon hire

• Registered Dietitian ADA, upon hire or
• Registered Dietitian ADA, upon hire or
• Registered Dietitian AND, upon hire or
• Registered Dietitian CDR, upon hire and
• Registered Dietician, upon hire or
• Preferred
• Board Cert Spec Oncology Nutrtion, upon hire or
• Board Certified Pediatric, upon hire or
• Certified Nutrition Support Clinician, upon hire or
• Certified Diabetes Educator, upon hire
• Board Cert Spec Oncology Nutrtion, upon hire or
• Board Certified Pediatric, upon hire or
• Board Certified Nutrition Supp, upon hire or
• Certified Diabetes Educator, upon hire or
• Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant, upon hire