Job Specification
CLINICAL NUTRITIONIST
DEFINITION
Under direction of a Supervising Clinical Nutritionist and/or
Clinical/Medical Director or other clinical/medical administrator,
is responsible for evaluation of the nutrition status of assigned
clients and develops nutrition care plans in compliance with federal,
state and department standards; does related work as required.
NOTE: The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative
purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all
duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed
on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Assesses the nutrition status and needs of groups and individuals;
develops and implements nutrition short and long term plans,
evaluates records and reports results.
Reviews medical records and maintains documentation based on
current research interpretation.
Serves as a member of the professional health care team and
coordinates nutrition care with other health care plans.
Monitors the quality of meals to ensure that the provision of high quality
health care to patients/clients/residents is maintained; makes
recommendations regarding menus, portion size and acceptance of
meals by clients/patients/residents and other relevant observations;
assists in surveys of clients'/patients'/residents' food preferences.
Assists in developing an identification system for client/patient/resident
trays to ensure that each client/patient/resident receives the appropriate
diet as ordered, monitors the system, identifies problems and makes
recommendations.
Develops a referral service with the help of physicians and nurses to
identify problem clients.
Plans and prepares discharge summaries, maintaining a record of any
aftercare requested or given for individual clients/patients/residents.
Monitors food service in assigned areas to identify client/patient/resident
need for feeding assistance, oral hygiene and eating habits in order to
initiate client/patient/resident nutrition care plans and goals.
Serves as consultant to other departments that use food in their
programming.
Conducts nutrition education programs for clients/patients/residents
and families for current and aftercare management and counsels’
clients/patients/residents and families as needed.
May assist in the development and training of food service and direct
care personnel in basic nutrition and delivery of special diets to
clients/patients/residents.
May give classes and lectures on nutrition related topics for health
care members.
Maintains client/patient/resident records of nutrition profiles.
Assists in an ongoing program of quality assurance for
client/patient/resident care and delivery of services to
clients/patients/residents.
Maintains essential records with documentation of activities such
as client/patient/resident diet histories, client/patient/resident
visitations, discussions with the medical and nursing staff and
requirements of psychiatric patients, geriatric patients, children
and individuals with varied diseases and physical and/or
developmental disabilities.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
and/or manual recording and information systems used by
the agency, office or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
CERTIFICATION:
NOTE: Applicants must possess a current and valid Certification as
a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
issued by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or be eligible for
registration (must have completed academic and clinical internship
requirements and be waiting to take the registration examination).
NOTE: Eligible applicants not registered as a dietitian by the Academy
of Nutrition and Dietetics will have twelve (12) months from date of
appointment to become registered or be removed from the position.
LICENSE:
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in
New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee
mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of approved practices and procedures for making notes
on clients' charts and of legal implications relating to them.
Knowledge of the clinical and therapeutic aspects of food and meal
service for clients in an institution environment.
Knowledge of physiology and biochemistry in planning and
coordinating nutrition care plans.
Knowledge of the principles of bacteriology as they apply to safe
handling practices and quality of food.
Knowledge of behavioral science as it applies in counseling.
Knowledge of computer science as it applies to the field of food
and nutrition.
Ability to participate in applied research and related professional
activities.
Ability to interpret recent research in clinical nutrition and related
fields and use these findings in nutrition care plans.
Ability to analyze menus and their nutrition content in order to meet the
nutrition requirements of clients and to see that the recommendations
by the medical staff are carried out.
Ability to develop short and long range plans for developing high quality
nutrition care with limited cost.
Ability to organize assigned work relevant to patient care and develop
effective work methods in compliance with department and accreditation
standards.
Ability to work effectively with all professional staff, other employees and
with clients and/or their families.
Ability to assist with and participate in the planning, implementation and
control of training and instruction programs for professionals, clients and
employees involved in patient care.
Ability to participate in staff and health care delivery team meetings and
conferences.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing
findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.
Ability to contribute nutrition related expertise to the health care team.
Ability to consult and effectively utilize policy/procedure manuals.
Ability to learn and utilize various types of electronic and/or manual
recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related
units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English
sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language
or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they
can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable
accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it
would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be
eligible.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code: | | Job
Spec
Code | Variant | State,
Local or
Common | Class of
Service | Work
Week | State
Class
Code | Local
Class
Code | Salary
Range | Note | | 44782 | | C | C | NE | 21 | 21 | P21 | - |
This job specification is for state and local government use.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.
12/12/2015 |
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