Conducts comprehensive nutritional assessments of patients to create tailored nutrition care plans, which involve interviewing patients, educating them and their families on nutritional issues, evaluating diet appropriateness, initiating medical nutrition therapy, recommending meal substitutions, coordinating with food production, and conducting nutritional assessments for patients on enteral or parenteral nutrition. Collaborates with healthcare professionals for coordinated patient care, contributes expertise in multidisciplinary rounds and meetings, develops wellness and disease prevention programs, works with catering services for therapeutic diets, maintains patient education materials, handles administrative/educational duties related to public health nutrition programs, and ensure professional growth through departmental competencies.
- Conducts comprehensive nutritional assessments of patients to identify individual dietary needs and develop appropriate nutrition care plans. This includes:
- Interviews patients and document pertinent information on the appropriate nutrition documentation forms
- Educates and counsels patients and families on nutritional issues, either individually or in groups.
- Evaluates the appropriateness of the ordered diet and recommend diet order changes as indicated
- Plans and initiates medical nutrition therapy to patients if indicated by patient requirements and clinical protocol.
- Recommends substitutions (meals or oral nutrition supplements) if patient is unable to eat the meal provided, in accordance with the patient’s diet restrictions.
- When necessary/relevant, coordinate care and relate information on assigned patients to food production and catering staff to ensure dietary requirements are met and appropriate dietary recommendations are followed.
- Completes a nutritional assessment on patients being started and/or already placed on enteral or parenteral nutrition.
- Provides follow-up nutritional assessments as clinically indicated.
- Collaborates with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated and effective patient care.
- Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and meetings to contribute expertise on nutrition-related issues and provide recommendations for patient care.
- Develops and implements nutrition-related programs and initiatives within the hospital to promote wellness and disease prevention.
- Cooperates with the catering services staff regarding the provision of therapeutic diets as needed/ requested: updating menus, supervising tray lines, audits, staff training
- Maintains updated and necessary patient education materials.
- Performs various administrative/educational duties related to public health nutrition programs.
- Maintains professional growth and development through completion of required departmental competencies.
- Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics or,
- Bachelor's degree in Health Science with a major in Nutrition
- Valid DHA license in the related field
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience post-qualification in a related field
- Post-graduate diploma or master in Dietetics preferred
- Excellent English verbal and written communication skills
- Basic understanding of personal computers; computer literacy preferred
- Previous facilitator and health promotion experience preferred