POSITION: CLINICAL DIETICIAN (RD/LD) (must have current DC Dietician License)
DEPARTMENT: FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES
SUPERVISOR: DIRECTOR OF FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES

BASIC FUNCTION:
Assesses resident to maintain or improve their nutritional status by adapting menus, evaluating food consumed and counseling principle of nutrition.

CHARACTERISTIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Cooperates in resident care by consulting with physicians, nursing staff and social workers in areas of normal therapeutic nutrition.
• Consults with physicians concerning diet prescriptions and implementation through meals adapted to the need of individual residents.
• Interviews, teaches and assist residents to satisfactorily fulfill nutritional needs by following diets as prescribe by physician.
• Attends interdisciplinary care plan meeting for individual residents.
• Records on resident's charts when indicated appropriate information including resident's dietary history and progress.
• Prepares, reviews and revised materials on modified diets for the department’s diet manual and for use in inservice programs for residents and staff.
• Coordinates and integrates current principles of normal and therapeutic nutrition into teaching program for residents and staff.
• Participates in staff development, inserivce education and training of dietary personnel and other staff.
• Responsible for updating cycle of menus for normal therapeutic diets and recommends clinical policies, procedures and standards to the Food Service Director.
• Instructs and supervises food service supervisors and other food service personnel on relationship between clinical nutrition and food production.
• Conducts monthly inspections.
• Oversees the overall operation of clinical nutrition, instructing diet technicians and diet clerks in maintaining consistency in updating and follow through of all aspects of individual resident’s diets.
• Prepares monthly report for the Administrator and Food Service Director showing results of inspections and recommendations.
• Must be able to supervise food service operation in the dietary department.
• Perform any other duties and assume responsibilities as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
• Reports to Director of Food & Nutrition Services.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
• None

DUTY HOURS:
• Minimum of 40 hours per week; hours of work will be on file; incumbent will notify supervisor of change in the scheduled hours of work.
• Position is classified as non-exempt and is eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
• Clinical collaboration with nursing staff, physicians, residents and nutrition staff
• Attends inserivce sessions as sponsored by the facility

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• Bachelor’s degree in clinical and administrative nutrition, institutional management
• Current license to practice in the District of Columbia as Dietician
• Two years experience working as a dietician, preferable in a long term care setting
• Good interpersonal skills and leadership ability
• Good mental and physical health

WORKING CONDITIONS:
• White lab jacket required to be worn while in the facility
• Well lighted, well-ventilated rooms and halls
• Sits, stands, and walks most of the day
• May hear abusive language from confused residents; may receive injury from irrational residents
• Exposed to usual institutional disease entities and odors
• Per Exposure Control Plan, this position has been classified as category type III, may be exposed to communicable disease in the course of work.