Certified Dietitian

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare, dating back to 1891. Building upon a legacy of compassionate care and innovation, our organization has evolved over the years through strategic partnerships and integrations to expand our reach and services across the Puget Sound area.

Today, as Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we remain deeply committed to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the communities we serve. This commitment is strengthened by the diverse expertise and shared values brought together through our growth.

Our dedicated providers offer a full spectrum of health care services, from routine wellness to complex disease management, all grounded in rigorous research and education. Our comprehensive network of 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites strategically located across the greater Puget Sound region reflects our ongoing commitment to accessibility and comprehensive care.

We are proud of our pioneering medical advances and numerous awards and accreditations that reflect our dedication to excellence. When you join Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you become part of a team that delivers top-quality, professional healthcare in modern, well-equipped facilities, and contributes to a legacy of service built on collaboration and shared purpose.

JOB SUMMARY:

Provides professional dietitian services (nutritional status, needs assessment, planning, counseling and education) for individuals and groups. Provides nutritional education to the medical and general community via educational forums and in-house nutritional educational materials.
Work requires knowledge of clinical nutrition as it relates to disease states in an acute care and/or outpatient setting, sanitation and infection control as it relates to food service delivery. Knowledge of appropriate charting, documentation and HIPAA regulations is also required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

• Performs nutritional screening on all patients, using Nutrition Assignment tool or appropriate methods per department standards.
• Develops, maintains, and modifies patient’s nutrition care plan per department standards.
• Collaborates and communicates with the multi-disciplinary team, which may include participating in patient rounds and discharge planning and follow-up phone outreach and care.
  Makes referrals to various FHS nutritional services as appropriate.
• Implements the delivery of nutritional care plan to patients, delegating and assigning tasks to other care team members per departmental policies and procedures.
• Delegates and assigns tasks to other care team members (e.g., Diet Office). Provides management with feedback regarding delegate’s performance and escalates issues to appropriate staff.
  May collaborate to coordinate accurate patient meal service that is in compliance with department protocol.
• Provides nutritional counseling and education to individuals and groups.
• Promotes nutrition education to all appropriate individuals and groups as applicable to assigned area.
• Provides educational training and counseling to patients on specific nutrition therapies based on their diagnosis.
• Develops, organizes and presents classes on nutritional education within FHS and the community at large.
• May provide nutritional education to dept staff to further their knowledge of nutrition, modified diets, and effective delivery of patient meals.
• Completes all required documentation in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner in accordance with CHI Franciscan Health (CHI-FH) standards and procedures.
• Completes nutrition care documentation and charting (e.g., Volume Indicators) in accordance with department-specific standards.
• Ensures codes are correctly entered.
• Cultural Sensitivity and Competence: Demonstrates proper use of communication tools/materials for effective communication and understands how the culture(s) of patient populations can affect communication, collaboration and the provision of care, treatment and services.
• Patient Population Served: Demonstrates knowledge and proper skills associated with the department’s defined specific populations served.
• Performs related duties as required.

Education/Work Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Completion of internship, traineeship, or coordinated undergraduate program with consequential qualification for dietetic registration that demonstrates attainment of the requisite job knowledge skills/abilities required. One year experience in clinical dietetics in an acute care setting preferred.

Licensure/Certification

• Current licensure through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a Registered Dietitian is required.
• Certification by the State of Washington as a Certified Dietitian (CD) is required within 90 days of employment.
• Membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is preferred.

If classified as Dietitian Cert:  

• Current certification by an accredited program, including one of the following:
• Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)
• Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC)
• Certified Nutrition Specialist Oncology (CSO)
• Certified Nutrition Specialist Pediatrics (CSP)
• Certified Nutrition Specialist Gerontology (CSG)
• Certified Nutrition Specialist Renal (CSR)