Clinical Dietitian I

Founded in 1873, Dignity Health - Mercy Medical Center is a 186-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Merced, California. Serving over 150,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, heart care, the Mercy Cancer Center, and a family birth center. Additionally, Merced Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center.

One Community. One Mission. One California 

As an entry-level clinician, the Clinical Dietitian I assesses the nutritional status of the patient using recognized tools of assessment, and recommends & counsels patients, family, and/or caregivers on the appropriate nutrition plan to improve the patient's disease or condition management. Works with the general patient population, as well as with patients in more complex levels of care under the supervision of a Clinical Dietitian II or Clinical Nutrition Director.

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.

• 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). Provides customized nutrition education to patients and/or families and caregivers. Works within an interdisciplinary environment 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.
• 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, interns, 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.

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree with completion of accredited dietetics program (ACEND - Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics), upon hire
• Registered Dietitian (RD), within 90 days or
• Registered Dietitian ADA (RD-ADA), within 90 Days or
• Registered Dietitian AND (RD-AND), within 90 Days or
• Registered Dietitian CDR (RD-CDR), within 90 Days
• Until registration is obtained, documentation in a patient's medical record must be signed off on by a registered dietitian (if applciable)