The Advanced Dietitian reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
The Advanced Dietitian – Nutrition Support serves on the Nutrition Support Service (NSS) team, providing nutritional plan of care for all patients receiving or evaluated for TPN at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (excluding the NICU). The dietitian is responsible for determining appropriateness of TPN, TPN orders, consultation for nutritional problems related to TPN, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team utilizing evidenced based guidelines. This role is responsible for management of both inpatient and outpatient TPN patients, monitoring and assessing labs, and troubleshooting issues under the care and coordination of the NSS Medical Director. The dietitian provides education to professional dietetic students and staff, house staff, patients, and caregivers. They function as a liaison between the Nutrition Support Service and the Department of Clinical Nutrition.
Responsibilities:
- Demonstrates clinical expertise and expanded knowledge of advanced nutrition and application to the complex patient
- Demonstrates skilled order writing and nutrition prescription abilities for the complex patient
- Develops/revises nutrition care protocols for patient populations/diagnoses groups, and acts as a leader for the health care team in the implementation of nutrition therapies
- Serves as a resource for nutrition staff, medical staff, nursing and students
- Confers and collaborates with health care team in the comprehensive care of patients
- Develops appropriate education systems for patients, families, and staff in areas of expertise
- Mentors staff/students in aspects of advanced nutrition and patient care
- Champions new departmental initiatives and implements appropriate action plans
- Specific Performance Standards/Essential Functions:
- Clinical
- Specializes in specific clinical area such as renal disease, transplant, neonatology, critical care or nutrition support and maintains advanced practice certifications
- Clinical assessment of patients, including but not limited to medical diagnosis and history, lab values, diet history, medication, and other medical information to determine patient nutritional status, and appropriate plan of care and nutrition interventions
- Plan and prescribe appropriate nutrition therapy within scope of expertise and privileging for desired patient outcome
- Identify and initiate appropriate nutritional interventions:
- Collaborate with healthcare team to align interventions with goals of care
- Prescribe and initiate appropriate nutritional therapy in accordance with specified privileges:
- Therapeutic diet, nutrition related labs, nutritional supplements, enteral support (tube feedings and modulars), parenteral support with common additives, including but not limited to electrolytes, vitamins/minerals, insulin
- Interprets/discusses data regarding pharmacotherapy
- Selects appropriate feeding route and enteral/parenteral formula, including additional modulars and additives as listed above
- Teaches and counsels patients and families on appropriate nutrition therapy for disease state or prevention and wellness, desired outcomes and behavior objectives
- Evaluates effectiveness/outcomes of intervention/therapies and modifies treatment/interventions as needed. Measures may include anthropometrics, changes in medical condition, and tolerance to therapies
- Collaborates with home care providers/DMEs for prescribed nutritional support
- Attends medical rounds in areas of practice
- Documents in the medical record all care provided
- Consults with other disciplines as appropriate
- Directs patients to appropriate follow up care when needed
- Identifies and documents billable nutrition diagnosis with proper documentation
- Provides nutrition services to outpatient areas where applicable
- Confirms diagnosis for Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Documents as required to maximize reimbursement using EPIC in outpatient areas
- Enters appropriate billing codes for patient visit
- Teaches nutrition to medical students through lecture programs
- Develops and presents community education programs and works with marketing and media as assigned
- Professional
- Demonstrates the following professional attributes:
- Integrates evidence-based knowledge into clinical expertise and decision making
- Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation
- Advocates for patients, families, coworkers, community and nutrition professionals
- Maintains advanced certification and continuing education as required by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, state licensure and other regulatory bodies
- Assumes leadership roles within the organization and in professional organizations
- Leadership/Organization
- Serves as a patient advocate and role model for “Patients First”
- Mentors staff to ensure quality of nutrition practice in patient care
- Assists with policy development and review in areas of expertise
- Leads and creates interdepartmental and/or organizational committees and task forces
- Uses expertise in decision making, problem solving and evaluating nutrition systems and protocols
- Identifies areas for quality monitoring and process improvement, and leads or actively participates in project
- Complete Mylearning courses / leadership training / modules as assigned or recommended by clinical manager
- Responsible for administrative activities, including coverage for level 1 manager as needed
- Education
- Provides comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and families
- Provides in-service education/Continuing Education programs in areas of expertise
- Precepts dietetic interns/graduate students and other staff
- Provides formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty
- Research
- Actively participates in research opportunities as available
- Participates in department/organization QAPI