Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Dietitian
A Dietitian is a healthcare professional who specializes in food and nutrition. They assess the nutritional needs of patients or clients, develop and implement personalized nutrition plans, and provide education and counseling on healthy eating habits. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Dietitians.
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Main Responsibilities of Dietitian
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Dietitian:
Adhere to
Adhere to all Standard Operating Procedures, Guidelines and Best Practices.
Adhere to department and hospital philosophies, standards, objectives and policies and procedures.
Adhere to hospital / department dress code including wearing ID badge.
Advise
Advise on diet and food and nutrition across all health sectors.
Analyze
Analyze and compare food intake with nutritional requirements.
Analyze diets for nutrition adequacy.
Answer
Answer chat messages from new or current members and help to resolve any issues that may arise.
Apply
Apply knowledge of nutrition requirements throughout the life cycle.
Assess
Assess and communicate impact of relevant regional regulations / standards in local market.
Assess, monitor, and educate dialysis patients about nutritional needs.
Assess patients current physical condition and nutritional status.
Assess the individual patient's nutritional needs.
Assist in
Assist in annual plan and budget for the Nutrition and Green Living Services.
Assist in preparing budgets within food service operations.
Assist patients / FHT health professionals to use diabetic resources.
Assist with growing DEP awareness.
Assist with other allied care team initiatives, as required.
Attend
Attend monthly FHC meetings or participation in committees, when possible.
Attend scheduled training as required.
Attend team meetings to provide clinical feedback to clinicians.
Calculate
Calculate quantity and dilution of enteral feeding formulas as per doctor's prescription.
Coach
Coach, train, and develop the clinical nutrition team.
Collaborate
Collaborate with DQA on specialized or complex complaint summary reports.
Collaborate with members of the health care team and participate in practice-based research projects.
Collaborate with members of the health care team to initiate practice-based research projects.
Collect
Collect data for outcome measure.
Communicate
Communicate effectively with members of the health team.
Communicate frequently and effectively with patients and families via phone and email.
Communicate resident nutrition care plans to residents / family / staff as appropriate.
Complete
Complete a minimum of 2 community outreach events annually.
Complete and updates dietary assessments as part of the comprehensive resident assessment process.
Complete annual outreach calls.
Complete monthly activity reports.
Complete nutritional assessments and nutritional care plans for all residents.
Complete nutritional assessments for each LTC resident using RAI MDS 2.0 as required.
Complete nutrition assessments of clients referred by following the person served philosophy.
Complete required audits as outlined in the "Summary of Required Nutrition and Food Service Audit”.
Conduct
Conduct assessments of residents' nutritional status and requirements.
Contribute to
Contribute to quarterly reports by evaluating progress toward achieving set objectives.
Contribute to team decision making through collaboration and consultation.
Contribute to the development of evidence based professional practice model of care.
Contribute to the development of patient handouts, as required.
Contribute to the education of Dietetic Interns and other students.
Coordinate
Coordinate and attend grocery shopping and restaurant outings.
Counsel
Counsel residents and family members on therapeutic diets, and other nutritional concerns.
Create
Create communication letters for clients.
Create full and personalized nutrition plans that promote healthy lifestyles.
Define
Define the time and frequency of care including intensity, duration, and follow-up.
Design
Design and execute local acceptability studies to support reimbursement applications.
Develop
Develop and implements nutrition care plans.
Develop and support food security interventions.
Develop, evaluate and utilize appropriate education materials for patients.
Develop menus for different nutritional needs and different facilities.
Develop nutritional care plans and provides nutrition education and counselling.
Develop nutrition interventions and goals focused on the etiology of the nutrition problem.
Develop parenteral and enteral feeding regimes.
Develop profile-driven nutrition recommendations and protocols focused on mood health.
Develop, update and maintain education resources for patients and for providers.
Develop, update and / or acquire nutrition education resource materials.
Document
Document complete, accurate and relevant data for every resident according to PPSL policies.
Document thoroughly according to DCI policy.
Educate
Educate and advise patients on diabetes self management skills in both individual and group settings.
Educate and provide advice on what and how much to eat to improve lab results and patient health.
Educate internal and external staff members about healthy eating and proper nutrition.
Educate patients on what the lab values mean and how the patients are doing.
Educate staff about the renal diet and laboratory results.
Educate the patient and family about the importance of diet and fluid control.
Employ
Employ information technology appropriately for patient care (i.e. statistical tracking).
Employ information technology appropriately for statistical tracking.
Empower
Empower our patients to make sustainable behaviour changes that are realistic, and evidence based.
Empower you to be a conscientious health care consumer through educational and wellness activities.
Ensure
Ensure follow-through with client goals.
Ensure implementation of new regulations / guidance within legal deadlines.
Ensure maintenance of in-line products and support new business opportunities.
Ensure maximum productivity and efficiency through proper scheduling.
Ensure that the care plan identifies any special equipment and utensils the resident may need.
Establish
Establish and maintain individualized patient files in the dietary computer system.
Establish and maintain relations with KOLS (individual meetings, conferences, congresses).
Evaluate
Evaluate and report the results appropriately.
Evaluate documentation for accuracy, completeness and consistency.
Evaluate patient outcome and progress toward achieving nutrition goals.
Evaluate the patient's nutritional related education needs.
Explain
Explain the relationship of the lab values to the food the patient has been eating.
Express
Express confidence, and competence as a facilitator, and educator.
Facilitate
Facilitate or co-facilitate group medical visits and / or group educational sessions.
Facilitate student and intern learning experience by providing instruction and feedback.
Facilitate various group education classes for patients and clinicians.
Focus on
Focus on being a clinician while the management team takes care of the rest.
Follow
Follow safety, environment, and infection control practices, as per facility policies.
Gauge
Gauge the effects of these meal plans.
Help
Help to achieve required sales goals for both services and products.
Identify
Identify and communicate complaint trends to the Consumer Relations Leadership team.
Identify and escalate complaints that require additional or immediate attention.
Identify and monitor specific patients to ensure that tray tickets are complete and accurate.
Identify clients at nutrition risk.
Identify new business opportunities with existing and potential clients.
Identify nutrition problems and determines etiology of the nutrition problem.
Incorporate
Incorporate current evidence-based research into practice, utilizing the Nutrition Care Process.
Interpret
Interpret and / or calculate individual therapeutic and special diet orders.
Keep
Keep abreast of the latest research in nutritional and food sciences.
Keep up with the latest nutritional science relevant to clinical nutrition.
Liaise with
Liaise with the Unit Patient Care Manager as appropriate.
Maintain
Maintain confidentiality and a professional manner.
Maintain consistency with clients, staff, visitors, and the public.
Maintain current licensure and / or certifications, if applicable.
Maintain knowledge of nutritional supplements and formulary, and recommends changes as needed.
Maintain metabolic formula inventory and order schedule for patient population.
Maintain professionalism and does not show favoritism.
Maintain professional records.
Maintain quality customer experience while achieving productivity standards.
Maintain summary of visits and nutritional assessments / reviews.
Maintain weight charts / schedules and set up / supervise Recovery Record for all clients.
Manage
Manage caseloads across units.
Manage expenditures and works to ensure compliance with approved budget.
Manage resources (time, materials, and staff) in a cost-effective manner.
Meet
Meet required service metrics and individual performance goals.
Mentor
Mentor nutrition volunteers & interns, as required.
Mentor / train end users, interns and students.
Monitor
Monitor emerging issues and identify solutions.
Monitor market trends and competitor activity in assigned territory.
Monitor quality of food served to residents and resident's acceptability of items served.
Obtain
Obtain participant food preferences and adhere to dietary modifications.
Oversee
Oversee and plan special nutrition needs for special diets, allergies and disease conditions.
Own
Own transportation and the ability to travel hospital between sites.
Participate in
Participate in clinical and interprofessional education activities in support of Dietetic Interns.
Participate in developing and documenting a plan for discharge.
Participate in disseminating the DEP vision – act as a Diabetes Ambassador.
Participate in medication management.
Participate in multidisciplinary interaction and education.
Participate in team planning and evaluation.
Participate in team rounds and meetings.
Participate in the development of services through care team.
Participate in Veterans Centre and hospital-wide committees, meetings and planning as required.
Participate in working groups aimed at improving corporate culture and processes.
Perform
Perform all other related duties as assigned.
Perform all phases of nutrition care, including nutrition assessment, care planning and monitoring.
Perform and document nutrition assessments.
Perform competitive research calls and follow-up calls to healthcare professionals.
Perform patient follow ups in person or remotely (email, telephone, OTN).
Prepare
Prepare concise, organized, and accurate reports.
Prepare meal plans as directed by the dietitians.
Promote
Promote a positive image in our stores, the organization and surrounding communities.
Promote nutrition through public speaking and community outreach programs.
Provide
Provide advice on protein and / or calorie supplements, if necessary.
Provide and assess effectiveness of patient and family education.
Provide blood glucose monitoring training and pattern management guidance to patients.
Provide consultation as requested to community groups, partners and team members.
Provide counseling and education in an individual, family and group setting.
Provide educational materials including, handouts, recipes and where to obtain specialized cookbooks.
Provide educational programs to facility customers.
Provide health advice and promoting healthy eating.
Provide individual counselling to clients around diabetes education and management.
Provide meal / snack support and supervision.
Provide metabolic formula preparation instructions to the patient and family.
Provide nutritional counselling and advice to clients.
Provide nutritional education and counselling to clients, families, and staff.
Provide nutrition consultation to others including health care professionals.
Provide nutrition education / counseling to patients and caregivers.
Provide recommendations for diet, supplements and enteral / parenteral nutrition.
Provide supervision and direction to dietetic interns, as necessary.
Provide support to Nutrition Managers as needed.
Provide virtual and / or in-person coaching from time to time.
Recommend
Recommend appropriate follow up and provides community resources for patients to access.
Resolve
Resolve customer complaints, if they arise.
Review
Review and assess relevant laboratory data.
Review integrated nutrition screening reports and accurately identify patients at nutritional risk.
Review laboratory results with the patient and makes recommendations to the patient and physician.
Review the two seasonal menus for nutritional adequacy and provides approval in writing.
Revise
Revise intervention and / or education plan.
Revise or adjust the nutrition care plan accordingly.
Screen
Screen all patient charts prior to their appointment.
Seek
Seek appropriate approvals for written results as requested.
Select
Select and prepare education materials, tailored according to client's profile.
Serve
Serve as a case manager to our patients with chronic conditions.
Support
Support and deliver quality patient safety standards within the health authority.
Support delivery of dietetic helpline service.
Support design and execution of local acceptability studies to support reimbursement applications.
Support dietetic student training (pre-registration).
Support the growth and development of regional peers and national program.
Support your financial protection and security in retirement.
Teach
Teach self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).
Train
Train and mentor patient services staff and interns as applicable.
Travel
Travel to other sites may be required.
Understand
Understand and interpret clinical standards into patient menus.
Use
Use Computrition Diet Office Module to implement nutrition care plans.
Work
Work and find support within an interdisciplinary team of professionals.
Work collaboratively and communicate care plan and progress to family physicians.
Work effectively, both independently and as part of an inter-disciplinary team.
Work well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Dietitian:
Nutrition
Standing
Licensing Body
Proof of Education & Training Certifications
Valid Registration
Computer
Microsoft Office
Registered Dietitian
Human Nutrition
Government Legislation
Long Term Care
Dietitians
Long-Term Care Setting
Clinical Nutrition
Food
Teaching
Valid Driver's License
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Dietitian:
Written and oral communication skills
Organizational capacity
Time-management
Interpersonal skills
Work independently with little direction
Commitment
Leadership
Problem-solving attitude
Collaborative
Critical thinker
Planning
Decision-making
Flexible
Priority management
Teamwork
Client focused
