Facility: Cobb Hospital



Practices as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team responsible for the provision of medical nutrition therapy with specialty skill of parenteral nutrition (PN) support management for assigned age group. Fosters continuity of the Nutrition Care Process across all phases of the continuum of care as recommended by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Performs nutrition assessment for patients including the calculation of metabolic nutrient requirements according to the age and disease specific needs of patients. Provides recommendations and/or manages PN support per WellStar Health System (WHS) Policies and Procedures and Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) as consulted by physician. Evaluates and monitors the effectiveness of PN support on a daily basis. Provides nutrition support alternatives and other nutrition therapy recommendations to prescribers. Provides nutrition education to patients, family, and/or members of the health care team on recommended nutrition intervention(s) to accomplish nutrition goals; which may include, but is not limited to any of the following topics: PN/EN support, transitional feeds, specialized diet, eating behaviors and other community nutrition resources. Participates in performance improvement and research activities. Mentors dietetic interns and pharmacy residents as assigned. Actively assesses, evaluates and maintains professional development and competencies outlined in the position description. Area of professional focus may be neonatal, pediatric or adult nutrition support.


Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:


Nutritional
- Assess patients nutritional needs and enter orders for TPN and necessary monitoring laboratory tests while the patient is receiving TPN therapy (per SPP NC-50).
- Intervene with prescribers for TPN therapy questions/issues identified.
- Provide on-call clinical pharmacy services related to TPN therapy, as needed.
- Update nutrition resources/guidelines for clinical staff. Educational
- Develop and provide educational programs/in-services for pharmacy department, clinical dietitians, health care practitioners, patients or patient families as required or needed.
- Participate as a preceptor/instructor for students from accredited colleges/schools of pharmacy, dietetic interns or PGY1 residents at WHS Kennestone Hospital as needed.
- Assist in other areas related to medication screening and patient education, as needed.
- Collaborate with and/or train pharmacists on TPN management, as needed.
- Assist in tracking competency records for quarterly/yearly competencies of staff, as needed. Miscellaneous
- Participate on or chair committees, teams or task forces related to area of nutrition support.
- Develop criteria for applicable Med Use Evaluations (MUE). Collect information, tabulate results,
- propose recommendations and present MUE data to the Pharmacy Therapeutics committee,
- as appropriate.
- Assist in preparing for and maintaining compliance with regulatory agency (e.g. TJC)
- standards/requirements.
- Assist in developing best practice order sets relevant to area of practice, as needed.
- Assist in managing solutions for drug shortages and backorders.


Required Minimum Education:


Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution with a major in nutrition/dietetics Required and
Completion of a supervised practice didactic program accredited by the Accreditation Counsel for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Required Master's Degree in nutrition Required or related field preferred. Preferred


Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):
All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.


Lic Dietician
Registered Dietician or Reg Dietician Nutritionist
Cert Nutrition Support Clnicia-Preferred


Additional License(s) and Certification(s):


Required Minimum Experience:


Minimum 3 years clinical experience that includes direct practice in enteral and parenteral nutrition support. Required


Required Minimum Skills:


Excellent interpersonal, customer service, verbal and written communication skills.
Experience with electronic medical record charting systems.
Knowledge of best practices in clinical nutrition and the dietetics profession; specifically, nutrition support.
Knowledge of Nutrition Care Process and its use in complex cases in the clinical setting.
Ability to think critically to apply nutrition interventions to patients with multiple comorbidities and/or special needs, including management of enteral nutrition provisions.
Ability to maintain effective relationships with other healthcare professionals in sharing nutrition knowledge and expertise.
Ability to work with patient interests and health in mind.