Where You’ll Work

Founded in 1910, Dignity Health - Mercy Hospital is a 229-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Bakersfield, California. Serving nearly 90,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including Level II NICU, cancer care, women’s health, and orthopedics. Additionally, Mercy Hospital Downtown & Mercy Hospital Southwest have been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. They are both Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Centers. Mercy Hospital Downtown offers the only inpatient Oncology Unit in Bakersfield while Mercy Hospital Southwest has the only Obstetric Emergency Department in Bakersfield.

One Community. One Mission. One California 

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our 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.

 

Conducts patient screening in accordance with specialized clinical guidelines for those at a specific nutritional risk. 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) based on the specific medical condition. Provides customized nutrition education to patients and/or families and caregivers. Actively participates as a member of the multi-specialty, interdisciplinary care team to contribute toward overall patient care. Closely monitors, evaluates and rescreens patient nutrition status as appropriate. Updates plan of care as necessary. Follows 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. CA Only: For neonates and pediatric patients, coordinates nutrition services with California Children's Services (CCS). Must be a California Children's Services (CCS) paneled provider if providing nutrition care to NICU or pediatric patients with a CCS-approved facility. 

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, 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. Supports in the training/development of Clinical Dietitian I, patient interactive positions (i.e. dietitians, diet clerks, interns, etc.) as well as other positions as needed. This may include leading Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) training sessions and workshops for overall hospital clinical staff such as nurses, therapists, and physicians. 

Functions routinely with high acuity patients requiring advanced competency to provide expert level of care and nutrition therapy in Neonatal intensive care units, Pediatric units, enteral/parenteral nutrition support and order writing privileges, oncology, renal, diabetes, and gerontology. 

Other duties as assigned by leader.

Job Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• Two (2) years acute hospital or similar experience working with patients in more complex levels of care to specialized populations (e.g. pediatric, bariatric, ICU, older adults, etc.).
• Bachelor's Degree with completion of accredited dietetics program (ACEND - Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition Dietetics.)
• Valid registration as a Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Training:

• Potential Board Certifications include: Board Certification Specialist in Oncology, Pediatric and Pediatric Critical Care, Renal, and Gerontological. Also Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (NBNSC) - ASPEN, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (NCBDE). Outpatient/Wellness Center/Rehabilitation - Board Certified Specialist in sports dietetics, obesity and weight management.

Posted Pay Range

$43.85 - $50.37 /hour