Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY: The Nutrition Assistant reports to the Clinical Nutrition Manager and performs a variety of tasks related to patient service.# Provide a high level of customer service and exhibits appropriate customer service skills to all patients.# Visits and assists inpatients with menu selections on assigned units on a daily basis.# Meets patients# special diet and/or cultural/religious needs with regard to menu selections.# Collects and processes menus for assigned areas.# Provides appropriate meals based on age/development/condition/food preferences.# Utilizes Meditech computerized system with regard to diet orders, admissions, transfers, discharges, snacks and tube feedings.# Utilizes proper telephone etiquette when dealing with phone calls.# Knowledge and proficiency in all modified diets that are provided to inpatients.# Corrects inpatient menus to be in compliance with diet order prescribed by physician and follows established guidelines.# Communicates patient concerns to the Dietetic Technician, Dietitian or Manager.# Provides care within JCAHO standards to maximize the quality of inpatient care.# Participates in the orientation and training of new employees, students and volunteers.##### # # # EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION High school diploma or equivalent (GED). # # EXPERIENCE Experience working with Meditech preferred.# # # COMPETENCIES Must be able to read, write, speak and comprehend English.# Knowledge of nutritional structure and different classes of peoples needs within that structure.# Utilizes the Meditech computerized system.# Demonstrates excellent communication skills.###### # # ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: Disclaimer: Job descriptions are not intended, nor should they be construed to be, exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job.# They are intended to be accurate reflections of the principal duties and responsibilities of this position.# These responsibilities and competencies listed below may change from time to time. # # # ######### Job-Specific Competency 1.##### Assists patients with menu selection as needed, concentrating on special needs, such as evidenced by notes on #Patient Profile#, write-in food items on menus, initiation of snacks and supplements.# Incorporates religious and cultural beliefs into menu selection.# Obtains menus for new admissions as soon as possible.# At end of shift, filled menus are to be in for all inpatients, including those with a diet order of clear and full liquids for breakfast the next day.# 2.##### Demonstrates ongoing updating of computerized diet census sheets with neat, legible, accurate and current patient information. 3.##### Demonstrates handwriting on menus is legible and menu items are circled neatly.# This includes accurate room number, accurate patient name, accurate diet order and any write-in menu items.# 4.##### Demonstrates that entire diet order (as it appears on the computerized diet census sheet) is written legibly and accurately on each of the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.# Correct menu color is utilized according to diet order. Food allergies are written in red at the top of each of the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus (allergic to #).# Correct menu for the day of the week is utilized. 5.##### Demonstrates that the mandatory fields on the #Patient Profile# (kardex) sheet are filled out for each patient and that the information is current.# The mandatory fields include patient#s name, room number, age, date of admission, dates/diet orders, menu selection # whether patient is able to circle own menu, food allergies (to be written in red), snacks/PO supplements and any pertinent information included in the #nutritional information# section of the sheet.# Handwriting is legible.# Information is current and accurate. 6.##### Demonstrates the review/update of menus prior to each meal and organizes #hold trays# and menus of #NPO# patients for retrieval when a patient#s diet order status and PO intake resumes.# Uses the most recent available diet orders, room transfer, and admission and discharge information. 7.##### Demonstrates that all snacks/PO supplements ordered have been entered into the Meditech computerized system.## Deletes snacks in Meditech when a patient#s diet order has been changed to NPO.# Re-enters snacks in Meditech when a patient#s diet order is resumed after being NPO. 8.##### Completes grill sheet, cold specials sheet and add-on sheet prior to each meal and completes daily meal census.# Counts are accurate based on the most recent available information and are neat and legible. 9.##### Corrects and modifies inpatient menus to comply with diet order prescribed by the physician and utilizes established guidelines.# Scores on inpatient menu audits are consistently above 90%. 10.# Implements phone/computer orders for all new admissions, discharges, diet order changes or room changes.# Follows-through with the new information with regard to diet census sheets, menus, patient profile and snacks/PO supplements in Meditech. 11.# Participates in and completes customer service surveys. 12.# Participates in Quality Improvement by tracking/monitoring an NPO indicator.# Documentation daily on the designated form of inpatients whose diet orders should have been NPO will be completed. 13.# Knowledge and application of JCAHO standards and Connecticut State Department of Health regulations. 14.# Participates in clinical monthly inservices. 15.# Attends monthly department meetings. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ECHN

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