Dietitian/Nutrition -Technician/ Specialist

Riyadh Hospital

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Evaluate the nutrition status of patients and screen patients for nutritional risk in accordance with established department protocols and standards.
• Comply with CBAHI standards, HACCP, and other relevant regulations.
• Maintain schedules to always facilitate the availability of trained staff in the unit.
• Devise policies & procedures of comprehensive nutritional assessment including, but is not limited to, height or weight chart for children, body mass index (BMI) for adults, eating habits, food allergies, need for therapeutic diet, physical difficulties with eating or drinking and the need of any assisting devices.
• Establish protocols for nutritional assessment of patients receiving a feeding tube or parenteral nutrition.
• Supervises staff in the provision of medical nutrition therapy to patients if indicated by patient requirements and clinical protocols.
• Assess patients at regular intervals & monitor their response to therapy.
• Develop policies for the nutritional plans of patients with nutritional disorders.
• Ensure patients cultural and food preferences are respected to an extent as possible.
• Develop protocols regarding enteral tube feeding for malnourished, at risk of malnutrition, inadequate oral intake of patients, etc.
• Devise policies for nutritional plans for patients with functioning gastrointestinal tract & non-functioning gastrointestinal tract.
• Provide consultation to patients with conditions including, but not limited to; diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Celiac disease & cardiac, renal, liver conditions or other diseases.
• Supervise/Assist staff in the dietetic management of symptoms and interventions that include but are not limited to poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, taste changes, and artificial nutrition support.
• Overall responsibility for budget expenditure and revenue setting within the unit.
• Develop financial strategies by estimating requirements and variances, aligning monetary resources & developing action plans.
• Compile statistical information and registers pertaining to the medical records department, ancillary services, and other hospital s statistical information.
• Maintain patient case files including progress notes, evaluations, recommendations, charted weekly progress notes, and quarterly summaries.
• Facilitate the availability of appropriate personnel, equipment, and supplies.
• Responsible for the management of annual leave within budgeted staffing numbers ensuring service continuity and capacity.
• Direct proper sterilization of the unit in specified conditions as per instructions of infection control.
• Develop a dietary manual for the hospital that is used as the basis for diet orders and planning therapeutic diets. It includes instructions regarding, but not limited to; different types of diets used in the hospital, directions to use nutritional supplements & appropriate storage methods for snacks or beverages.
• Provide nutritional education and counseling to patients, families & healthcare staff in accordance with established educational plans.
• In co-operation with the management staff responsible for the delivery of catering services, liaise with catering staff regarding the provision of therapeutic diets and provide advice on appropriate meals to ensure dietary requirements are met.
• Develop and deliver educational programs and appropriate teaching tools for various ethnic and cultural groups to support understanding of nutrition.
• Establish policies & procedures for a therapeutic diet that includes, but is not limited to; total calories required, restrictions, route, and frequency of feeding, etc.
• Ensure food preparation, handling, storage, and distribution are safe and in compliance with professional accreditation standards.
• Provide follow-up nutritional assessments, up-to-date care plans, and patient reviews as required.
• Ensure appropriate documentation of nutritional screening and assessment findings in the patient s medical record.

Qualification & Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics Degree.
• Clinical Nutrition training or certification is highly preferred (ASPEN, ESPEN)
• Training on HACCP.
• Master s degree is Preferred.
• Current Registration in the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
• Minimum 3 years of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics experience in a hospital setting.

Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of regulations established by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties related to healthcare practices.
• Demonstrate the requisite clinical knowledge and high level of competence in the delivery of the dietetic intervention and evidence-based practice.
• Broad knowledge of health care management principles and practices within a medical center.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision and administration of the department.
• Expertise in clinical nutrition theories, practices & standards.
• Skills to effectively communicate with other healthcare professionals to develop effective patient-centered action plans.
• Abilities to consider the significant impact of other comorbidities on an individual s nutrition care plan and manage dietetic priorities in conjunction with other treatments.

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