Clinical Dietitian I

Mercy Hospital is an 82 bed acute care hospital located in the scenic southwestern Colorado town of Durango. It is the only hospital in Colorado to be rated by Medicare with five stars for overall hospital quality. It is recognized for excellence in orthopedic and spine surgery and for outstanding patient experience and patient safety. Mercy has also received ten consecutive A grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. Our providers use state-of-the-art technology in an environment designed to promote wellbeing and healing of body mind and spirit. Among the many specialty services available at Mercy are emergency care (Level III trauma designation) surgical care cardiac care (including interventional) Orthopedic and Spine Centers of Excellence a Family Birthing Center home care hospice care and more. Durango offers an exceptional quality of life with small town charm excellent schools and year-round world-class outdoor recreation opportunities including snow sports river sports hiking biking camping and more.

You have a purpose unique talents and NOW is the time to embrace it live it and put it to work. We value incredible people with incredible skills but your commitment to a greater cause is something we value even more.

As an entry level clinician the Clinical Dietitian I assesses the nutritional status of the patient using recognized tools of assessment and recommends & counsels patients family and/or caregivers on the appropriate nutrition plan to improve the patients disease or condition management. Works with the general patient population as well as with patients in more complex levels of care under the supervision of a Clinical Dietitian II or Clinical Nutrition Manager/Director.

1. 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.
2. Implements targeted and specific nutrition intervention(s). Provides customized nutrition education to patients and/or families and caregivers. Works within an interdisciplinary environment 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.
3. Develops an intervention plan which includes appropriate feeding route mode and nutrition prescription unique to patients 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.
4. 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.

5. Other duties as assigned by leader.

In addition to bringing your whole self to the workplace each day qualified Cook candidates will need the following:

• Bachelors 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) must be obtained within 3 months of hire. Valid dietitian licensure as required by state (if applicable). Until registration is obtained documentation in a patients medical record must be signed off on by a dietitian that is registered and licensed (if applicable).
  • Kansas and Utah-based positions also require state licensure within 3 months of start.

Light work - (Exert up to 20lbs force occasionally and/or up to 10lbs frequently)