124 Fire Tower Rd, Orangeburg, South Carolina, 29118, United States of America

The Dietitian Associate position provides nutrition services and education to in-center adult dialysis patients and authorized caregivers in clinical settings to support and maximize the patient's nutritional well-being, under the supervision and guidance of a qualified renal dietitian (Intermediate or above preferred). This role reports to the Facility Administrator.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Evaluates on-going nutritional status to determine appropriate nutrition intervention(s) and recommendations. Consults physician regarding lab tests as needed.
• Develops individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for patients based on reported lab results and individualized goals.
• Selects and develops nutrition education and counseling based on individualized patient needs, including nutrient requirements, knowledge and abilities, medical, economic, and social situation.
• Utilizes Motivational Interviewing with patients in need of a behavior change on an ongoing basis.
• Monitors nutritional status, laboratory values, dialysis adequacy, adherence to diet and response to nutrition related medications and therapy to determine appropriate nutrition intervention and recommendations.
• Evaluates outcomes, identifies contributing factors and document interventions. • Contacts and collaborates with extended care facility staff, or other appropriate medical personnel or caregivers to facilitate adequate and appropriate nutritional care.
• Functions as Mineral and Bone Disorder Manager.
• Effectively communicates pertinent nutrition issues to the IDT and to patients.
• Participates in patient care conferences and IDT meetings.
• Presents nutrition related in-service for teammates at least annually.
• Regularly consults with qualified renal dietitians (resident or above) and / or dietitian preceptor to support advanced or complex clinical renal nutrition and MBD situations.
• Supports the qualified renal dietitian in collecting data for nutrition assessments, nutrition reassessments, and plan of care (POC), Facility Health Meeting in accordance with CMS regulations
• Supports the qualified renal dietitian by implementing the treatment and nutritional goals identified through the POC.

• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or a similar area and as required for registration
• Registered Dietitian
• May have less than 1 year clinical experience
• State licensure or certification required if licensure or certification is available in the state where the facility is located. In states where licensure/certification is optional, a new hire or transfer dietitian will be allowed 120 days grace period to obtain the license/certification
• Intermediate computer skills and proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook required as well as functional proficiency with DaVita specific applications within 60 days of employment.

• Travel up to 30% as needed to meet patient needs, attend meetings and trainings, and provide cross coverage support for the qualified renal dietitian overseeing patient assessments and POC.