POSITION SUMMARY:

The RD is responsible for providing quality education including individual and group counseling, for medical nutrition therapy (MNT), chronic condition self-management, and wellness. The RD provides health education to individuals at assigned site(s), the community, and staff. The Registered Dietitian (RD) is responsible for counseling high risk Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program participants and assisting with program coordination and development. The RD reports to WIC Manager or Other Department Manager as designated.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Provides nutrition education to WIC participants in individual and group settings.
• Provides individual evidence based counseling techniques and develops care plans for high-risk WIC participants and develops nutrition plans to support goals, and documents it in WIC’s documentation system by the end of the day.
• Documentation is complete, concise, and appropriate.
• Assists in developing lesson plans for the yearly WIC nutrition services plan.
• Assists in the training and development of CMC staff members.
• Monitors office equipment and requests services as needed.
• Communicate with local WIC venders regarding WIC-specific shopping or customer service issues as needed.
• Demonstrate, use, and issue breast pumps to breastfeeding WIC participants.
• Leads WIC breastfeeding chat groups and documents as required.
• Provides breastfeeding support for WIC participants. Refers to WIC International Board Certified Lactation Consultant as needed.
• Promote breastfeeding as the norm to all pregnant and postpartum WIC participants, CMC patients, and their families.
• Acts as WIC site Supervisor as needed.
• Assesses patients’ nutritional risk/health status according to Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and provide appropriate MNT to patients.
• Assesses patients’ nutritional risk/health status according to Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP)/Sweet Success (SS) protocols and provide appropriate MNT to CPSP patients.
• In accordance with provider recommendations, partners with patient, family and/or caregivers to develop and implement a plan of care for nutrition/health education and counseling.
• Provides individual and group medical nutrition therapy, counseling and support for prevention and management of chronic health conditions.
• Works collaboratively with care team members to identify patient needs and make recommendations.
• Makes appropriate referrals and follow-up appointments to resources available within CMC or surrounding communities.
• Documents care plan in the medical record within 24 hours of patient encounters.
• Assists the Health Education Department with developing, reviewing, and maintaining current instructional materials on nutrition and dietary guidance using evidence based information and sources.
• Develops and assists Health Education team members in presentation of nutrition education classes.
• Assists with outreach activities and integration of services.
• Attends required CMC, state WIC, and staff meetings and participates in internal and external committees as requested.  
• Mentor interns and/or students in WIC and/or clinic dietetic services.
• Participates in professional development activities and maintains active RD status.
• Travel to different sites as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in nutrition science, dietetics or closely related field; and completion of a dietetic internship approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Registered or registration eligible with the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Must pass registration exam within 6 months of start date.
• Ability to develop positive rapport and supportive professional relationships with low income, ethnically diverse, and marginalized individuals.
• Six (6) months supervisory experience preferred.
• Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner, verbally and in writing, in English. Bilingual skills in Spanish and English; written and verbal preferred.
• Ability to listen skillfully, and willingness to employ evidence based counseling techniques to give information and create a care plan.
• Ability to communicate in a warm and respectful manner, verbally and non-verbally, using appropriate words, tone of voice, body language, facial expression, and eye contact.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service that is reflective of a culture that values trust and respect.
• Must have 1 year perinatal experience for serving Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP)
• Valid California driver's license, proof of insurance, and personal transportation

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of nutrition and dietary principles to direct high quality nutritional care.
• Knowledge of diet and nutritional assistance programs to make referrals.
• Knowledge of instructional skills and education techniques to influence and guide nutritional care of patients for health maintenance and/or improvement.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees and public.
• Ability to make judgments about dietary deficiencies.
• Ability to prepare routine records and reports using terminology common to nutrition.
• Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply appropriate written guidelines and work practices.
• Ability to communicate clearly.
• Knowledge of evidence-based medical nutrition therapy and educational, and dietary principles to direct high quality nutritional care (i.e. evidence based counseling techniques, weight management, diabetes management, nutrition, and preventive health & wellness).
• Knowledge of diet and nutritional assistance programs.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Ability to track information and prepare reports.
• Ability to identify problems, provide information, and recommend solutions.
• Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply appropriate written guidelines and work practices.
• Ability to work on a computer with a basic level of proficiency, including Microsoft Office Suite applications.
• Familiarity with electronic charting.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Requires frequent walking and standing for prolonged periods of time.  Requires sitting for prolonged periods of time.  Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity necessary to utilize computer keyboard in preparing reports and computing food amounts and nutrients. Requires exposure to communicable diseases. Requires ability to drive automobile or similar transportation to attend various clinics and other functions. Must be able to occasionally lift or push up to 50 pounds.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Exposure to communicable diseases, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment.