University of Washington Human Resources

UW CODE AND REPRESENTATIVE GROUP

BASIC FUNCTION

Performs professional level nutritional assessment, education and medical nutritional therapy and/or directs others in professional administrative dietetic services.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Under general supervision, provides for nutritional assessment, management and education of patients, and/or directs a food service system.

TYPICAL WORK

Assesses special nutritional needs of patients, residents and clients;

Assesses, evaluates, and prescribes modified/therapeutic diets;

Acts as liaison between clinical dietitians and other clinical professional staff;

Recommends to medical staff medication use or dosage to optimize nutritional therapy and address food and drug interaction for designated medications;

Develops criteria and assesses patients with high risk nutritional issues (such as oncology, diabetes, dementia, eating disorders, allergies, substance abuse, etc.);

Consults with occupational therapists, speech pathologists and/or nursing staff to determine safe food textures to prevent choking/aspiration;

Serves as a member of an interdisciplinary team and/or participates in the quality assurance process;

Audits patient’s records as needed to ensure dietary compliance with patient nutritional needs;

Formulates modified diet menus based on physician's recommendation for patient; prepares mechanically soft, diabetic, sodium restricted, reduction, and other therapeutic dietetic menus; interprets diet prescriptions;

Supervises the preparation and serving of special or modified diets; confers with cooks, bakers, and meatcutters regarding their available time for special diet work and kind of food necessary for special diets;

Sets up and maintains diet recipe file; develops and modifies recipes;

Inspects food being served for compliance with policies and standards governing proper proportioning, sanitation, and food handling;

Trains cooks, food service personnel, patients or students in therapeutic meal preparation;

Maintains case records such as caloric intake and nutritional histories for individual patients; maintains dietary efficiency within budget constraints; prepares reports;

Coordinates and evaluates food production, food distribution and service systems;

Integrates nutritional care program with food production and delivery; merchandises food in both personnel and patient areas;

Establishes and maintains policies and procedures regarding such things as standards of food production and service, sanitation, safety and security, food service system goals;

Utilizes computerized systems in the evaluation of nutritional care and food control processes;

Develops, organizes, implements and evaluates nutrition education for patients; arranges discharge nutrition care plans with outside agencies;

Serves as a consultant on nutrition care as a member of a health care team;

Implements and monitors all state, federal, local and JCAH standards for dietary departments;

Performs related duties as required;

May supervise or direct the work of others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in food and nutrition or dietetics

AND

Registration as a Dietitian by the American Dietetic Association

OR

Eligible for registration at the time of hire and pass the registration examination within one year of date of hire.

CLASS SPECIFICATION HISTORY

07-16-19: Class adopted for UW contract classified staff per PERC decision to add this title to the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Social Worker bargaining unit (Case #130658-E-18). Incorporates the work of UW classified non-union job code 16005, Dietitian 1/Washington State Job Code 311E.

Add SEIU 1199NW UWMC-NW job profiles: 01-01-2020