Dietitian Nutritionist

Department and Work Schedule

This role is based in the Food and Nutrition department at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center - Inpatient services. The position is full-time with eligibility for benefits. The standard workweek is 40 hours, Monday through Friday, including adult weekend coverage approximately every 11-12 weeks. On those weekends, the employee works onsite both days and receives compensatory days off before and after the weekend. The start time is flexible in the morning.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is between $28.55 and $42.85 per hour. Base pay depends on qualifications, experience, and relevant training. Additional premium pay may apply under certain conditions such as shift or on-call work, with potential incentives and annual merit increases.

Role Responsibilities

• Evaluate and continuously monitor patients' nutritional status, adapting care plans according to the latest scientific research and clinical data.
• Deliver medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and counseling, including assessment, education, and the initiation, tracking, and adjustment of care plans for assigned patients.
• Coordinate nutrition-related care with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to support comprehensive patient treatment.
• Complete all required documentation promptly and thoroughly, including care plans, assessments, consults, nutrient analyses, and educational materials.
• Develop and evaluate patient and family education programs, tailoring teaching methods to match the learner’s developmental and educational needs, and document the effectiveness of teaching.
• Create and deliver in-service training sessions on selected nutrition topics for team members and other disciplines; supervise in-service development for residents and attending physicians under managerial guidance.
• Assist in orienting, training, and mentoring team members and dietetic interns as appropriate, with oversight from leadership.
• Communicate nutrition research findings and relevant information to medical staff, nursing, pharmacy teams, patients, and the community.
• Engage with multidisciplinary teams to address patient care issues, including providing staff performance feedback when applicable, to maintain high standards and customer satisfaction.

Physical Demands

The position requires continuous verbal communication and reading of written material in various formats. Writing tasks are frequent. The job involves occasional lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds and performing motor actions such as reaching. Physical activity includes regular walking, standing, sitting, and occasional squatting, twisting, and bending.

Qualifications and Education

• Must be a Registered Dietitian credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and licensed by the appropriate state board. Candidates passing the Registered Dietitian exam must obtain registration and licensure within six months of hire.
• If CDR registration eligibility was obtained before January 1, 2024, a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition or a related field is required.
• If initial CDR registration occurred on or after January 1, 2024, a minimum of a master’s degree is required.
• No prior professional experience is required.

Patient Population

The candidate should demonstrate an understanding of growth and development principles and possess the skills necessary to address the needs of patients across different ages, cultures, developmental stages, and special requirements.

Additional Job Details

This job description outlines the general duties expected and is not exhaustive. Other related duties may be assigned as necessary.

Benefits and Employer Commitment

• Comprehensive Total Rewards package including competitive base pay, incentive pay for select roles, and opportunities for increases based on performance.
• Paid time off programs.
• Health benefits covering medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability coverage.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care.
• Family benefits including adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Retirement plans with employer match and financial wellness programs.
• Educational assistance opportunities.

Eligibility for certain benefits depends on employment status such as full-time or part-time.

About the Employer

Advocate Health is a large nonprofit integrated health system in the U.S., formed by the merger of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Operating under various names across several states, the organization is nationally recognized for clinical innovation and patient care excellence. It employs approximately 155,000 team members across numerous hospitals and care locations and is involved in extensive research and education programs. The system is committed to equitable care and contributes over $6 billion annually to community benefits.