University of Washington Human Resources

Dietitian 1 / Dietitian Reg

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.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY

07/16/2019: 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.
01/01/2020: Add SEIU 1199NW UWMC-NW job profiles