Nutrition Services Ambassador

Overview:

This position is accountable for meal service for all patients on a daily basis. Responsibilities include obtaining patients' menu selection; processing tray tickets and nourishments according to the patients' diet prescription; accurately serving food and beverages to patients in accordance with diet; and verbally communicating patient concerns to clinical dietitian (education needs, inadequate meal consumption, etc.). Serves as the point of contact for patient care units. May have access to non-controlled medication storage areas on the patient care areas if and only when their job responsibilities require that access, such as transferring non-controlled substance medications from one storage location site to another or when helping other licensed healthcare professionals retrieve non-controlled substance medications.

Responsibilities:

Meal Service: Process meal service customer orders, including patients and guest. Ensures adherence to diet orders while visiting patients to obtain or deliver meal selections. Anticipates and identifies areas for improvement in tray assembly/retrieval. Holds other accountable in same standards. Serves as role model. Trays assembled accurately and in an eye appealing manner. Process orders for patient request. Performs tray assembly and delivery. Preforms tray retrieval from units following all meals.

Process Diet Orders: Proactively identifies process improvement of menu offerings by recognizing and communicating customer needs. Actively participates in diet education process with patients/families. Acts as resource for other staff members. Diet orders are processed accurately and timely according to departmental protocol. Recognizes and suggest appropriate substitutions. Balances customer needs while maintaining departmental budget.

Serves as Nutritional Services Liaison: Is recognized as Nutritional Services expert/leader for the healthcare team and is seen as a resource. Proactively identifies potential conflicts/issues and independently initiates actions to prevent/resolve issues within scope. Effectively coordinates nutritional needs and services for patients /visitors/caregivers/healthcare team. Maintains visibility on units. Coordinates with team.

Documentation: Completes documentation in accurate, timely manner and is cost efficient to meet patient /department needs utilizing appropriate system. Treat all information and data within the scope of the position with appropriate confidentiality and security. Attends all required department in-services and meetings. In addition, also completes position specific training.

Process orders for patient nourishments: Proactively identifies process improvement for floor stock/patient nourishments. Recognizes and reports inaccuracies in floor stock/patient nourishments. Stock ordered accurately and timely according to department protocol or diet order. Balances customer needs while maintaining departmental budget. Recognizes and communicates variances in census or products based on unit?s needs and consumptions. Proactively reviews expiration dates and rotates stock using department protocol.

Qualifications:

 High School Diploma or equivalent, Preferred

Will consider an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE:

Ability to evaluate and appropriately respond to verbal and non-verbal communication from patients in diverse stages of development, i.e. neonates, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics.

Knowledge and applicatio of basic diet information.

Previous network computer experience preferred - basic typing skills.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRY/LISTING: REQUIRED

PREFERRED