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As you interact with the various members of the care team at the nursing home, I believe it’s important to know a bit about their backgrounds and responsibilities. Perhaps this information might even spark a desire for you to pursue one of these nursing home careers!
In the past, we’ve highlighted several specialties:
Today we’re looking at the job of the nursing home dietician. When we consider the enormous part food plays in our lives, we realize the dietician’s crucial role.
Food provides enjoyment, helps maintain our bodies, and enhances social activities. The dietician must strike a balance between providing food that promotes good health while also respecting the individual preferences of each resident.
Is a nursing home required to employ a dietician?
Yes, federal regulations require a nursing home to have either a full-time registered dietician or a dietary manager and a consultant dietician.
What type of education does a dietician need?
The dietician must possess a bachelor’s degree or higher. Education includes classroom studies as well as internships. They also need to pass a national registration exam.
What is the role of the dietician?
The dietician carries many responsibilities. These are a few of the most common ones:
- Develop a dietary care plan for every resident.
- Take part in interdisciplinary meetings such as care conferences and quality improvement meetings.
- Plan diets for residents with special needs such as kidney disease, gluten intolerance, or diabetes.
- Maintain an appropriate food budget while providing nutritious and tasty meals.
- Recommend dietary interventions for issues such as skin breakdown, weight loss or gain, abnormal lab values, or dehydration.
- Participate in the MDS process.
- Educate residents, families, and staff on nutritional topics.
- Audit dietary services to assure compliance with state and federal regulations.
Do I have any dieticians among my readers? What would you like to add?
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