Clinical Dietitian I, Diabetes Centre

Detailed Overview

Clinically reporting to the Clinical Chief Dietitian, the Dietitian provides therapeutic and nutritional care to clients with diabetes in the Diabetes Centre to achieve optimal health.

• This includes assessing client's needs through developing, planning and implementing nutritional goals and care plans; evaluating and modifying existing plans to achieve optimal blood glucose levels;
• targeting weight and lipid levels to reduce / prevent cardiovascular complications and other diabetic-related complications;

providing consultation to clients and other health providers regarding diabetes education, nutrition; participates in the development of nutritional related guidelines, policies and procedures, education and program planning and standards for the Diabetes Centre in consultation with Manager, Health Services or designate.

Responsibilities Assesses clients referred to the Diabetes Centre utilizing standards and guidelines, physical nutrition assessment including documenting a client's diet history, recording initial weight for baseline purposes, reviewing laboratory results, obtaining a medical history and discussing other related socioeconomic and lifestyle factors which may affect the nutritional care plan;

identifies relevant and clinical techniques and secondary complications in order to determine the most effective client-care plan.

Develops and implements client focused nutritional goals and care plans including short and long term goals; utilizes appropriate standards and guidelines while incorporating a client's lifestyle stages, socioeconomic and other lifestyle factors;

incorporates other health care providers and disciplines in the client's nutritional plans. Monitors clients to ascertain if the nutritional care plan is meeting the established nutritional goals by consulting with the client, family members and other health care team members regarding the client's response to nutritional care plan and making recommendations to the team and / or client for changes or adjustments to the client's overall diabetes management.

Prepares lesson plans and provides nutrition, lifestyle, self care counselling and follow-up on topics of nutrition in diabetes using a variety of written educational material and resources, audio-visual aids and nutritional props in a one-on-one and group setting.

Documents nutrition care plan and recommendations according to established format and policy, timelines and legal requirements;

charts recommendations in the client medical record including suggested changes in diabetes management. Develops, implements, evaluates and provides leadership on nutrition guidelines, education materials, teaching plans and revises the materials through reviewing current practice guidelines, nutrition literature review, networking with others in different Diabetes Centres, attending diabetes related meeting, workshops and / or conferences and providing written recommendations, as requested.

Attends interdisciplinary team meetings regarding client reviews and ongoing program evaluation through providing input on care management issues, program effectiveness and administrative decisions.

Provides formal and informal consultations to staff / community dietitians, other health care team members and students through reviewing client / family needs and / or specific client's progress, troubleshooting providing guidance / knowledge in the management of a client or client group.

Participates in the orientation of casual dietitians and dietetic students through methods such as mentoring, instructing and demonstrating related procedures and provides feedback on their educational progress and experience.

Participates in program planning and quality improvement initiatives through collecting data, evaluating effects of change in client care practice and monitors variances to expected outcomes.

Participates in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of clinical research projects by identifying current trends in diabetes management, literature and collaborating with other team members to assess current research and promote the dissemination of research findings.

Assists with activities to promote optimal use of clinical resources through identifying systems for improved resource utilization, workload and program planning, identifying and requisitioning equipment needing repairs or recommending new equipment purchases for educating people with diabetes, as requested.

Attends a variety of committees as directed to facilitate the resolution of issues; provides input and acts as an advocate in the achievement, goals and objectives of the Diabetes Centre.

Performs other related duties, as required. Qualifications Education and Experience Graduation from a recognized Bachelor of Science (BSc.

degree program in Nutrition and successful completion of an accredited Dietetic internship program through the Dietitians of Canada (DOC) Current registration with the College of Dietitians of British Columbia and eligible for membership in the Dietitians of Canada.

Eligible for certification as a Diabetes Educator (CDE) Skills and Abilities Knowledge of diabetes management and principles of diabetes education Demonstrated leadership qualities;

ability to promote, organize and implement innovative and effective programs Demonstrated interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills Demonstrated ability to cooperate and work effectively independently and with other professionals, clients, the general public and community groups Ability to organize and prioritize work Demonstrated ability to make presentations to a variety of stakeholders Demonstrated ability to counsel and teach clients with chronic diseases Demonstrated ability to use related computer software programs Physical abilities to carry out the duties of the position Ability to operate related equipment