CLINICAL DIETITIAN JOB DESCRIPTION

A Clinical Dietitian owns the full nutritional care of assigned patients - from admission screening through discharge planning. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credentialing with the Commission on Dietetic Registration is a non-negotiable entry condition, reflecting how tightly regulated this practice is in acute care. Specialty credentials such as CNSC or CSO distinguish practitioners who manage the most medically complex cases, including oncology inpatients and critical care units. No two patient panels are identical.

As the Clinical Dietitian, you translate medical nutrition therapy into individualized care plans that measurably improve patient outcomes across inpatient and outpatient populations. You operate within a multidisciplinary team alongside physicians, nursing staff, and pharmacy, reporting to a nutrition services manager or clinical nutrition director.

Career Impact: Specialty certification pathways - CNSC, CSO, or CSR - earned through this role sharpen a clinical profile that commands respect across acute care and critical care hiring markets.

Business Impact: Patients with nutritional deficiencies left unaddressed face longer stays and higher complication rates; the Clinical Dietitian's assessments directly shape the care decisions that prevent both.

Growth Opportunity: Inpatient volume and case complexity - from pediatrics to oncology to ICU cross-coverage - accelerate clinical judgment in ways that outpatient roles rarely can, opening paths to lead dietitian and clinical nutrition program director titles.

• Assess nutritional status of assigned inpatients using nutrition-focused physical exams, anthropometric data, and laboratory review.
• Develop and implement individualized medical nutrition therapy care plans for patients with complex disease processes.
• Monitor patient response to nutrition interventions and revise care plans in alignment with physician and pharmacy input.
• Document clinical assessments, diet order changes, and care plan updates accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Educate patients and family members on nutritional management specific to their diagnosis and discharge needs.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing, and pharmacy to communicate nutritional status changes and care recommendations.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and performance activities that advance departmental nutrition standards.
• Serve as a preceptor for dietetic interns and provide nutrition training to nursing and allied health staff.

• Bachelor's degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, or a closely related field, or equivalent work experience.
• One or more years of clinical dietitian experience in an acute care or hospital setting.
• Active Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• State dietitian licensure (LD or LDN) as required by the jurisdiction of practice.
• Completion of an ACEND-approved dietetic internship program.
• Ability to conduct nutrition-focused physical exams and interpret laboratory and clinical data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documentation and multidisciplinary team interaction.
• Demonstrated ability to manage high patient volumes independently under time-sensitive conditions.

• Master's degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, or a specialty area from an accredited institution.
• Specialty credential such as CNSC, CSO, CSSD, or CDE reflecting advanced clinical focus.
• Experience in critical care, oncology, or pediatric nutrition within an inpatient environment.
• Prior experience supervising dietetic technicians or precepting dietetic internship rotations.

• Nutrition consult response rate, measured against facility-established time-frame benchmarks.
• Malnutrition documentation rate per inpatient admission, reflecting screening and diagnosis rigor.
• Care plan completion rate within 24 hours of initial assessment for high-acuity patients.
• Patient and family education completion rate prior to discharge for nutrition-sensitive diagnoses.
• Participation hours in quality improvement projects per review cycle, tracked departmentally.
• Typical tools:Clinical nutrition software (commonly diet office and food service IT systems); electronic medical record platforms (commonly hospital-grade EMR systems).

• Base Salary Range: $60,000 to $82,000 annually depending on seniority and market
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus of 3% to 6% where offered
• Equity: Not typical for this role in hospital settings
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; hospital employee plans common
• PTO: 15 to 22 days annually plus standard holidays
• Common Perks: Continuing education reimbursement, specialty certification support, shift differentials for inpatient coverage

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Healthcare employers filling this role are committed to a workplace free from discrimination. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodation during the application or employment process should notify the hiring team. A background check, including applicable drug screening, is required as a condition of employment. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Clinical Dietitian owns specialized nutrition assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for an assigned patient population, applying diagnostic reasoning skills and specialty credentials such as CNSC or CSO to improve measurable patient outcomes. Reporting to clinical nutrition leadership, this role collaborates with healthcare providers across departments and mentors staff and students while contributing to continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete and document specialized nutrition assessments.
• Complete and document nutrition diagnoses in the specialty area.
• Identify and implement appropriate nutrition interventions, including quality nutrition education based on customer needs, expectations, and culture.
• Monitor and evaluate individual patient nutrition outcomes related to nutrition diagnosis, goals, and interventions in the specialty area.
• Communicate nutrition expertise with all appropriate healthcare providers.
• Use resources effectively and efficiently in practice.
• Mentor staff and students.
• Participate in department continuous quality improvement projects, strategic plans, and initiatives.
• Work with a moderate degree of professional autonomy and independent practice using diagnostic reasoning skills.
• Apply research to improve patient outcomes.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in dietetics, nutrition, or a nutrition-related field from an accredited institution.
• Master's degree in dietetics, nutrition, or specialty area from an accredited institution preferred.
• Registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Certified Dietitian or Licensed Dietitian obtained within two months of hire.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for healthcare providers as required by facility.
• 2,000 hours of experience with credentialed specialty certification such as CSG, CSO, CSSD, CNSC, CSP, CSR, CDE, or CSOWM, or 4,000 hours of work experience in the specialty area.
• Successful completion of an approved Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics program.
• Ability to verbally communicate and understand spoken information when interacting with patients and co-workers.
• Demonstrated computer proficiency.
• Food handler's permit as required by facility.
• Ability to see and read labels, monitors, and documents.
• Ability to operate computers and other equipment requiring finger and hand movement.
• Ability to remain sitting or standing for long periods to perform work on a computer, telephone, or other equipment.

Embedded within the nutrition services department, the Clinical Dietitian delivers individualized care plans, nutrition consults, and patient education across inpatient and outpatient populations while utilizing the electronic medical record for all documentation. Working closely with physicians, nursing, pharmacy, and other healthcare team members, this role advances facility performance improvement initiatives and supports dietetic internship programs as a preceptor.

Core Functions

• Prioritize and respond to nutrition consults, screenings, and reassessments within appropriate established time frames.
• Assess patients' nutritional status, develop and implement care plans, provide education, and monitor response to nutrition interventions.
• Communicate and collaborate with physicians, nursing, pharmacy, and other healthcare team members regarding patients' nutrition plan of care.
• Utilize the electronic medical record for documentation.
• Participate in facility-wide and department performance improvement initiatives.
• Support dietetic internship programs as a preceptor as needed.
• Demonstrate professional and competent verbal and written communication skills.
• Display good time management skills and utilize critical thinking abilities.
• Work independently and contribute to a team-oriented work environment.
• Seek continuing education for ongoing professional growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Dietetics, master's preferred.
• Minimum 1 year of relevant experience.
• Completion of an ACEND-approved dietetic internship program.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• State Licensure (LDN) by the State Department of Health.

Reporting to the clinical nutrition director, the Clinical Dietitian shapes patient care by delivering medical nutrition therapy, writing diet order changes, and developing individualized care plans for patients with complex disease processes across an assigned inpatient population. Partnering with physicians, nursing staff, dietetic technicians, and allied health professionals, this role contributes to departmental growth by expanding education programs and supporting the dietetic internship as a supervised practice preceptor.

Primary Duties

• Provide direct patient care using medical nutrition therapy for an assigned patient population.
• Provide counseling and education services to patients with disease processes requiring nutritional management.
• Implement a nutritional care plan, communicate the plan, establish a follow-up system, and maintain documentation.
• Write changes for diet orders and initiate nutrient intake assessments.
• Assess patients for signs and symptoms of nutritional deficiencies and evaluate appropriate fluid and electrolyte needs.
• Review laboratory and clinical progress notes and inform physicians of patients' nutritional status and need for changes in diet, enteral, or parenteral feeding.
• Coordinate efforts of dietetic technicians assigned to the area.
• Develop and contribute to education programs for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, students, peers, and the public.
• Create and revise education materials related to disease management through medical nutrition therapy.
• Participate in program development designed to expand departmental services and revenue generation.
• Market services to potential and current referral sources and develop services in response to client needs.
• Actively contribute to departmental initiatives including committees and projects.
• Support the dietetic internship program as a supervised practice rotation preceptor and class instructor.
• Complete reports for ongoing productivity tracking.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics, or a closely related field.
• Current license to practice dietetics (LD) and active certification as a Registered Dietitian (RD).
• Minimum 1 year of experience as a Registered Dietitian in clinical nutrition.
• Successful completion of a Dietetic Internship Program may substitute for the experience requirement.
• Ability to navigate extensively throughout a hospital to provide services to a large number of patients.
• Critical thinking skills and decisive judgment.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and in a stressful environment while taking appropriate action.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to perform computer entry and physical ability to measure and weigh patients.
• Adherence to standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.

Sitting at the intersection of clinical nutrition and specialty pharmacy services, the Clinical Dietitian leads nutritional care planning, care guideline development, and patient support materials for patients receiving rare disease therapies, coordinating recommendations across pharmacists, nurses, and manufacturer partners. Operating across digital health services, payer relations, and internal specialty product teams, this role shapes patient engagement strategy and delivers training to nursing and pharmacy staff in support of rare disease nutrition programs.

Duties

• Develop nutritional approaches and care strategies to meet the needs of rare disease patients.
• Provide direct nutritional guidance and consultation to patients taking assigned therapies.
• Make recommendations for changes in patient care to support specific nutritional or dietary challenges.
• Collaborate with pharmacists, nurses, and other members of the care team on necessary patient care adjustments or recommendations.
• Document all communication with pharmacists, nurses, and patients in required systems.
• Coordinate with specialty product team members regarding business needs, opportunities, and sales and marketing elements related to rare disease nutrition services.
• Contribute clinical input to digital and web-based services to support advancement of patient and physician engagement.
• Develop and monitor metrics associated with rare disease dietitian services.
• Identify needs for, develop, and deliver nutritionally based training to rare disease nursing and pharmacy staff.
• Create patient communication materials and content including regular newsletters.
• Identify opportunities to enhance and optimize services, care models, and patient engagement for therapy areas in scope.
• Represent the organization in interactions with pharmaceutical manufacturers, payers, and professional organizations.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Registered Dietitian credentialed with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• 2-5 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian, with rare disease experience preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office software including basic navigation.
• Ability to adapt in a dynamic work environment and make independent decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize workload and meet multiple project deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong customer service focus.

A key member of the inpatient nutrition team, the Clinical Dietitian builds comprehensive critical care nutrition programs for oncology patients across all age groups, conducting nutrition-focused physical exams, documenting malnutrition, and leading quality improvement projects that advance the clinical nutrition program. Collaborating across ICU, pediatrics, and oncology units with fellows, nurse practitioners, nurses, and dietetic interns, this role delivers measurable improvements in patient care through research participation and staff development.

Functions

• Provide comprehensive critical care nutrition to a variety of oncology inpatients.
• Conduct nutrition-focused physical exams, document malnutrition, assess nutrition needs, and develop and reevaluate care plans for patients of all ages.
• Provide cross coverage for other inpatient units as assigned including ICU and pediatrics.
• Educate patients and family members and communicate patient issues to the healthcare team.
• Provide training to fellows, nurse practitioners, and nurses in nutrition.
• Serve as preceptor for dietetic interns.
• Participate in performance activities, quality improvement initiatives, special projects, and research studies.
• Document clinical assessments appropriately and maintain accurate, complete records.
• Lead activities and special projects that promote staff development and growth of the clinical nutrition program.
• Make a continuous effort to improve job performance and develop work-related skills and expertise.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a major in Food and Nutrition, Dietetics, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience, with at least one year in critical care and oncology nutrition.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist.
• Certified Specialist in Oncology (CSO) or Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) preferred.

Continuity of high-quality inpatient and outpatient dietetic services depends on the Clinical Dietitian, who delivers expert nutritional counselling, conducts quality improvement activities, and develops education programs that meet the needs of patients and multidisciplinary staff across acute care settings. Based within a hospital nutrition department and eligible for full membership of Dietitians Australia, this role attends ward rounds and case conferences to ensure dietetic services remain current and evidence-based.

Accountabilities

• Demonstrate a high level of clinical expertise and knowledge in general clinical dietetics.
• Evaluate and develop dietetic services to inpatients, outpatients, and other clients and staff.
• Conduct regular and ongoing quality improvement activities.
• Attend relevant clinical and department meetings including ward rounds, case conferences, lectures, professional development sessions, and staff meetings.
• Design and implement nutritional counselling and education programs for patients and staff as required.

Professional Experience

• Tertiary qualifications in Nutrition and Dietetics and eligibility for full membership of Dietitians Australia.
• Current experience as a clinical dietitian with post-graduate experience in a hospital setting.
• Up-to-date knowledge and skills in nutrition and dietetic practice including the inpatient acute care setting.
• Experience in nutrition-related quality improvement projects focusing on improvements in clinical patient care and services.
• Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills including experience within multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and independently while managing a high-volume workload.
• High-level computer skills across a wide variety of applications including experience with diet office and food service IT systems.