Registered Dietitian - Diabetes Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

Transplant Nutrition Specialist

Specialty - Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist - CDCES certification required

Full Time Day Shift: 8AM-5PM

Location: 3410 Worth St Dallas, TX

About Us

Here at Baylor Scott & White Health we promote the well-being of all individuals, families, and communities. Baylor Scott and White is the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas that empowers you to live well.

Our Core Values are:

• We serve faithfully by doing what's right with a joyful heart.
• We never settle by constantly striving for better.
• We are in it together by supporting one another and those we serve.
• We make an impact by taking initiative and delivering exceptional experience.

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to help you live well no matter where you are on your journey. For full details on coverage and eligibility, visit the Baylor Scott & White Benefits Hub to explore our offerings, which may include:

• Eligibility on day 1 for all benefits
• Dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match, up to 5%
• Debt-free tuition assistance, offering access to many no-cost and low-cost degrees, certificates and more
• Immediate access to time off benefits

At Baylor Scott & White Health, your well-being is our top priority.

Note: Benefits may vary based on position type and/or level

Job Summary

The Transplant Nutrition Specialist 2 provides advanced nutrition therapy for patients with end-stage organ failure, transplant recipients, and living donors. This role includes nutrition assessment, personalized care planning, and evidence-based interventions to improve patient outcomes.

Performs all duties of Transplant Nutrition Spec 1 as well as TPN or insulin management based upon certifications and competencies.

Essential Functions of the Role

• Performs advanced nutrition assessments for patients with complex medical conditions. Integrates biochemical, clinical, and anthropometric data with a nutrition-focused physical assessment.
• Interprets complex patient medical data and interviews patients and caregivers to develop individualized medical nutrition therapy plans.
• Conducts frailty tests in select patients and provides targeted nutrition interventions to optimize pre- and post-transplant recovery.
• Assesses calorie, protein, fluid, vitamin, mineral, electrolyte, and insulin needs of patients.
• Formulates and implements personal nutrition prescriptions for oral diets and supplements.
• Implements enteral tube feeding including placement of nasoenteric feeding tubes and selecting formulas, infusion rates, and duration.
• With appropriate certification, manages parenteral nutrition therapy. Prescribes formula selection, including micronutrients, electrolytes, infusion rates, duration, and routes.
• Recommends and orders appropriate laboratory tests, monitors biochemical and clinical indices, and evaluates tolerance of nutrition therapies.
• Monitors patients’ response to nutrition therapies and adjusts therapies as indicated.
• For credentialed professionals, acts as a clinical specialist in diabetes insulin management. Supports transplant patients with continuous glucose monitoring and insulin regimen adjustments with providers.
• Provides individualized and group counseling on complex, multi-factorial diets, including post-transplant dietary restrictions, immunosuppressant interactions, and metabolic management.
• Integrates assessments of socio-economic status, family dynamics, patient motivation, and adherence barriers to develop personalized nutrition plans.
• Educates patients and caregivers on fitness, weight management, and frailty interventions within the context of organ failure and transplant nutrition.
• Develops nutrition education tools such as handouts, pamphlets, booklets, etc.
• Plays a key role in transplant candidacy evaluations and contributes to transplant selection conferences.
• Participates in patient rounds, clinic visits, and discharge planning. Attends meetings on nutrition, transplant education, patient care standards, or policies.
• Researches, develops, and delivers education and instructional programs for dietetic interns, healthcare professionals, or community groups.
• Assists with curriculum development, training, instruction, and evaluation of dietetic interns.
• Engages in transplant nutrition research, contributing to study design, literature review, data collection, and results examination.
• May serve as an investigator and present research findings through national conferences, abstracts, or publications.
• Evaluates and appropriately utilizes pertinent research information and guidelines in directing patient care.
• Participates in quality assurance programs by assisting in the development of patient care criteria and examining care given.
• Inpatient Transplant Nutrition Specialists rotate holiday coverage and weekend on-call duties. This ensures continuous nutrition care for transplant patients.

Key Success Factors

• Extensive knowledge of nutrition science, metabolism, and disease states. Advanced medical nutrition therapy includes enteral and parenteral nutrition support. It covers transplant-related metabolic complications. It also involves patient counseling in specialized transplant care settings.
• Understand medical terms, disease prevention, and pharmacology for transplant patients. This includes drug-nutrient interactions and immunosuppressant effects on metabolism. Be aware of potential adverse reactions.
• Ability to provide age-specific, evidence-based medical nutrition therapy (MNT) tailored to the complex needs of transplant patients.
• Develops, evaluates, and modifies patient care plans while demonstrating cultural proficiency, sensitivity, and respect for diverse patient backgrounds.
• Possess exceptional clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills. Assess complex medical cases and adjust nutrition interventions. Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to optimize transplant patient outcomes.
• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. Educate patients, provide nutrition counseling, and collaborate with transplant teams and community stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to establish productive working relationships with multidisciplinary teams and support services.
• Commit to lifelong learning by staying updated on nutrition science and transplant advancements. Do this through literature reviews, professional development, and joining national organizations.
• Ability to organize, prioritize tasks, and work autonomously in a fast-paced transplant setting.
• Ability to purposefully listen, counsel, and motivate patients in adherence to complex dietary regimens.
• Accountable for maintaining compliance with patient-protected health information (PHI) regulations and ethical standards in dietetics.
• Proficient in electronic health records (EHR) for accurate documentation, patient monitoring, and data analysis.
• Skilled in healthcare technology and digital tools relevant to transplant nutrition practice.

Belonging Statement

We believe that all people should feel welcomed, valued and supported, and that our workforce should be reflective of the communities we serve.

QUALIFICATIONS

• EDUCATION - Master's
• EXPERIENCE - 2 Years of Experience
• CDCES certification required

CERTIFICATION/LICENSE/REGISTRATION -

• Registered Dietitians (RD)
• Cert Clin Nutr Transplant Diet (CCTD), Cert Diabetes Care & Edu Spec (CDCES), Cert Nutrition Support Cln (CNSC): Must have RD and one of the following:
• CDCES: Certified Diabetes and Education Specialist or
• CNSC: Certified Nutrition Support Clinician
• CCTD: Certified Clinical Nutrition Transplant Dietitian.