CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

4H11
NUTRITIONIST

Specialties
( Bilingual ) (General )

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is nutritional education work providing information and guidance to patients observing therapeutic diet regimens as prescribed by physicians. An employee in this class is responsible for performing nutrition assessments, counseling and follow-up to insure that patients' nutritional needs are met. A significant aspect of the work involves persuading patients to adapt to basic and special nutritional diets.

Work is performed under the supervision of a higher level health care professional.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

Positions in this class must provide culturally appropriate nutrition education and counseling to patients or groups requiring basic nutritional instruction.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

Performs the duties shown below with members of the English language-speaking and designated non-English language speaking populations.

GENERAL SPECIALTY

Provides direct nutrition counseling in a clinic setting to persons most susceptible to nutritional difficulties due to the demands of pregnancy, chronic disorders, or disease; determines nutritional deficiencies of patient's regular diet; instructs patients in the kinds and amounts of foods necessary to good nutrition; adapts patient's regular diet to conform to requirements of basic nutrition or therapeutic nutritional needs as prescribed by a physician; prepares sample diet menus taking into account the availability and seasonality of food, food preferences and economic limitations.
Provides direct nutrition counseling to clients in the district health care centers; responds to requests from any Philadelphia resident with diabetes and any health professional in Philadelphia County, if required by work assignment.
Plans, develops and conducts nutrition educational programs for health care professionals and community groups; conducts workshops for internal nursing staff.
Provides research information to hospitals, health care agencies, physicians and nurses; participates as an active member and attends meetings held by diabetes support groups, committees and task forces; prepares and maintains records of work performed; prepares periodic reports on collected data for the Diabetes Control Program.
Conducts and documents Nutrition Assessments of patients at risk for nutritional deficiencies or with disease affecting nutritional intake or status; develops and documents Nutrition Care Plan on Nutrition Assessment.
Explains to patients the need for and the importance of basic nutrition to good health; instructs individuals and groups in nutritional and dietary practices; speaks to groups on the principles of food selection, preparation and budgeting in relation to the provisions of nutritional needs for all members of the family.
Assists nurses and physicians in providing services to patients with specific food and nutrition problems resulting from occupational, environmental, or familial factors.
Develops, revises and reviews pamphlets, brochures and other materials designed to aid in teaching nutrition practices to patients; prepares periodic and special reports of activities; attends workshops and conferences of nutrition and dietary groups.
Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

the principles and practices of nutrition and their application to conditions of human growth and development
the selection and preparation of foods to provide optimum nutritional values
standard therapeutic and normal diets and modification of same to provide specific nutrients
the methods and techniques of converting prescribed quantities of nutrients into easily understood amounts of foods
the methods and techniques of the institution of laypersons in nutrition which are literacy appropriate and culturally sensitive
methods and techniques of disseminating educational information to health care professionals and community groups
available resources and current developments in the area of nutrition

ABILITY TO:

teach patients to adapt to nutritional diet using basic nutritionist and therapeutic nutrition methods
plan menus which meet nutrition requirements, utilizing elements of patient's regular diet
plan, develop and conduct training sessions in various areas of nutrition
maintain records relating to program activities
present ideas effectively both orally and in writing
establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians and nurses, clinic patients and the public
speak, read and write in a specified non-English language and in English fluently for the Bilingual specialty

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 01/03.)

EDUCATION

BOTH SPECIALTIES

Completion of a bachelor's degree in science with major course work in nutrition from an accredited college or university.

AND

EXPERIENCE

BOTH SPECIALTIES

Two years of nutritionist experience, which shall have included diet therapy and/or experience in community nutrition.

BOTH SPECIALTIES

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department, which includes possession of a bachelor's degree as an educational minimum.

NOTE:

Master's degree in nutrition, nutrition education or nutrition in public health may be substituted for the experience requirement.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to understand and speak fluently and clearly in English and a designated non-English language.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Certification as a Registered Dietitian by the American Dietetics Association prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a Nutritionist.

PAY RANGE: EP18
Class Established: 6/65

Spec. Revision:
CSC: 10/90, Ad Board: 11/90

Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC: 11/02, Ad Board: 01/03

DS/lds/sb

END OF JOB CLASS SPECIFICATION - 4H11

4H11NUTRITIONIST

4H11
NUTRITIONIST