Clinical Dietitian

La Rabida Children’s Hospital provides specialized, family-centered health care to children with medically complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness. Through expertise, compassion, and advocacy we help children and their families reach their fullest potential, regardless of their ability to pay.

Our not-for-profit hospital, licensed for 49 beds, helps transition children from neonatal or pediatric intensive care to home, by providing medical, rehabilitative and developmental care, and by training families to continue treatments and manage the necessary equipment in the home. La Rabida also provides extensive rehabilitation for those recovering from wounds or burns and treatment for exacerbations of chronic conditions.

The hospital’s enhanced pediatric patient-centered medical home provides primary care to children with complex medical conditions and their siblings. Children with medical homes elsewhere come to La Rabida for specialty services. La Rabida offers a wide range of specialty services provided to children with sickle cell disease, diabetes, and many others. Children are supported in their emotional and developmental growth, particularly in cases where such growth has been interrupted by accident or disease.

Finally, La Rabida provides forensic and treatment services for children exposed to abuse and neglect, comprehensive assessments for wards of the state, early intervention for children between 0 and 3 years of age. Care coordination services for medically complex children are also provided for those who are covered by a health plan and receive care from providers in Cook County

Provide medical nutrition therapy for children with chronic diseases on an inpatient and outpatient basis, including premature infants and children with cerebral palsy and diabetes.

Position will include: nutrition management of inpatient and outpatient chronic disease pediatric population; Must have extensive knowledge and practice of enteral and parenteral nutrition management. Must be able to work at least 1 evening per week for outpatient clinics.

• Nutrition Counseling and Assessment

Review chart/gather data; obtain nutrition history/plot/assess anthropometric data; assess lab data; obtain diet history/feeding ability/growth history/diagnosis; assess drug/nutrient interactions; instruct as appropriate; obtain feedback to teaching/questions; provide literature/education materials; plan future follow-up/provide information; calculate and chart assessment and recommendations in accordance with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

• Follow-up/monitoring

Assess growth/weight changes; determine intake/history/labs, identify obstacles/ability to feed; reassess diet order appropriateness.

• Team meetings/participant

Prepare and present meetings including team meetings and clinical huddles; family centered rounds; family meetings; contribute to goals/plans/education for discharge; daily interactions with others; meetings with speech/pharmacy and other services.

• Nutrition education/orientation

Creating education materials; orientate residents/medical students/nurses; core curriculum lectures; parent training; grand rounds.

• Parenteral Nutrition

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN): Request and interpret labs; follow hydration/electrolyte status; consult with nutrition and medical staff from Nutrition Support Team and La Rabida medical team; write orders and follow new or home TPN therapy. Communicate with external organization specialty teams for GI and intestinal rehab programs.

• Chronic Disease Clinic

Participate in outpatient chronic disease clinics, including Telehealth visits; complete nutrition assessments.

• Liaison Food Service

Ensure diet orders are correct; set diet restrictions and follow-up to monitor accuracy; assist with menu selections of complex/restricted diets; assist with diabetic menus/plan snacks; calculate special infant formulas/supplementation; troubleshoot for feeding problems/food preferences.

Education: MS from ASCEND-accredited program and supervised practice required. Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) and/or Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP) preferred.

Related Work Experience: 2 years pediatric experience preferred

Licensure/Certification: Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Registered Dietitian OR Registered Dietitian (RD) eligible; Licensed in State of Illinois within 6 months of hire.

Specialized Knowledge/ Skills/Credentials: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)/CDCES eligible preferred, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP) preferred.

CPR required: Only certifications issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross will be accepted.

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

La Rabida is a place unlike any other. We understand the needs of families with children dealing with the most serious or complicated of conditions. With teams of the best healthcare providers in Chicago, we give continuous, comprehensive care, education, and support, helping families face their unique obstacles head-on.   

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.