Job Description

Tennessee Oncology, one of the nation’s largest, community-based cancer care specialists, is home to one of the leading clinical trial networks in the country. Established 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee Oncology’s mission remains unchanged: To provide access to high-quality cancer care and the expertise of clinical research for all patients, at convenient locations within their community and close to their home. Our growing network of physicians and locations is based on this mission. Tennessee Oncology is committed to advancing both the science of detection and targeted treatments, and to making these advances available to every patient. We believe caring for cancer patients is a privilege.

Why Join Us? We are looking for talented and highly-motivated individuals who demonstrate a natural desire to support the meaningful work of community oncologists and the patients we serve.

A Registered Dietitian (RD) provides comprehensive and personalized nutrition care and medical nutrition therapy to a variety of oncology/hematology patients served by Tennessee Oncology. RD will be available to provide services via telehealth or in-person sessions to cancer patients across the continuum of the cancer experience, most commonly for cancer patients receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy. RD will be operating on a referral basis only for assessing patient’s nutritional status and intervening with appropriate nutrition therapy and/or education to improve, maintain, or optimize nutritional status. The RD is an integral member of a multidisciplinary oncology team.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Analyze subjective and objective information to define nutrition problems and goals.
• Provide individualized nutrition assessments, counseling on dietary issues and healthy eating habits, and nutrition recommendations based on patient’s specific therapies, nutrition needs, budget, and tastes. Work closely with patient’s family and caregivers.
• Establish short- and long-term goals with each patient.
• Collaborate with other health professionals (RN, Nurses, APPs, MDs) as appropriate and develop nutrition education and resources as needed.
• Educate patients, families and caregivers on all aspects of diet and lifestyle and communicate and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team on patient issues and nutrition health recommendations
• Assess, implement, and teach enteral and parenteral nutritional support when needed.
• Document clinical assessments, teach nutrition group classes, participate in company-wide and community events, develop nutrition education materials for print, digital, and social media.
• Coordinate care with treatment offices and supportive services including in-home services.
• Follow-up with patient’s nutritional care throughout the continuum of care as appropriate.
• Evaluate effectiveness of nutritional sessions and impact on client’s health outcomes.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for providers, staff and patients/family requesting nutrition information and resources.
• Participate in continuous quality and performance improvement projects, initiatives and development activities.
• Document patient progress after each nutrition consultation.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Dietetics or Nutrition required.
• MS/MPH in field related to job requirements preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience as a professional nutritionist in an oncology setting preferred.
• A leader with good communication skills (verbal, written, electronic) and critical thinking skills.
• Proficient use of EMR (OncoEMR, EPIC, other) and MS Tools including Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

License/Certification/Registration Requirements:

• Certification as a Registered Dietitian by the Commission of Dietetic Registration required.
• Current Board-Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO) by Commission of Dietetic Registration preferred.
• Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Physical Activity Required

Amount of time

None

Less than 1/3
(Occasionally)

1/3 to 2/3
(Frequently)

More than 2/3
(Regularly)

Standing

X

Walking

X

Sitting

X

Fingering or manual dexterity

X

Repetitive finger motion

X

Lifting or exerting force

Up to 10 pounds

Up to 25 pounds

Up to 50 pounds

X

Up to 100 pounds

Over 100 pounds

Reaching or stretching

X

Climbing or balancing

X

Crouching or stooping

X

Speaking

X

Hearing

X

Seeing (with correction)

X