All About the Dietary Department

The Nutrition Services Department is led by a full time dietary manager. In an organizational chart this position will land directly under the Facility Administrator. Hence, the dietary manager reports directly to the Administrator of the facility or organization. The Dietary Manager assures that meals are prepared correctly according to the menus that have been prepared by the facility as well as in accordance with the Federal and State regulations. This is done with the help of a Consulting Dietitian or Registered Dietitian (RD). The Dietary manager in a way holds multiple job titles as they are required to conduct manager and clinical responsibilities. The manger duties including but not limited to being responsible for the entire dietary department, hiring, training, inventory management, budgeting and maintaining employee schedules. The clinical responsibilities including but not limited to diet planning, nutritional screening, and participation in care planning. (Singh, 2016)

The Nutrition Services Department is led by a full time dietary manager. In an organizational chart this position will land directly under the Facility Administrator. Hence, the dietary manager reports directly to the Administrator of the facility or organization. The Dietary Manager assures that the meals are prepared correctly to abide by Federal and State regulations. In order to properly conduct this task, help from a Consulting Dietitian or Registered Dietitian (RD) is needed. The Dietary manager in a way holds multiple job titles as they are required to conduct health care administration and clinical responsibilities. These duties include but not limited to being responsible for the entire dietary department, hiring, training, inventory management, budgeting, maintaining employee schedules diet planning, nutritional screening, and participation in care planning. (Singh, 2016)

Food Services Assistants

As we continue to talk about the Nutrition Services Department’s staff one may ask who cooks the food? The Food Services Assistants consist of a number of food services workers. These workers are cooks, helpers and dietary aides. If you guessed right, the cooks in this department not only prepare the food but are also responsible for portion control. Similar to a traditional kitchen in a restaurant the head chef is in charge of the main dishes and the preppers are in charge of preparing side dishes. These side dishes may include mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes and fruit salads. The main dishes may include spaghetti, roasted turkey, baked chicken, roasted tomato & kale salad, and vegan black bean burger. As the cooks and cook helpers are in charge of cooking the food, Dietary Aides handle the portion control and clean-up. (Singh, 2016)

Registered Dietitian (RD)

Registered dietitians (RD) are in charge of the menu planning. It important for the RD to be vividly involved in all aspects around planning the menu and the food items involved. There should be careful attention to the nutritional value that is showcased in each meal. The RD also takes on a clinical role as they are required to assess patients for issues in regard to obesity, malnutrition and rapid weight-loss in efforts to prepare meals that fulfil their eating habits. In addition, the RD is required to review care plans and dietary polices & procedures. With this information the RD is relied on for recommendations regarding food upkeep. (Singh, 2016) This factor is very important when it comes to kitchen sanitation audits. Please note if a facility cannot hire a fulltime Registered dietitian to fulfil the above duties a dietary consultant is suitable.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)

CNAs play a huge role in the dietary services department. They do not only contribute their normal work duties as certified nurses to patients and residents, but they also act as food servers. CNAs serve patient’s meal and collect their food trays once they are done eating. This is an important role to be played by CNAs because out of all the staff besides the Dietary Manager and Registered Nurse, CNAs understand each patient’s medical history regarding nutrition. They know if a resident has an eating disorder or a disease that prompts them to eat at a slower pace. Food workers are not trained to understand these dynamics involving the residents in which deems CNAs the best people to conduct this job duty.