Nutrition Support Practitioner

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Oct 30, 2024

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Junior & Mid Level
Research & Development
Healthcare

Requirements

To undertake nutritional screening with patients in the Accident and Emergency Department.
To have a knowledge of normal values, and understand the need to escalate any concerns to nursing or medical staff.
To input into the appropriate IT systems to inform on patient care.
To be able to provide support to patients who attend the ED with enteral feeding tubes in situ.
To ensure that any patient who attends the ED is appropriately assessed for hydration.
To support ED staff in ensuring that adequate hydration is provided for all patients.
To be able to identify concerns relating to mouth care, and recognise the need to escalate concerns to the Mouthcare Lead or the Nutrition Nursing team.
To ensure that any patients who require them have access to oral nutritional supplements.
To be able to ensure that any patient who requires it has access to an enteral feeding pump.
To have completed the training for enteral feeding pumps to be able to offer support to patients and staff should this be required in the ED.
To participate in service improvement projects e.g. clinical audit and service evaluation projects.
To complete predictive risk assessments for dysphagia (swallowing problems) with patients who attend the department.
To carry out swallow screenings to rule out or identify swallowing problems and refer on to appropriate professionals for further assessment.
Maintain effective communication with multidisciplinary team members.
Participate in dietetic service meetings, MDT meetings, ward rounds, board rounds.

Responsibilities

To undertake nutritional screening with patients in the Accident and Emergency Department.
To undertake anthropometric measurements using specialist equipment such as weighing scales, callipers and hand grip (e.g. weight, height, body mass index, mid upper arm circumference, ulna length, triceps skinfold and hand grip strength) for dietetic nutritional assessment purposes or review patient records and identify key information from records (e.g. weight).
Calculate and monitor oral food intake e.g. from food record charts and discussing nutritional intake with patients and carers directly and help to identify barriers preventing individuals from meeting the nutritional care plan goals.
To have a knowledge of normal values, and understand the need to escalate any concerns to nursing or medical staff.
Documenting food and fluid intakes including estimated energy/calorie and protein intake as part of nutritional assessment reviews.
To input into the appropriate IT systems to inform on patient care.
Providing basic dietary advice e.g. food first for nutritional support.
To be able to provide support to patients who attend the ED with enteral feeding tubes in situ.
To ensure that any patient who attends the ED is appropriately assessed for hydration.
To support ED staff in ensuring that adequate hydration is provided for all patients.
To be able to identify concerns relating to mouth care, and recognise the need to escalate concerns to the Mouthcare Lead or the Nutrition Nursing team.
Ordering individual inpatient therapeutic diet meals from Catering Patient Services that cannot be provided by standard or support menus after nutritional assessment e.g. allergy meals.
To ensure that any patients who require them have access to oral nutritional supplements.
To be able to ensure that any patient who requires it has access to an enteral feeding pump.
To have completed the training for enteral feeding pumps to be able to offer support to patients and staff should this be required in the ED.
Planning and delivering health care professional sessions e.g. nutrition and diet to health care assistants or housekeepers.
To participate in service improvement projects e.g. clinical audit and service evaluation projects.
To complete predictive risk assessments for dysphagia (swallowing problems) with patients who attend the department.
To carry out swallow screenings to rule out or identify swallowing problems and refer on to appropriate professionals for further assessment.
Assist patients with eating and drinking, promoting independence where possible.
Maintain effective communication with multidisciplinary team members.
Participate in dietetic service meetings, MDT meetings, ward rounds, board rounds.

FAQs

What is the primary role of a Nutrition Support Practitioner in the Accident and Emergency Department?

The primary role is to undertake nutritional screening with patients, including assessing their nutritional needs and providing dietary advice.

What kind of measurements will I be responsible for as a Nutrition Support Practitioner?

You will undertake anthropometric measurements using specialist equipment, including weighing scales, callipers, and hand grip assessments.

Will I need to document food and fluid intakes?

Yes, you will be required to document food and fluid intakes, including estimating energy/calorie and protein intake as part of nutritional assessment reviews.

How will I communicate with other healthcare team members?

You will maintain effective communication with multidisciplinary team members by participating in meetings, ward rounds, and board rounds.

Is training for enteral feeding pumps provided?

Yes, training for enteral feeding pumps is required and will be provided to enable you to offer support to patients and staff.

What types of dietary advice will I be expected to provide?

You will provide basic dietary advice, such as 'food first' strategies for nutritional support.

Will I need to perform risk assessments for dysphagia?

Yes, you will complete predictive risk assessments for dysphagia and carry out swallow screenings to identify or rule out swallowing problems.

Is there an opportunity for service improvement involvement?

Yes, you will participate in service improvement projects, including clinical audits and service evaluation projects.

How can I get in touch for further questions or informal visits?

For further details or informal visits, you can contact Mittia Bertolini, the Head of Service and Clinical Lead for Dietetics, via email at mattia.bertolini@nhs.net.

Are there opportunities for planning and delivering training sessions?

Yes, you will have the opportunity to plan and deliver training sessions on nutrition and diet to healthcare assistants or housekeepers.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Science & Healthcare

Industry

5001-10,000

Employees

2006

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust delivers a range of healthcare services across hospitals in East Kent, including emergency care, elective surgeries, and specialized medical treatments. Their mission is to provide excellent, compassionate care to improve the health and well-being of the community. They aim to ensure that patients receive high-quality, effective treatment and support in a safe and caring environment.