Dietitian - Part Time - NICU at Sanford Health: Delivering Expert Nutritional Care to Our Tiniest Patients

Role Overview

Sanford Health is seeking a dedicated and passionate Part-Time Dietitian to join our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This role offers the opportunity to provide specialized medical nutrition therapy to premature and critically ill infants, working alongside a dynamic team of dietitians and healthcare professionals. As a NICU Dietitian, you will play a crucial role in optimizing the growth and development of our most vulnerable patients, ensuring they receive the tailored nutritional support they need to thrive. This position offers 20 hours per week, providing a flexible work schedule that allows for a healthy work-life balance. You will be an integral part of a large and supportive team of specialized dietitians embedded throughout the Sanford Medical Center campus, contributing to the expansion of our nutritional services and making a tangible difference in the lives of infants and their families.

A Day in the Life

As a Part-Time NICU Dietitian at Sanford Health, your day will be filled with a variety of responsibilities, all focused on providing the highest quality nutritional care. Here’s a glimpse into what a typical day might look like: * **Nutritional Assessment:** Conducting comprehensive nutritional assessments of NICU patients, considering their gestational age, medical condition, and individual needs. * **Care Plan Development:** Developing individualized care plans based on assessment findings, collaborating with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure a coordinated approach. * **Nutritional Interventions:** Implementing a range of nutritional interventions, including enteral and parenteral nutrition, oral feeding strategies, and nutrient supplementation. * **Monitoring and Evaluation:** Continuously monitoring patient progress and evaluating the effectiveness of nutritional interventions, making adjustments as needed to optimize outcomes. * **Education and Counseling:** Providing education and counseling to parents and caregivers on infant feeding, nutrition requirements, and long-term health management. * **Collaboration:** Participating in multidisciplinary rounds, contributing your expertise to the overall care plan and collaborating with other team members to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. * **Documentation:** Maintaining accurate and detailed documentation of all nutritional assessments, interventions, and patient progress. * **Quality Improvement:** Participating in quality improvement initiatives to enhance the delivery of nutritional care and improve patient outcomes.

Why Sioux Falls, South Dakota?

Sioux Falls offers a vibrant and welcoming community with a high quality of life. The city boasts a thriving economy, excellent schools, and a diverse range of recreational and cultural opportunities. From beautiful parks and trails to a lively downtown area with unique shops and restaurants, Sioux Falls has something to offer everyone. * **Affordable Living:** Sioux Falls offers a significantly lower cost of living compared to many other major cities, making it an attractive option for those seeking financial stability and a comfortable lifestyle. * **Strong Job Market:** The healthcare industry is a major employer in Sioux Falls, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and advancement. * **Family-Friendly Environment:** Sioux Falls is known for its safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and family-friendly activities, making it an ideal place to raise a family. * **Outdoor Recreation:** With numerous parks, lakes, and trails, Sioux Falls offers abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, fishing, and boating. * **Arts and Culture:** Sioux Falls boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene, with museums, theaters, art galleries, and music venues offering a diverse range of entertainment options.

Career Path

Sanford Health is committed to providing its employees with opportunities for professional growth and development. As a Part-Time NICU Dietitian, you will have access to a variety of resources and programs to help you advance your career, including: * **Continuing Education:** Sanford Health offers tuition reimbursement and other resources to support your pursuit of continuing education and professional certifications. * **Mentorship Programs:** Connect with experienced dietitians and other healthcare professionals who can provide guidance and support as you navigate your career path. * **Leadership Development:** Participate in leadership development programs to enhance your skills and prepare you for future leadership roles. * **Specialization Opportunities:** Pursue advanced certifications in areas such as pediatric nutrition or neonatal nutrition to further specialize your expertise. * **Research Opportunities:** Engage in research projects to contribute to the advancement of nutritional knowledge and improve patient outcomes.

Salary and Benefits

Sanford Health offers a competitive salary and benefits package to its employees. While the specific salary for this Part-Time NICU Dietitian position is based on experience and qualifications, the estimated annual salary range is between $52,000 and $87,000. In addition to salary, Sanford Health provides a comprehensive benefits package, including: * **Health Insurance:** Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans. * **Paid Time Off:** Generous paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and holidays. * **Retirement Plan:** 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions. * **Life Insurance:** Basic and supplemental life insurance options. * **Disability Coverage:** Short-term and long-term disability coverage. * **Flexible Spending Accounts:** Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses. * **Employee Assistance Program:** Employee assistance program for confidential counseling and support.

Sanford Health Culture

Sanford Health is known for its supportive and collaborative work environment. We are committed to providing our employees with the resources and support they need to succeed. Our culture is based on the following values: * **Integrity:** We are committed to acting with honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior in all that we do. * **Excellence:** We strive for excellence in all aspects of our work, providing the highest quality care to our patients. * **Respect:** We treat each other with respect and dignity, valuing diversity and inclusion. * **Innovation:** We are committed to innovation, seeking new and better ways to improve patient care. * **Stewardship:** We are responsible stewards of our resources, using them wisely to benefit our patients and community.

How to Apply

If you are a passionate and dedicated dietitian looking for a rewarding career opportunity, we encourage you to apply for the Part-Time NICU Dietitian position at Sanford Health. To apply, please visit our website and submit your resume and cover letter. We look forward to hearing from you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

**Q1: What are the required qualifications for this position?** A: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or food and nutrition through an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited program is required. Clinical nutrition experience through an approved coordinated undergraduate program or successful completion of post graduate internship is also required. You must also hold a Registered Dietitian (RD) license within the applicable state(s) and be registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). **Q2: What are the key responsibilities of a NICU Dietitian?** A: Key responsibilities include conducting nutritional assessments, developing individualized care plans, implementing nutritional interventions, monitoring patient progress, and providing education and counseling to parents and caregivers. **Q3: What is the work schedule for this part-time position?** A: The work schedule is 20 hours per week, with day shifts. **Q4: What opportunities are available for professional development?** A: Sanford Health offers a variety of resources and programs for professional development, including tuition reimbursement, mentorship programs, leadership development programs, and specialization opportunities. **Q5: What is the culture like at Sanford Health?** A: Sanford Health is known for its supportive and collaborative work environment, with a culture based on integrity, excellence, respect, innovation, and stewardship. **Q6: What benefits does Sanford Health offer?** A: Sanford Health offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, life insurance, disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, and an employee assistance program. **Q7: Is experience working in a NICU required?** A: While not always explicitly required, experience working in a NICU or a related field is highly preferred. **Q8: What type of patients will I be working with in the NICU?** A: You will be working with premature and critically ill infants who require specialized nutritional support. **Q9: How does Sanford Health support work-life balance?** A: Sanford Health recognizes the importance of work-life balance and offers flexible work schedules, generous paid time off, and employee assistance programs to support employee well-being. **Q10: What is the application process?** A: To apply for the Part-Time NICU Dietitian position, please visit the Sanford Health website and submit your resume and cover letter.