Nutrition Assistant

Job Summary

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Under the supervision of the Registered Dietitian and Clinical Nutrition Manager, the Cafeteria Worker/Nutrition Assistant supports the delivery of high-quality, personalized nutritional services to patients. This role assists with meal selection, tray service, patient nutrition support, and customer service while ensuring compliance with hospital, department, and food service standards. The ideal candidate is customer-focused, detail-oriented, and committed to providing an exceptional patient experience.

Essential Job Functions

• Assist patients with menu selections that meet prescribed diet requirements and personal preferences.
• Modify meal selections to comply with physician, dietitian, and nursing instructions.
• Ensure patients receive appropriate nourishment at each meal and communicate concerns to nursing staff.
• Answer departmental phone calls and respond to inquiries following established guidelines.
• Process orders for nutritional supplements and enteral nutrition products according to department procedures.
• Support meal delivery operations and ensure proper meal setup and presentation.
• Complete regular and therapeutic diet menus in accordance with departmental and clinical standards.
• Assist tray line staff and supervisors during meal service as needed.
• Deliver, distribute, and collect meal trays in a timely and courteous manner.
• Monitor and document patient meal intake and calorie counts as assigned.
• Conduct meal rounds and tray assessments to support patient satisfaction and nutritional care.
• Address and resolve patient concerns and service issues promptly.
• Communicate effectively with clinical and production teams regarding patient needs, special requests, and diet-related concerns.
• Maintain compliance with hospital policies, food safety standards, and departmental procedures.
• Attend departmental meetings, in-service programs, and required training sessions.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support patient dining and nutrition services operations.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Healthcare, patient-facing, food service, hospitality, or customer service experience preferred.
• Prior experience handling telephone communications and customer inquiries preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Commitment to delivering excellent customer service and adhering to organizational service standards.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multitask and effectively manage multiple phone lines and voicemail systems.
• Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn hospital software applications.
• Ability to push and maneuver food carts safely.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with patients, families, nursing staff, dietitians, and food service team members.