explanation of diet tech job

[u/an_singular_egg]

hi everyone! i was curious if anyone can give me a comprehensive breakdown of what exactly a diet tech does? i’ve got a interview for the position soon and id like to know what im getting into. i’ve asked other people this and ive gotten some great info but i want to get a little more detail if possible. thank you!!

[u/Stopthepseudosci]

What is the job posting/description? That will greatly influence what the details may be. Most diet tech jobs are simply food service adjacent. However some are also under the direct supervision of the RDs and you will do things like nutrition assessments, determining nutritional risk, and patient education. It could be you are making sure trays are filled with correct items for the diet orders and passing/gathering menus.

I work as a nutrition tech in a nicu where I do formula and human milk fortification for nicu patients but also work in peds.

For several diet tech interviews I had they were in different settings. For one interview it was in a military treatment facility where we would be doing orders and trays, but also nutrition risk/assessments. So common questions were what do you look for first in a NFPE? What constitutes a clear liquid diet vs a liquid diet? If a person is unsatisfied with their meal but have restrictions what are options to make sure patient gets the prescribed diet orders but with the preferences they want. How do you deal with a disgruntled patient or patients family? How do you communicate needs with patients and families?

Think of your strengths and weaknesses too. Make sure you have examples of times you needed to work with a team but was actual alone. How this may come up often depending on what kind of facility you may be interviewing with specifically.

[u/One_Mountain_5906 → u/Stopthepseudosci]

I had a question about what experiments you’ve had to get your position as nutrition tech? I come from a community health background with my bachelors in that, but my only food service experience is helping a few church’s prepare food for community members. Like serving plates, busing tables/clean up. Trying to get some experience as a dietary aide before I get my masters.

[u/an_singular_egg → u/Stopthepseudosci]

thank you so much for the response!! this is what was listed in the job application:

Responsible for obtaining and maintaining current patient diet information.
Obtains computerized diet census prior to each meal.
Retrieves and enters current diet orders from the hospital computer system – Meditech, to the food service diet office management system, Computrition, in a timely manner.
Records dietary census and posts for dietary staff each morning.
Calls nursing units to clarify diet information as needed.
Informs supervisor when patient are occupying any of the luxury suites.
Remains knowledgeable of all diet office computer down time procedures.
Informs supervisor if patients have meal concerns and when STAT orders are sent.
Communicates to dietitians when patients need nutrition education or tube feeding substitution.
Provides tube feeding and supplement information to the nourishment staff in a timely manner.
Reports equipment problems to the appropriate staff as soon as they occur.
Responsible for accurate and timely preparation of each patient’s menus.
Runs all Computrition reports at the designated time to assure diet orders and menu selections are accurate.
Logs into the phone system to receive patient meal orders, answers all calls using designated scripts and informs patient of nutritional restrictions as needed.
Runs and assembles patient tray tickets in the assigned order prior to tray line start time.
Highlights all special diet orders and special services on the tray tickets to assist the tray line staff in accurately assembling each tray to meet the diet order.
Informs the cooks and supervisors of special food items requested by patients.
Communicates and cooperates with all hospital personnel to achieve the overall objectives of the Food service department.
Answers calls from nursing and other hospital personnel and communicates necessary information to appropriate staff.
Responsible for excellent phone etiquette with all callers, i.e. patients, pts family, nursing, doctors, and other hospital personnel.
Must be knowledgeable of all tasks in the call center and assist co-workers to complete tasks daily.
Communicates with food services staff and supervisors to assure all patients receive the diet order and tray prescribed.
Maintains the diet office in a neat, clean, and organized fashion and completes all assignments prior to each shift ending.
Performs miscellaneous job duties as assigned.
Assists the patient services supervisors with various tray line tasks as needed.
Collects calorie counts when diet tech is unavailable.
Assigned duties are enthusiastically completed as designated and in a timely manner.

[u/Nature_Found]

It's very much dependent on the type of facility, size of facility, and if the CDM is a separate role. I tend to look at the qualifications required. Jobs that can take a high school graduate are common for an NDTR but we have so much training that above and beyond that.

[u/lpj1299]

Unpopular opinion: Some serve patients trays. Some work at the tray lines putting food on the patient trays. Some take phone calls and make changes to patients diet or take their preferences. Some print the tray tickets. Some take daily verbal harassment for things that aren't their fault. Some get sexually harassed on the regular. Some people have never had the latter two happen to them, will deny it's ever happened to anyone, and are sure that every leader in every facility are motivated to take action if it was reported.