Valarie Symington
Walker,LA
Summary
Driven Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a passion for advancing my career in the field and seeking opportunities to apply expertise and knowledge to positively impact individuals' health and well-being. Committed to continuous self-improvement, planning to pursue a master's degree in Exercise Science and Business, with the ultimate goal of obtaining a PhD in Nutrition, specializing in Genomics.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Clinical Dietitian
Morrison Healthcare/Compass Group
08.2022 - Current
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to provide comprehensive care for patients in various clinical settings.
- Educates patients and families on appropriate nutrition management strategies for specific health conditions.
- Uses electronic medical record systems proficiently for tracking patient progress notes, orders, and other essential documentation aspects required in daily practice as a Clinical Dietitian.
- Mentors dietetic interns, providing guidance on clinical skills development and fostering professional growth within the field of dietetics.
- Optimizes nutritional support by adjusting enteral and parenteral feedings as needed based on patient needs and tolerance levels.
- Conducts thorough nutritional assessments to identify malnutrition risk factors and develop effective interventions.
- Improves patient satisfaction with dietary services by conducting regular assessments and addressing concerns promptly.
- Maintains accurate documentation of patient information, including diet histories, assessment findings, and intervention plans.
- Participates in performance improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall quality of care provided by the clinical nutrition team.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of current nutrition care plans, utilizing quality improvement processes to refine strategies and improve patient outcomes.
- Keeps current with emerging research trends in nutrition science through continuing education opportunities and professional conferences.
- Completes detailed nutritional assessments of each patient based on health history, medical conditions, and energy requirements.
- Enhances patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nutrition interventions and monitoring progress.
- Actively participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, providing insight into the role of nutrition in overall patient care and contributing to comprehensive treatment planning efforts.
- Contributes to the development of department policies, procedures, and educational materials that aligned with best practices in clinical nutrition.
- Determines client-specific nutrient and energy requirements, with consideration to specific lifestyles, physiology and medical concerns.
- Serves as a resource to staff and peers for nutrition-related questions, offering guidance on best practices in clinical dietetics.
- Provides expert input during case conferences discussing complex patient cases requiring specialized nutritional interventions.
- Streamlines meal service operations by collaborating with food service staff to ensure timely delivery of meals meeting quality standards.
- Monitors patient progress and documented nutritional information in patient charts and records.
- Provides medical nutrition therapy to individuals and groups with chronic illnesses.
- Liaise with healthcare professionals in creating nutrition-related treatment plans.
- Serves as a administrative specialist in inventory control and procedures.
- Calculates and determines amount of supplements needed to be purchased.
- Serves as a specialist in the nutritional care of patients with acute and chronic medical and/or nutritional problems, such as but not limited to; cardiology, renal, oncology, surgery, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, and dysphagia.
- Follows all guidelines as outlined within the Company Diet Manual and the Clinical Nutrition Policies and Procedures Manual.
- Complies with all regulatory standards to include federal, state, and accrediting agencies while adhering to facility confidentiality, HIPPA regulations, and patients rights policies.
- Trains and mentors patient services staff as applicable.
Server/Bartender
J F Kicks Bar and Grill
02.2007 - 12.2020
- Demonstrated strong multitasking skills by managing multiple tables simultaneously without compromising service quality.
- Served food and beverages promptly with focused attention to customer needs.
- Worked with POS system to place orders, manage bills, and handle complimentary items.
- Collaborated with team members during busy shifts for efficient workflow and excellent guest experiences.
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Performed opening and closing duties, ensuring the dining area was prepared for seamless service transitions.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by promptly attending to their needs and providing personalized service.
- Maintained a clean and orderly dining area for an enjoyable guest experience.
- Provided attentive service during high-volume periods without sacrificing attention to detail or guest rapport.
- Resolved customer complaints with calm, solution-focused approach, ensuring guest satisfaction.
- Trained new staff on menu knowledge and service protocols, raising team's overall performance.
- Completed requisitions to maintain required stock par levels.
- Assisted with inventorying beverage stock and bar supplies.
- Upheld strict regulations for safe alcohol service and food safety.
- Regularly cleaned and sanitized bar area, beer lockers, refrigeration and storage areas.
- Verified drinking age requirements of customers by carefully reviewing photo identification.
- Maintained impeccably clean, attractive and well-stocked bar area.
- Streamlined bar operations by maintaining clean and organized work area, ensuring efficient service.
- Handled cash and card transactions accurately, reducing discrepancies and balancing till at end of each shift.
- Resolved customer complaints with empathy and professionalism, turning potentially negative experiences into positive ones.
- Optimized beverage cost and waste management, regularly reviewing and adjusting pour sizes and inventory levels.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Dietetics and Nutrition
Keiser University
Lakeland, FL08.2021
High School Diploma -
Durant High School
Plant City, FL05.2003
Skills
- HIPAA certification
- BBP/HIV certification
- Medical Errors certification
- ENCPT
- ServSafe Manger certification
- Microsoft suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and EPIC
- Hard working and strong work ethic
- Leadership and a Team player
- Strong verbal and written communication
- Proactive
- Educable
- Time management
Accomplishments
Morrison Clinical Nutrition Clinical Excellence Award 2024
Morrison Healthcare IDDSI champion
Affiliations
- Academy of Nutrition Dietetics
- Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Student Association of Dietetics and Nutrition- Activities Advisor
Clinical Experience- Student Intern
- BayCare Behavioral Health-Morton Plant Hospital
- Food Service Management Rotation (320 hours)
- Lead food tester and key team member of the IDDSI implementation team.
- Participated in tray line service, meal rounds with hosts, and food service in the cafeteria.
- Conducted a Department of Health safety and sanitation mock audit.
- Performed a Hazard Analysis using HACCP principles.
- Created and executed a Mardi Gras theme meal, including menu planning and providing healthy alternatives to recipes.
- Neighborly
- Community Rotation (278 hours)
- Performed a targeted community nutrition assessment and participated in the various pantry programs offered.
- Actively participated and assisted at multiple meals on wheels sites and meals for Veterans.
- Created and presented informative nutrition PowerPoint presentations including samples and flyers.
- Participated in activities at Adult Daycare facilities.
- Assisted in escorting seniors to pantry sites as a part of their bags on wheels program.
- Online
- Alternative Medical Nutrition Therapy Rotation (88 hours)
- Practiced motivational interviewing skills, focusing on open-ended, reflecting, and elicit/provide/elicit questioning.
- Completed all 12 modules for the Nestle Nutrition Institute for Pediatric Nutrition.
- Watched FNCE tutorials and wrote papers on:
- Improving Dialysis
- MNT for Heart Failure
- Refeeding Syndrome
- BayCare Behavioral Health-Morton Plant Hospital
- Medical Nutrition Therapy1 Rotation (338 hours)
- Participated in morning round rotations as part of the clinical care team.
- Conducted nutritional assessments, Nutrition Focused Physical Exams, and documented ADIME notes using Cerner.
- Provided patients with nutrition education.
- Shadowed an outpatient Dietitian.
- Created and conducted PowerPoint presentation on IDDSI for educational and training purposes.
- Bayfront Hospital (Bravera Health Spring Hill)
- Medical Nutrition Therapy2 Rotation (176 hours)
- Assessed patients and documented ADIME notes using paper charting.
- Assisted in creating and participating in superfood of the month presentations, including food tastings, nutritional bulletin boards and informative flyers.
- Gained experience working in the ICU and extensively with COVID-19 patients.
- Provided tube feeding and TPN recommendations.
- Performed a Joint Commission mock audit.
Timeline
Lead Clinical Dietitian
Morrison Healthcare/Compass Group
08.2022 - Current
Server/Bartender
J F Kicks Bar and Grill
02.2007 - 12.2020
Bachelor of Science - Dietetics and Nutrition
Keiser University
High School Diploma -
Durant High School
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