Hire Dietary Aides
As in any endeavor, teamwork is the name of the game. A dietary aide is a more junior role but is undoubtedly essential in providing nutritious and delicious meals to patients.
Finding a dietary aide begins with drafting an enticing and compelling job description that evokes both curiosity and excitement to job seekers. For a catchy job post, hiring managers should be clear, concise, and detailed. Are you looking for candidates who live near the healthcare facility? What is the schedule? Is prior experience required? Carefully outline the responsibilities as well as requirements. Do not forget to include details about your facility to make it fun and enticing. These details will help candidates picture themselves working in your company.
Aside from general job boards, it is best for hiring managers to post job announcements on healthcare-specific job boards, online groups, and in community groups as well. Getting referrals from current employees is a helpful way to source candidates. Your staff may already know great people so let them know about the job vacancy.
Dietary Aide Responsibilities
A dietary aide works under the supervision of the dietary manager in providing nutritious, healthy, and delicious meals to patients during their stay in the hospital. Dietary aides collaborate with nutritionists and dieticians in planning menus aligned with the regular and special diets recommended to patients.
A dietary aide assists in preparing specialized meals for patients who have specific dietary restrictions, food allergies, and guidelines. The customized meals cater to the medical condition and preferences of patients. Also, dietary aides serve meals to patients, take note of their feedback, and report them to the dietary manager.
A dietary aide cleans and disinfects food preparation tools and equipment and discards any food items considered contaminated. They also take an inventory of all kitchen supplies, ingredients, and other food items to make sure that the kitchen is well-stocked and prepared. When needed, dietary aides assist kitchen maintenance staff in setting up and cleaning the facility’s dining areas.
Additionally, dietary aides support the healthcare facility’s programs and initiatives on nutrition. They follow food health and safety standards while carrying out all tasks, such as preparing or serving meals. They maintain good personal hygiene and wash their hands frequently.
Dietary Aide Skills and Qualifications
The ideal candidate for a dietary aide must be someone who will work well in a fast-paced environment with a calm and friendly attitude at all times. The candidate should be able to meet the physical aspect of the job, and be able to stand for long periods of time and carry trays with food and beverages. Lastly, the ideal candidate should be available to work in shifts, on weekends, and on holidays.
Most healthcare facilities have a high school diploma or GED as a minimum standard. However, an associate degree in nutrition, health, or a related field will be an advantage. Prior customer service experience acquired in a hospital is an advantage but is usually not required. Most hospitals are willing to train their staff for this role.
A dietary aide serves as an extra set of hands in food service delivery. They also help patients recover one nutritious meal at a time.
