Salary : $6,007.00 - $8,410.00 Monthly
Location : Pueblo, CO
Job Type: Temporary (9 months or less)
Job Number: IIB 81193 11/05/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIP
Opening Date: 11/05/2026
Closing Date: 11/19/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:Type of Announcement: This is a temporary position. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
Primary Physical Work Address: In person at Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) 1600 W 24th St, Pueblo, CO 81003.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department InformationThis is a temporary full-time position.
Temporary Aide - Registered Dietitian II - Full Time - Nutrition ServicesColorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)
1600 W 24th St, Pueblo, CO 81003
Shift details will be discussed during the interview process
100% In-PersonAnticipated End Date: 6/30/2027Please Note: anticipated start and end dates may change depending on recruitment status.This position is open to current Colorado residents only.This position is required to work at the assigned work location during your scheduled work times.
Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Description of JobAbout this position:Registered Dietitians fulfill a didactic role in providing clinical dietetic services and managing the food service subsystems/resources in the execution of the department's mission as stated above. The purpose of this position is to provide medical nutrition therapy to patients in a mental health hospital setting. The position works closely with departmental and interdisciplinary teams to provide inpatient care. Utilizes the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology to assess nutrition status, identify nutrition diagnoses, and develop, implement, and evaluate outcomes of nutrition care plans for patients at nutrition risk.
Please read this entire announcement to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications, failure to provide current and accurate work history will exclude your application from considerationPosition Duties:Medical Nutrition Therapy:As an independent, fully operational professional, the Dietitian II delivers advanced medical nutrition therapy in a complex psychiatric hospital. The role relies on professional judgment, discretion, and dietetic theory to assess patient needs. Using specialized software and electronic health records, the Dietitian II applies the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Nutrition Care Process to create individualized treatment plans. The framework for this application of the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology includes:
- Nutrition Assessment: Independentlyassesses the nutrition status of patients by systematically collecting, recording, and interpreting relevant complex data from patients, hospital clinicians, caregivers, and other individuals and groups. Utilizes food/nutrition-related history; anthropometric measurements; biochemical data, medical tests and procedures; nutrition-focused physical findings; and patient history to determine factors affecting nutrition and health status, and compares data to criteria, relevant norms, and standards for interpretation and decision-making. Organizes and categorizes the data in a meaningful framework that links nutrition assessment parameters with nutrition diagnoses, and determines when a problem requires consultation with or referral to another health care professional.
- Nutrition Diagnosis: Finds patterns and relationships among the nutrition assessment data to identify a nutrition problem that can be resolved or improved through medical nutrition therapy. Prioritizes the relative importance of problems for patient safety. Utilizes standard nutrition diagnostic terminology to write a PES (problem, etiology, and signs/symptom) statement that describes the problem, its root cause, and the assessment data that provides evidence for the nutrition diagnosis.
- Nutrition Intervention/Plan of Care: Formulates a nutrition intervention plan based on the nutrition diagnosis and its etiology that prioritizes diagnoses based on urgency, impact, and available resources including Standards of Practice (SOPs), up-to-date medical nutrition therapy practices/evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines; coordinates care with other healthcare professionals; and considers patients' rights and expected outcomes.
- Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation: Studies andidentifies patient outcomes relevant to the nutrition diagnosis and intervention plans and goals to determine the amount of progress made and whether goals/expected outcomes are being met. Monitor and measure outcomes by selecting nutrition care indicators that are relevant to the nutrition diagnosis and its etiology and signs/symptoms, as well as to the nutrition intervention, medical diagnosis, and quality management goals for nutrition, patient population, and disease state and/or severity.
- Documentation and Communication: Documents relevant, accurate, and timely information performed in the Nutrition Care Process in the patient's electronic medical record. Communicates and influences treatment interventions determined by the healthcare team through interdisciplinary team meetings, rounds, and nutrition-related in-services; serves as a subject matter expert and resource of nutrition. Works collaboratively with food service staff and other RD/RDNs to ensure conformance and continuation of the individualized nutrition care plan.
Quality Improvement and Regulatory Compliance:- Operates independently as a fully operational professional to design and implement continuous quality improvement activities for nutrition care services.
- Utilizes professional discretion and creativity to evaluate patient council and surveys client input to enhance food service operations.
- Interrelates with other departments to exchange information, elicit support, and in collaborative decision- making.
- Serves on committees and oral boards at the hospital, CDHS, and state level.
- Participates in planning, developing, and implementing nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals.
- Assists in developing and revising patient or staff education materials, clinical forms and protocols.
- Demonstrates accountability with rules for use and disclosure of patient/client protected health information requested by HIPPA.
- Assures the care delivered to each patient is in accordance with state regulation and licensing, certification, or registration for the nutrition and dietetics practitioner.
- Assists in achieving compliance with the Joint Commission and other accrediting agency standards to continuously improve both the safety and quality of care for the patient/client and the organization's overall performance.
- Complies with state and federal requirements set forth under CMS.
- Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities.
- Develops and maintains positive and trusted working relationships.
Standards of Practice:- Responsible for creating and finalizing designated menus in compliance with regulatory standards, the defined diet manual, the menu guide, and explicit facility needs.
- Uses nutrition software to build and manage patient-specific menus, food allergies, and specialized texture modifications.
- Assesses and updates nutrition standards of practice for the Registered Dietitian at the CMHHIP.
- Develops recommendations and provides critical evaluation on clinical nutrition-related policies and procedures.
- Supports review and development of clinical nutrition protocols and menus for use within the hospital.
- Participates in nutrition projects and communicates findings through reports, presentations, etc.
- Develops and implements an individualized portfolio plan based on competencies and performance indicators that demonstrate professional growth and development.
- Continuously improves performance to advance knowledge based on applied practice-informed evidence and feedback from others.
- Applies Scope of Practice and Standards of Practice (SOPs) tools for credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners.
- Communicates effectively with patients and staff through professional communications, writing, and presentations.
Other Duties as Assigned:- Other duties as assigned by supervisor or Appointing Authority.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal RightsApplicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position.
Work experience must be specifically documented in the work experience section of your application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application. Minimum QualificationsApplicants must attach a CURRENT and VALID Registered Dietician license to be considered for this positionfailure to provide the required documentation will remove your application from considerationExperience- Five (5) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position
- Acceptable relevant experience in: dietetics experience or nutrition experience as a licensed dietitian , registered as a dietitian with the American Dietetics Association (Please submit required license at time of application).
OREducation and Experience - A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to five (5) years
- Related education in: Bachelor's degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or related area, granted by the US regionally accredited college or university, or foreign equivalent. Completion of required dietetics coursework and supervised practice through a Didactic Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Position must possess Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential by the Commission of Dietetics Registration (CDR).
Preferred Qualifications:- Proficiency in Google Suite and GMAIL
- Experience in behavior health or eating disorders
- Clinical experience in hospital setting or high security facility
Key Competencies:Communication
- Provides clear and consistent written and verbal communications and counseling.
- Communicates comprehensive knowledge and application of nutrition services.
- Communicates clearly and effectively with patients, the public, and hospital and medical staff through professional communications, technical writing, and presentations.
Interpersonal Relations
- Develops and maintains positive and trusted working relationships.
- Addresses customer, client, and employee concerns and needs.
- Treats all with respect, dignity, and compassion.
Technical Knowledge
- Possesses knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology (NCPT) and the
ability to apply all steps of the process.
- Demonstrates proficiency in use of technology and its applications, including word
processing, nutrient analysis, and spreadsheet software.
Analytical Thinking
- Systematically gathers information from a variety of sources and utilizes critical thinking to integrate facts, informed opinions, active listening, and observations.
- Analyzes information to help identify implications, solutions, and conclusions based on
appropriate data.
- Uses existing procedures, experience, and judgment to solve problems.
Customer Focus
- Demonstrates service excellence and patient- and family-centered care by showing respect, honesty, fairness, and a positive attitude toward all customers.
- Strives for high customer satisfaction when working with patients, families, coworkers,
other departments, physicians/providers, and the community.
- Meets customer service needs quickly and effectively; takes action to review and remedy customer complaints.
Conditions of Employment: - A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you