| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Allied Health |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Chief Dietitian |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 4 years in clinical nutrition |
Dietitian job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Dietitian
Department: Allied Health
Reports to: Chief Dietitian
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Dietitian plans and advises on nutrition for patients and clients, from hospital diets to lifestyle and disease management. They assess nutritional needs, design diet plans, counsel patients, and coordinate therapeutic diets with the kitchen. The role reports to the Chief Dietitian or Medical Superintendent. A good dietitian gives clear, workable diet advice that patients follow, supports medical treatment with the right therapeutic diets, and keeps proper assessment and follow up records for every case.
Key responsibilities
- Assess patients' nutritional status using history, weight, labs and clinical condition.
- Design therapeutic and general diet plans suited to the diagnosis and the patient.
- Counsel patients and families on diet for conditions such as diabetes, renal and cardiac disease.
- Coordinate with the hospital kitchen so patients receive the prescribed therapeutic diets.
- Review ward patients, adjust diets to progress, and note intake and tolerance.
- Run outpatient nutrition consultations and weight or lifestyle programmes.
- Educate patients on portion sizes, food choices and practical Indian meal planning.
- Keep records of assessments, plans and follow ups for each patient.
- Support clinical teams with nutrition input on ward rounds where needed.
- Promote nutrition awareness through talks and materials in the hospital.
Requirements
- BSc or MSc in Dietetics, Nutrition or Home Science
- Registered Dietitian is an advantage
- Internship in a hospital dietetics department
- Fresher or up to 4 years in clinical nutrition
KRAs and KPIs for a Dietitian
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Assessment coverage | Referred patients assessed within the agreed time on most cases |
| Diet accuracy | Therapeutic diets matching the prescription with no diet error reaching the ward |
| Counselling | Outpatient counselling sessions delivered to the monthly plan |
| Follow-up | Diet plans reviewed and adjusted at the planned intervals |
| Patient adherence | Follow-up patients reporting they follow the plan above the target |
| Records | Nutrition assessment and follow-up records complete for every case |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Diet analysis software, Weighing scale and stadiometer, Skinfold calipers, Diet chart formats, MS Excel.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Dietitian, Chief Dietitian, Clinical Nutritionist
Interview questions for a Dietitian
- How do you plan a diet for a patient with both diabetes and kidney disease?
- How do you counsel a patient who finds it hard to change their eating habits?
- How do you work with the hospital kitchen to deliver therapeutic diets correctly?
- How do you assess the nutritional status of a critically ill patient?
- How do you make diet advice practical for an average Indian household?
- Tell me about a patient whose health improved through a diet you planned.
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What does a dietitian do?
A dietitian plans and advises on nutrition for patients and clients. They assess nutritional needs, design therapeutic and general diet plans, counsel patients on conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease, and coordinate with the hospital kitchen so patients get the right diets. They keep assessment and follow up records for every case.
What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?
A dietitian is trained and often registered to plan therapeutic diets for medical conditions and works in clinical settings such as hospitals. A nutritionist advises on general nutrition and healthy eating and may work in wellness or community settings. In India, clinical roles usually ask for a dietetics qualification and hospital training.
What qualifications do you need to be a dietitian?
Most dietitians hold a BSc or MSc in dietetics, nutrition or home science and complete a hospital internship. A registered dietitian credential is an advantage for clinical roles. Employers look for skill in nutritional assessment and therapeutic diet planning, clear counselling ability, and knowledge of practical Indian meal planning.