Registered Dietitian - Per Diem
Company : Select Medical
Location : McKeesport, PA, 15132
Job Type : Per Diem
Date Posted : 30 December 2025
Overview
Position: Registered Deititian - Per Diem/ PRN
Location: Select Specialty Hospital - Pittsburgh (located inside UPMC Montefiore) and McKeesport (located inside UPMC McKeesport)
Schedule: PRN/Per Diem/As Needed
Compensation: $35.00 per hour, plus shift differentials for weekends
Select Specialty Hospital is a critical illness recovery hospital committed to providing world-class inpatient post-ICU services to chronic, critically ill patients who require extended healing and recovery. We help patients during some of the most vulnerable, painful moments of their lives – and Registered Dietitians play a central role in providing compassionate,
excellent care every step of the way.
Why Join Us:
- Start Strong: Extensive orientation program to ensure a smooth transition into our setting.
- Opportunity for Advancement: Demonstrate your skills and dedication which could lead to potential full-time opportunities
- Foster Well-being: We offer benefits which support the financial, work/life and emotional well-being of you and your family members. Part time/Per Diem positions are eligible for 401k based on reaching 1,000 hours within their first anniversary or subsequent calendar year. We also offer our employee assistance program to part time employees.
- Your Impact Matters: Join a team of over 44,000 committed to providing exceptional patient care
Responsibilities
- Provide quality nutritional care to patients such as the development, implementation and monitoring of Medical Nutrition Therapies.
- work collaboratively with the medical staff, patients, families and food service department to ensure the patients’ nutrition care plans are implemented and departmental standards are maintained.
- Perform nutritional assessments and re-assessments, identifying goals, recommending nutrition interventions, monitoring and evaluating patient progress.
- Develop and monitor enteral and/or parenteral nutrition support regimens.
- Work closely with the Speech Therapy Department to assist with the progression of textured modified diets to ensure patient safety and optimize oral intake.
- Clarify admission orders to ensure nutrition support, diet and oral supplement orders are consistent with the facility’s established nutrition support formulary and diet manual.
- Consider religious, cultural and ethnic factors in development of nutrition care plans.
- Review yearly updates and approves therapeutic diet manual annually. Educates clinical and food service staff on location of the Nutrition Care Manual. Maintains hard copy of simplified diet manual for downtime.
- Keeps current with nutritional practices and theories. Maintains current professional registration requirements (i.e., Professional Portfolio, self-development and continuing education). Demonstrates interest in continuing education, academics or specialized certification to further enhance professional skills.
- Evaluate potential food/drug interactions, and/or herb/supplement interactions.
- Attend interdisciplinary team meetings and communicating progress and special needs.
- Participate in developing, planning and standardizing menus.
- Perform meal rounds to ensure patients' meal trays are consistent with the prescribed diet and meet standards as to quality, quantity, temperature and appearance.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors degree with major studies in Food and Nutrition related field.
- Current state licensure/certification, if required by state.
- Current registration by the Commission on Dietetics Registration.
- One (1) year of work experience in a facility setting with clinical responsibilities or equivalent.
Additional Data
Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans
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Frequently asked questions
McKeesport shows moderate demand for per diem registered dietitians, especially within specialized healthcare facilities like Select Medical. The local market values clinical expertise combined with flexibility, making per diem roles attractive but also competitive among dietitians seeking varied schedules.
Beyond the standard Commission on Dietetic Registration credential, local employers often prefer candidates with state licensure and specialized certifications in clinical nutrition or critical care. Staying current with Pennsylvania’s regulatory requirements enhances your attractiveness for roles in hospitals like Select Specialty.
Per diem dietitians handle core clinical nutrition duties on an as-needed basis, emphasizing adaptability and quick integration with interdisciplinary teams. Unlike full-time roles, they may focus on critical patient assessments and nutrition interventions during variable shifts, maintaining high care standards without permanent scheduling.
Strong clinical nutrition assessment, proficiency in enteral and parenteral support, and collaborative communication with medical and speech therapy teams are vital. Flexibility to adapt to varying patient acuity levels and efficient meal round evaluations also distinguish successful per diem dietitians.
Working per diem allows you to showcase clinical expertise and dedication, potentially leading to full-time employment opportunities, leadership roles like dietitian manager, or specialization in nutrition support therapy. Select Medical’s supportive advancement culture rewards commitment with diverse career growth possibilities.
Select Medical offers 401(k) eligibility after accruing required hours, an employee assistance program, and comprehensive orientation. They encourage continuing education and professional certification maintenance, fostering an environment where per diem dietitians can thrive both financially and career-wise.
Registered Dietitians at Select Medical in McKeesport earn approximately $35 per hour, with additional shift differentials for weekend work. This competitive compensation reflects the specialized clinical environment and the need for flexibility inherent in per diem scheduling.
Applicants must have at least one year of clinical experience in a facility setting alongside current registration and any state-required licensure. This ensures dietitians are prepared to manage complex patient needs typical in critical illness recovery hospitals.
Dietitians here often address complex post-ICU nutrition needs, including managing enteral/parenteral feeding and coordinating textured diet progressions with speech therapy. Cultural and religious dietary considerations further require nuanced care planning, demanding both clinical expertise and sensitivity.
The commute from Pittsburgh to McKeesport typically takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. Registered dietitians valuing flexible shifts often find this manageable, especially given the rewarding clinical environment and compensation offered by Select Medical.