Registered Dietitian - Per Diem
Company : Select Medical
Location : San Diego, CA, 92103-2289
Job Type : Per Diem
Date Posted : 30 December 2025
Overview
Position: Registered Dietitian
Location: 555 Washington Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Schedule: Per Diem/PRN Compensation: $38/hr
Select Specialty Hospital - San Diego 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.
We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including but not limited to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the San Diego County Fair Chance Ordinance.
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Frequently asked questions
San Diego's healthcare sector exhibits moderate competition for per diem Registered Dietitians, driven by numerous specialty hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Candidates with clinical experience and dietitian certification often have an advantage, as facilities seek professionals skilled in critical illness recovery nutrition support.
Beyond the standard Commission on Dietetic Registration credential, some San Diego employers value additional certifications in enteral and parenteral nutrition support. Since cultural diversity is high, knowledge of dietetics in multicultural contexts can also enhance employability locally.
Per diem Registered Dietitians often conduct nutritional assessments, develop tailored nutrition care plans, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. They might adjust enteral or parenteral nutrition regimens and ensure meal services align with therapeutic diets to optimize patient recovery.
Yes, per diem roles can serve as gateways to full-time employment, especially in specialized hospitals. Demonstrating clinical expertise and commitment during per diem shifts at places like Select Medical can open doors to more permanent Registered Dietitian positions.
Registered Dietitians hold specific credentials including state licensure and Commission on Dietetic Registration certification, enabling them to provide medical nutrition therapy. Nutritionists may lack standardized certification and often focus more on general wellness rather than clinical care.
Select Medical offers a comprehensive orientation for smooth onboarding and provides benefits such as 401k eligibility for part-time staff meeting hour thresholds. They emphasize emotional well-being support through employee assistance programs, recognizing the demanding nature of clinical nutrition roles.
Indeed, dietitians collaborate closely with medical, speech therapy, and food service departments to ensure cohesive nutrition care plans. Active participation in team meetings enhances patient progress communication and integration of dietetics into overall treatment.
The advertised compensation for per diem Registered Dietitians at Select Medical in San Diego is $38 per hour, reflecting competitive pay aligned with clinical dietitian roles in specialty hospitals within the region.
Employers prioritize candidates with at least one year of clinical facility experience, especially those familiar with critical illness recovery nutrition and medical nutrition therapies. Experience with enteral and parenteral nutrition management is particularly advantageous.
Select Medical fosters a supportive environment valuing compassionate care and professional growth. Per diem dietitians benefit from structured orientation and ongoing education opportunities, aligning with the hospital’s commitment to high-quality post-ICU patient recovery.