Nutrition Assistant

Dignity Health - Mercy Hospital, established in 1910, is a 229-bed acute care nonprofit hospital located in Bakersfield, California. Serving nearly 90,000 patients every year, the hospital is renowned for its wide range of services including a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), comprehensive cancer care, women’s health programs, and orthopedic services. Mercy Hospital Downtown and Mercy Hospital Southwest are recognized for their outstanding inclusivity, having been designated as LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performers by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Both facilities hold Joint Commission certifications as Primary Stroke Centers, demonstrating their commitment to excellence in emergency care. Notably, Mercy Hospital Downtown hosts the only inpatient Oncology Unit in Bakersfield, while Mercy Hospital Southwest operates the city’s exclusive Obstetric Emergency Department, making these hospitals critical resources in the region’s healthcare landscape.

The hospital is fueled by a community-focused mission encapsulated in the motto, One Community. One Mission. One California, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, compassion, and high-quality care. This mission drives every aspect of the hospital’s operation, fostering a supportive environment for patients and staff alike.

As a Nutrition Assistant at Mercy Hospital, you will play an essential role in the delivery of high-quality, efficient, and safe food services to both patients and hospital staff. This position is vital to ensuring that dietary needs are met with precision and care, contributing significantly to the overall patient experience. On a daily basis, you will be responsible for preparing and delivering meal trays, assisting with food preparation, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards, and ensuring compliance with strict food safety regulations. Your role will also require direct interaction with patients to address any dietary concerns or questions, making customer service skills a key component of success.

The Nutrition Assistant must adhere to healthcare food service industry standards, including the monitoring and maintenance of food temperatures during cooking, holding, and storage, thereby avoiding any risks of cross-contamination. Personal hygiene and cleanliness are critical, as is the accurate labeling and storage of food products and related equipment according to regulatory and facility guidelines.

The role involves preparing and serving food aligned with menu and dietary requirements, using appropriate kitchen utensils and equipment. Knowledge of recipe ingredients is essential to effectively respond to food allergy inquiries or special dietary requests, ensuring patient safety and satisfaction. Maintaining an aesthetically pleasing presentation and correct meal portioning are also paramount to upholding organizational standards for patient and customer dining experiences.

Additionally, the Nutrition Assistant may take on various responsibilities such as cashiering, serving in retail areas, assembling, delivering, and retrieving patient trays, conducting cold food preparation, and performing utility tasks like dishwashing and equipment maintenance. The role may extend to catering duties including food delivery and pickup, supporting inventory management, and general cleaning of work areas to maintain a hygienic environment. This multifaceted position not only requires attentiveness and diligence but also offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the hospital’s mission of delivering compassionate care through every aspect of the patient journey.