Internship Chronic Illness Jobs (NOW HIRING)

La Rabida Children’s Hospital provides specialized, family-centered health care to children with medically complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness. Through expertise, compassion, and advocacy we help children and their families reach their fullest potential, regardless of their ability to pay.

Our not-for-profit hospital, licensed for 49 beds, helps transition children from neonatal or pediatric intensive care to home, by providing medical, rehabilitative and developmental care, and by training families to continue treatments and manage the necessary equipment in the home. La Rabida also provides extensive rehabilitation for those recovering from wounds or burns and treatment for exacerbations of chronic conditions.

The hospital’s enhanced pediatric patient-centered medical home provides primary care to children with complex medical conditions and their siblings. Children with medical homes elsewhere come to La Rabida for specialty services. La Rabida offers a wide range of specialty services provided to children with sickle cell disease, diabetes, and many others. Children are supported in their emotional and developmental growth, particularly in cases where such growth has been interrupted by accident or disease.

Finally, La Rabida provides forensic and treatment services for children exposed to abuse and neglect, comprehensive assessments for wards of the state, early intervention for children between 0 and 3 years of age. Care coordination services for medically complex children are also provided for those who are covered by a health plan and receive care from providers in Cook County

SUMMARY:  Provide medical nutrition therapy for children with chronic diseases on an inpatient and outpatient basis, including premature infants and children with cerebral palsy and diabetes.Position will include:  nutrition management of inpatient and outpatient chronic disease pediatric population; Diabetes educator for the Chicago Children's Diabetes Center.  Must have extensive knowledge and practice of enteral nutrition management.  Must be able to work 1 evening per week for outpatient clinics.

Essential Functions: 

• Provide medical nutrition therapy for pediatric patients with chronic and complex medical conditions (inpatient and outpatient)

• Conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments, including anthropometrics, labs, diet history, and growth analysis

• Develop and implement individualized nutrition care plans in accordance with Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics standards

• Serve as a Diabetes Educator, providing carbohydrate counting education and insulin pump training

• Manage enteral and parenteral nutrition (including TPN monitoring and lab interpretation)

• Participate in family-centered rounds, interdisciplinary team meetings, and discharge planning

• Provide ongoing nutrition counseling, follow-up, and monitoring of growth and feeding tolerance

• Support outpatient chronic disease clinics, including Telehealth visits

• Collaborate with food service to ensure accurate diet orders and specialized nutrition needs

• Develop patient and staff education materials and provide training to residents, nurses, and families

Education:  BS in Nutrition or BS in Biology or Health Studies with enrollment in Dietetics Program required. MS preferred, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) and/or Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP) preferred.

Related Work Experience:                    

• Level I:  Less than 1 year of experience, but must have pediatric experience during internship.
• Level II:1-5 years of experience with pediatric, preferably clinical, experience
• Level III:6+ years of clinical experience

Licensure/Certification:  Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Registered Dietitian OR Registered Dietitian (RD) eligible; Licensed in State of Illinois within 6 months of hire.

Specialized Knowledge/ Skills/Credentials: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)/CDCES eligible preferred, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician  (CNSC), Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP) preferred.  

CPR required:  Only certifications issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross will be accepted.

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

La Rabida is a place unlike any other. We understand the needs of families with children dealing with the most serious or complicated of conditions. With teams of the best healthcare providers in Chicago, we give continuous, comprehensive care, education, and support, helping families face their unique obstacles head-on.   

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.