How to hire a consultant dietitian and how much it costs

Hiring a consultant dietitian may be unfamiliar territory for clinical nutrition managers, food service directors or other hospital and long-term care facility employees. Fortunately, Dietitians On Demand can help you secure temporary dietitian coverage efficiently and effectively. We staff dietitians in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, foodservice operations, and more. Here, we break down the best practices when it comes to hiring a consultant dietitian, what goes into an hourly bill rate, and explain what you can expect from us as we seek out your next great dietitian.

Prepare your request

Seek coverage immediately. The day a dietitian gives notice is the day supplemental coverage should be requested. Whether it’s for a vacation, maternity leave, leave of absence, FMLA, or a two-weeks’ notice, this allows you time to vet consultant candidates, sign paperwork, and have overlap before the existing dietitian’s last day.

Decide what you need before requesting coverage. Things like start date, how many hours per week, how many beds in the facility, average census, and duration of assignment are all crucial. Also, let us know if you need a dietitian with special skill sets, like NICU knowledge or foodservice finesse.

Have an hourly rate in mind. Knowing the budget for dietitian staffing will help you determine the best way to handle a dietitian staffing issue.

Not all staffing companies are created equally

Watch out for misclassification of consultant dietitians. Working with a dietitian staffing company that is familiar with labor laws nationwide will ensure you’re in compliance. Not all staffing companies follow these laws, but Dietitians On Demand does. Read more here about the importance of W2 vs 1099 classification of your consultant dietitian.

Ask about protections. It’s essential to ensure that your future consultant dietitian is licensed, insured, and protected by the staffing company you are working with. If not, your facility assumes all risk and could face major financial penalties. Consultant dietitians from Dietitians On Demand are covered under our professional liability insurance and workers’ compensation policies, and we abide by all state licensure laws.

Breaking down the bill rate

Every client wants to know what to expect in terms of cost and rightly so. Because temporary dietitians work unpredictable schedules, short-term assignments, and often don’t receive health or retirement benefits, the hourly rate paid to a consultant will be higher than that paid to a salaried employee.

With that said, the dietitian’s compensation is just one piece of the pie. Below, you can see a breakdown of the additional state and federally-mandated taxes and fees and other administrative costs that all roll up into our bill rates.

Convenient coverage right when you need it

Dietitians On Demand has been hiring consultant registered dietitians since 2005. We’ve staffed dietitians in just about every conceivable setting in nearly all 50 states. We work hard so that both the client and the consultant are satisfied and successful. For a one-stop option that gets you the best dietitian with an effortless process, request coverage from Dietitians On Demand.

Dietitians On Demand is the nationwide leader in staffing registered dietitians, specializing in short-term, temporary and permanent-hire positions in acute care, long term care and food service positions. Our dietitians cover a vacancy, maternity leave, vacations, FMLA or increases in census. Check out our job openings, or request your coverage below!

References

Davidson, C. When clients ask: what goes into your bill rate? American Staffing Association website. Published March-April 2019. Accessed January 22, 2021. https://americanstaffing.net/posts/2020/02/12/when-clients-ask-what-goes-into-your-bill-rate/

Isebrand, S. Staffing Pricing Explained: What Goes Into a Staffing Company’s Bill Rate? Advent Talent Group website. Published January 8, 2020. Accessed January 22, 2021. https://www.adventtalentgroup.com/2020/01/08/staffing-pricing-explained-what-goes-into-a-staffing-companys-bill-rate/