NRS640E.260. Duties of licensed dietitian; authorized services; prohibition from providing person with medical diagnosis.

      1.  A licensed dietitian shall provide nutrition services to assist a person in achieving and maintaining proper nourishment and care of his or her body, including, without limitation:

      (a) Assessing the nutritional needs of a person and determining resources for and constraints in meeting those needs by obtaining, verifying and interpreting data;

      (b) Determining the metabolism of a person and identifying the food, nutrients and supplements necessary for growth, development, maintenance or attainment of proper nourishment of the person;

      (c) Considering the cultural background and socioeconomic needs of a person in achieving or maintaining proper nourishment;

      (d) Identifying and labeling nutritional problems of a person;

      (e) Recommending the appropriate method of obtaining proper nourishment, including, without limitation, orally, intravenously or through a feeding tube;

      (f) Providing counseling, advice and assistance concerning health and disease with respect to the nutritional intake of a person;

      (g) Establishing priorities, goals and objectives that meet the nutritional needs of a person and are consistent with the resources of the person, including, without limitation, providing instruction on meal preparation;

      (h) Treating nutritional problems of a person and identifying patient outcomes to determine the progress made by the person;

      (i) Planning activities to change the behavior, risk factors, environmental conditions or other aspects of the health and nutrition of a person, a group of persons or the community at large;

      (j) Developing, implementing and managing systems to provide care related to nutrition;

      (k) Evaluating and maintaining appropriate standards of quality in the services provided;

      (l) Accepting and transmitting verbal and electronic orders from a physician consistent with an established protocol to implement medical nutrition therapy; and

      (m) Ordering medical laboratory tests relating to the therapeutic treatment concerning the nutritional needs of a patient when authorized to do so by a written protocol prepared or approved by a physician.

      2.  A licensed dietitian may use medical nutrition therapy to manage, treat or rehabilitate a disease, illness, injury or medical condition of a patient, including, without limitation:

      (a) Interpreting data and recommending the nutritional needs of the patient through methods such as diet, feeding tube, intravenous solutions or specialized oral feedings;

      (b) Determining the interaction between food and drugs prescribed to the patient; and

      (c) Developing and managing operations to provide food, care and treatment programs prescribed by a physician, physician assistant, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse or podiatric physician that monitor or alter the food and nutrient levels of the patient.

      3.  A licensed dietitian shall not provide medical diagnosis of the health of a person.

      (Added to NRS by 2011, 1504; A 2013, 2079)