CDM, CFPP of the Month - June 2023
Job Title: Dietary Manager
Employer: Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home
Job Location: Killen, AL
Years at Current Facility: Over One Year
Years in Current Position: Over One Year
CDM Since: 2020
Why did you decide to become a CDM, CFPP?
I was a dietary worker and fell in love with the job. I wanted to take the next step and become a CDM, CFPP. I love working in a nursing home setting, and food and nutrition are my passion.
What are your main responsibilities in your current position?
I make sure all operations of the kitchen are running how it should be. I monitor food quality and safety. I also handle the nutrition part of the MDS making sure weights are where they need to be, and interventions are being done for the ones that are not.
How do you organize your time at work to make sure you accomplish all your responsibilities?
I make sure I have a to-do list every day. I plan my day out the day before and I keep a calendar of task that needs to be done weekly. I delegate what I can to my dietary workers.
What is an example of an innovative way you have made change at your facility and how did you implement it?
When I first got to the facility, they had a cleaning schedule, but not set way of it being done. I remade the cleaning list. I assigned each task to a day and I rotated a worker to get it done on a monthly basis. This has helped keep our kitchen clean and raise our health score.
What was your first job in the foodservice industry?
I worked at Taco Bell. I started as a weekend prep person and worked my way up to Assistant General Manager.Who has been your biggest mentor in food service and how have they helped shape your career?
My biggest mentor would have been my General Manager at Taco Bell. He showed me how to be a great leader and to know every one that works for you is an important part of your team.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your position and how do you handle them?
The biggest challenge has been hiring employees after COVID-19, with CMS regulations saying every nursing home employee must be vaccinated. Finding vaccinated people has been pretty tough.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is working with the residents. They are such sweet souls and still have so much life left to live.
How do you stay up to date with current innovations and trends?
I check the ANFP website weekly and attend conferences to learn new things and make more connections.
How do you envision the foodservice industry changing in the next few years?
I feel like the clientele will be different. We will have a new generation coming through as customers and as workers. I think technology will also play a much larger role in food prep.
What is your advice to those just getting started in the foodservice industry?
Do not get discouraged. The job can be very stressful at times, but it does not stay that way. Always remind yourself there is a rainbow after every storm.