All of the following apply to a dietitian nutritionist:

    (a) The dietitian nutritionist may accept or transmit orders related to the practice of medical nutrition therapy from a referring health professional licensed under this article, as established in rules promulgated by the department in consultation with the board.

    (b) The dietitian nutritionist shall provide nutrition care services using systematic, evidence-based problem solving methods of the nutrition care process to critically think and make decisions to address nutrition-related problems and provide safe, effective, quality dietetic and nutrition services for individuals in clinical and community settings.

    (c) The dietitian nutritionist may accept or transmit verbal, delegated, or electronically transmitted orders from a referring health professional licensed under this article consistent with applicable laws and rules and any controlling facility or employer protocols established to implement the practice of medical nutrition therapy.

    (d) The dietitian nutritionist may order patient diets, including oral therapeutic diets, and enteral and parenteral nutrition therapy of specialized intravenous solutions and associated nutrition-related services, including, but not limited to, placing nasogastric and nasoenteric feeding tubes, as part of a therapeutic diet.

    (e) The dietitian nutritionist may conduct swallow screens and order medical laboratory tests related to a nutritional therapeutic treatment as provided by the laws of this state.

    (f) The dietitian nutritionist may implement prescription drug dose adjustments for specific disease treatment protocols within the limits of the dietitian nutritionist's knowledge, skills, judgment, and informed clinical practice guidelines as indicated in a facility, medical staff, or medical director approved protocol and as approved by and under the delegation of a prescriber.

    (g) In an outpatient setting, the dietitian nutritionist may implement prescription drug dose adjustments for specific disease treatment protocols within the limits of the dietitian nutritionist's knowledge, skills, and judgment and as approved by and under the delegation of a prescriber.

    (h) The dietitian nutritionist may recommend or order dietary supplements or the discontinuance of unnecessary dietary supplements, consistent with any existing controlling protocols.

    (i) The dietitian nutritionist may develop and manage food service operations for the management or treatment of diseases or medical conditions, including operations with the primary function of nutrition care or recommending, ordering, or providing therapeutic diets.

    (j) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the dietitian nutritionist shall not prescribe or initiate drug treatment.

    (k) The dietitian nutritionist shall not perform an act, task, or function within the practice of dietetics and nutrition that the dietitian nutritionist is not competent to perform.

    (l) The dietitian nutritionist may coordinate nutrition care services between health facilities or agencies as that term is defined in section 20106, including, but not limited to, monitoring, documenting, and deciding how and when to address weight changes and nutrition issues.

    (m) The dietitian nutritionist may oversee the nutritional aspects of patient care within a health facility or agency as that term is defined in section 20106.