Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice)
Summary
The Advanced Level Practice Dietitian - CDCES conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments for Veterans living with diabetes using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP), ensuring high-quality nutrition care under an advanced and expanded scope of practice. This position is with the VA Puget Sound Health Care System at the American Lake VA Medical Center.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) - Must be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing branch of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formerly known as the American Dietetic Association (ADA)
English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.7403(f)
Current VHA Dietitians that qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision may not be promoted to a higher grade if they do not meet the current RDN/RD requirements
Grade Determinations: Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice) - GS-12
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
Certification: Must hold an advanced practice certification from a nationally recognized certifying body such as the Commission on Dietetic Registration - the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists or the National Board of Nutrition Certification
The certification must be directly related to the assignment being filled
This position requires a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists certification
Knowledge - Skills and Abilities:
Skilled in leading a team in the implementation of nutrition-related activities
Skilled in utilizing evidence-based practice guidelines to establish or modify goals and improve patient outcomes
Skilled in communicating in writing to develop policies and standard operating procedures
Skilled in serving as a nutrition expert, providing technical guidance, direction, and staff development
Skilled in leading research or performance improvement studies
Skilled in presenting complex nutrition information to a large group of health care providers to persuade and influence provision of care
Experience
Provides comprehensive medical nutritional care applying the NCP with Veterans living with diabetes in a variety of patient care settings
Bases individualized nutrition interventions on the best available research and/or evidence-based guidelines and best practices
Performs a Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) during assessments to determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition
Calculates nutrient requirements (calories, protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, electrolytes, and fluids) and necessary diet restrictions or food/drug interactions
Evaluates patterns and relationships among data obtained and possible roots causes for nutrition problems
Identifies patient in need of nutritional support and recommends the appropriate mode of support, including route, formula, and rate of administration
Provides initial and on-going nutritional assessment of patients receiving enteral nutrition
Orders labs, diets, and consults per Scope of Practice/Clinical privileges
Evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes on MNT interventions
Provides nutrition education to individuals, small and large groups, peers, licensed practitioners, medical students, interns, and residents as applicable
Provides consultative services regarding advanced therapies, policies, procedures, and research in the provision of quality nutritional care
Develops, monitors, and directs practice-specific benchmarks based on standards of care or national initiatives
Leads dietitians and specialty multidisciplinary teams in developing nutrition-related services, policies, procedures, and/or protocols
Led the implementation of new nutrition initiatives or a change in practice to achieve strategic goals
Establishes goals, measures outcomes, and reports progress toward meeting goals to medical center committees, health care teams, and/or professional groups
Utilizes knowledge, expertise, principles, and/or current research to plan, implement, and evaluate organizational initiatives
Leads staff, creates, and validates competencies and develops training activities
Presents at seminars, workgroups, and lectures to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts
Duties
Provides comprehensive medical nutritional care applying the NCP with Veterans living with diabetes in a variety of patient care settings
Bases individualized nutrition interventions on the best available research and/or evidence-based guidelines and best practices
Performs a Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) during assessments to determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition
Calculates nutrient requirements (calories, protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, electrolytes, and fluids) and necessary diet restrictions or food/drug interactions
Evaluates patterns and relationships among data obtained and possible roots causes for nutrition problems
Identifies patient in need of nutritional support and recommends the appropriate mode of support, including route, formula, and rate of administration
Provides initial and on-going nutritional assessment of patients receiving enteral nutrition
Orders labs, diets, and consults per Scope of Practice/Clinical privileges
Evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes on MNT interventions
Provides nutrition education to individuals, small and large groups, peers, licensed practitioners, medical students, interns, and residents as applicable
Provides consultative services regarding advanced therapies, policies, procedures, and research in the provision of quality nutritional care
Develops, monitors, and directs practice-specific benchmarks based on standards of care or national initiatives
Led the implementation of new nutrition initiatives or a change in practice to achieve strategic goals
Establishes goals, measures outcomes, and reports progress toward meeting goals to medical center committees, health care teams, and/or professional groups
Utilizes knowledge, expertise, principles, and/or current research to plan, implement, and evaluate organizational initiatives
Leads staff, creates, and validates competencies and develops training activities
Presents at seminars, workgroups, and lectures to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts
Skills
Leading a team in the implementation of nutrition-related activities
Utilizing evidence-based practice guidelines to establish or modify goals and improve patient outcomes
Communicating in writing to develop policies and standard operating procedures
Serving as a nutrition expert, providing technical guidance, direction, and staff development
Leading research or performance improvement studies
Presenting complex nutrition information to a large group of health care providers to persuade and influence provision of care
Knowledge
Knowledge of evidence-based practice guidelines
Knowledge of best practices in nutrition care
Knowledge of nutrition-related policies and procedures
Knowledge of clinical privileges and lab orders
Knowledge of nutrition-related services, policies, and procedures
Knowledge of current research in nutrition
Preferred Experience
Experience working with adults living with all types of diabetes