Dietitian (Clinical)

Summary The Atlanta VA Health Care System is seeking a Dietitian (Clinical) to support the facility's mission and coordinate nutritional care with other health care providers - the client - the client's family and the community. The Clinical Dietitian is the medical nutrition expert responsible for independently planning - developing and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned clients - including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. Qualifications Basic Requirements: aCitizenshipCitizen of the United States(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) Education and Supervised Practice (1) The individual must have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and fulfilled each of the following criteria: (a) Completed a didactic program in dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) - formerly known as the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE)(b) Completed an ACEND accredited or approved supervised practice programSupervised practice programs are post-baccalaureate degree programs that provide supervised practice experiences which meet the eligibility requirements and accreditation standards of ACEND - formally known as CADECompletion of a coordinated program in dietetics fulfills the requirements of a supervised practice programTime spent in a dietetic internship or supervised practice program does not qualify as creditable experience(2) Individuals who have earned college and/or university degrees outside the United States and its territories also must have their transcripts evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service to determine if their degree is equivalent to a degree granted by a regionally accredited college or university in the United StatesValidation of a foreign degree does not eliminate the need for verification of completion of didactic program - dietetic internship - or coordinated program requirementsThe completion of ACEND didactic program requirements and at least a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or foreign equivalent are necessary for eligibility to enter an ACEND-accredited supervised practice programRegistration/CertificationAll applicants 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)Advanced Level Practice Dietitians must possess a minimum of one advanced practice credential relevant to the area of practice - (e.gCertified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) - Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR) - Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition (CSG) - Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) - or Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO))Grade Determinations:GS-11 (Full Performance)AssignmentsRegistered dietitians are responsible for independently planning - developing and directing all nutrition care activities (e.g. - food service and/or clinical nutrition)They are responsible for using evidence-based approaches to develop menus - counsel patients and provide nutrition careMust demonstrate the following: 1Knowledge of best practices in the dietetics profession and in scientific literature - including knowledge of research methods - study design - data collection - interpretation of findings and translation of results into nutrition practice2Ability to comply with various accrediting - regulatory and agency authorities3Ability to develop and maintain a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies4Knowledge of computer software programs relative to food service systems5Knowledge of the principles and practices of nutrition care and the treatment of complex cases in clinical settings in order to develop - implement - and coordinate best practices in the dietetics profession (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring and evaluation)6Knowledge of best practices in areas of clinical nutrition and the ability to apply nutrition interventions to patients with multiple comorbidities7Ability to act as a consultant for health care providers including registered dietetic technicians - dietetic interns - nurses - physicians - medical students and allied health professionalsReferences: VA Handbook 5005/80 - Part II - Appendix G20 - Dietitian Qualification Standard - dated September 5 - 2014.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary - although some light physical effort may be requiredThere may be some walking - standing - bending - carrying of light items including training paperwork or manuals - or small equipment - such as: laptop computers - mobile LCD projectorsor driving an automobileWork often involves talking for long periods of time and incumbent may be susceptible to eyestrain from working long hours on the computer. Duties Duties include but are not limited to: Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process (NCP) - including nutrition focus physical examinations - to establish a nutrition diagnosis and determine risk and/or degree of malnutritionDevelops and implements an individualized plan for medical nutrition therapy in accordance with the patient's medical problems - goals and objectivesAccurately obtains and interprets medical information pertinent to the patient's nutritional care to determine nutrition diagnosis - nutritional status and other risk factors relevant to the disease processesProvides a therapeutic plan for specialized nutrition support - including enteral and parenteral nutrition for inpatients with complex medical and nutritional needsAssesses educational needs and provides nutrition counseling for individuals and groups - incorporating a learning approach that considers the cultural - religious - educational - and medical situation of the patientInformation may include menu planning - budgeting - food purchasing and preparation - food storage and sanitationAssists in the education of students and dietetic interns when indicatedThe dietitian will plan learning experiences - teach - and evaluate students' performanceParticipates in planning - developing - revising and implementing nutrition related policies - procedures clinical guidelines - protocols and the Nutrition Care ManualPresents seminars - workshops - or talks to convey current nutrition information on new and changing conceptsThis includes the development of in-services - educational programs directed to members of Primary Care Teams - CBOC teams - Nutrition and Food Service personnel - Nursing - end various students - interns or residentsDetermines the need for home care to assure continuity of care and makes appropriate referrals to HBPPC - Social Work Service - satellite clinics or other community agenciesStays abreast of current research in Nutrition related areasAnalyzes and interprets nutrition related research related to patient careMaintains dietetic registration and continuing education requirementsDevelops and implements an individualized plan for professional growth and development including participation in professional organizations and activities - workshops - seminars - and staff development programsWork Schedule: Monday-Friday - 08:00am-4:30pmWork Schedule may changed based on the agency needsCompressed/Flexible: Not AuthorizedTelework: Not AuthorizedVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: PD99529S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not AuthorizedEDRP Authorized: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized