Dietitian (Clinical)

About the role

Employees in this assignment serve as a Dietitian (Clinical) in Nutrition Food Services (NFS) within Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System in Baton Rouge - Louisiana.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers, the Veteran, the Veteran's caregiver, and the community
• Serving as a PACT (Patient Aligned Care Teams) dietitian, providing nutrition care to primary care patients through both face-to-face and virtual visits
• Delivering individual and group MOVE! Weight Management Program appointments
• Conducting comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process (NCP)
• Developing and implementing Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) to address the nutrition diagnosis
• Evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness and outcomes of MNT interventions
• Modifying the plan as needed to achieve positive patient outcomes
• Calculating nutrient requirements and necessary diet restrictions or food and drug interactions
• Tailoring the diet prescription to each individual patient
• Documenting MNT in the medical record using the Assessment - Diagnosis - Intervention - Monitoring - Evaluation (ADIME) format
• Functions independently and accurately when record keeping
• Identifying patients in need of nutritional support and recommending the appropriate mode of support
• Communicating appropriately with the health care team
• Participating in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetings
• Affirming educational needs and providing nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups
• Utilizing virtual care technology to improve access to care
• Maintaining accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and completing patient encounters using approved systems
• Ensuring continuous improvement of safe and quality care of Veterans
• Leading activities in the implementation of new initiatives
• Using data in the development of measures, data evaluation, and initiation of corrective actions
• Complying with The Joint Commission requirements and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient care
• Collaborating with the Food Operations Section and department leadership to enhance the Veterans' dining experience, support patient satisfaction, and serve as a liaison between clinical units and the Food Operations Section

Requirements

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)
• Exception for GS-07 and GS-09 Only: Dietitians who do not possess the RDN/RD credential
• Non-credentialed Dietitians who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below - but do not possess the RDN credential - may be given a full-time temporary appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)
• May only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credential
• Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following:
• Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent
• Completed an ACEND accredited experiential or supervised practice program and provide a verification statement from the program director that conveys eligibility to take the CDR registration exam
• A list of ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory
• 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: GS-07 Dietitian (Clinical) (Entry Level Developmental) No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements
• GS-09 Dietitian (Clinical) (Developmental) Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) OR a master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related field
• Your experience or education must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities:
• Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements
• Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring and evaluation)
• Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes
• Ability to develop patient-centered goals
• Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders
• GS-11 Dietitian (Clinical) (Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 up must possess at least 1 year of experience as an RDN/RD equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) which demonstrates the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities:
• Skill in delivering patient care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring - and evaluation)
• Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes
• Skill in developing patient-centered goals
• Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies
• Skill in collaborating with stakeholders
• Skill in complying with various accrediting - regulatory and agency authorities

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)
• Exception for GS-07 and GS-09 Only: Dietitians who do not possess the RDN/RD credential
• Non-credentialed Dietitians who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below - but do not possess the RDN credential - may be given a full-time temporary appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)
• May only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credential
• Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following:
• Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent
• Completed an ACEND accredited experiential or supervised practice program and provide a verification statement from the program director that conveys eligibility to take the CDR registration exam
• A list of ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory
• 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: GS-07 Dietitian (Clinical) (Entry Level Developmental) No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements
• GS-09 Dietitian (Clinical) (Developmental) Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) OR a master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related field
• Your experience or education must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities:
• Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements
• Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring and evaluation)
• Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes
• Ability to develop patient-centered goals
• Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders
• GS-11 Dietitian (Clinical) (Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 up must possess at least 1 year of experience as an RDN/RD equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) which demonstrates the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities:
• Skill in delivering patient care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring - and evaluation)
• Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes
• Skill in developing patient-centered goals
• Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies
• Skill in collaborating with stakeholders
• Skill in complying with various accrediting - regulatory and agency authorities

Skills

Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements

Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring and evaluation)

Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes

Ability to develop patient-centered goals

Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies

Ability to collaborate with stakeholders

Benefits

N/A

Pay

Commensurate with experience

Schedule

Monday - Friday - 7:30 a.m- 4:00 p.m (Subject to change based on facility needs)