This assignment serves as an Advanced Practice Dietitian within the Associate Director, Patient Care Service. The incumbent conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments for Veterans using the Nutrition Care Process assuring high-quality nutrition care under an advanced scope of practice. The incumbent is the subject matter experts and uses knowledge, expertise, principles and/or current research to lead dietitians/nutrition specialty care teams to plan, implement, and evaluate initiatives.

Duties

The major duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Leads dietitians and specialty multidisciplinary teams in developing nutrition related services, policies, procedures and/or protocols. Provides comprehensive medical nutritional care applying the NCP in a specialty program, and/or a variety of patient care settings. Bases individualized nutrition interventions on the best available research and/or evidence-based guidelines and best practices. Provides nutrition education to individuals, small and large groups, peers, licensed practitioner(s), 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. Utilizes knowledge, expertise, principles and/or current research to plan, implement and evaluate organizational initiatives. Leads 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. Leads staff, creates, and validates competencies and develops training activities. Leads nutrition research studies or performances improvement and communicates findings through reports, abstracts, presentations and/or peer-reviewed professional publications. Presents at seminars, workshops, and lectures to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts Calculates nutritional requirements (calories, protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, electrolytes and, fluid) with attention to necessary restrictions and applicable drug/nutrient interactions. Tailors nutrition therapy (total parenteral nutrition (TPN), enteral nutrition (EN) or PO diet) to the physical and metabolic needs of individual patients Provides initial and on-going nutritional assessments of patients receiving cancer treatment Participates in Cancer Committee and assigned units' treatment and discharge planning conferences and is recognized as the expert regarding nutritional care of assigned patients Works cooperatively with other health professionals, including outside facilities and cancer centers, to assure appropriate interventions and outcomes for nutrition interventions. May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment. Work Schedule: 08:00am- 04:30pm Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-12 Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice): In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also possess: 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. For example, where the assignment requires diabetes management, a Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management or Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists certification is qualifying. Commonly held certifications include Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition; Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition; Registered Dietitian Nutritionist-Advanced Practitioner; Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. At least 1 year of experience as an RDN/RD equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) which demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Skill in leading a team in the implementation of nutrition related activities. Skill in utilizing evidenced based practice guidelines to establish or modify goals and improve patient outcomes. Ability to communicate in writing to develop policies and standard operating procedures. Ability to serve as a nutrition expert, providing technical guidance, direction, and staff development. Ability to lead research or performance improvement studies. Ability to present complex nutrition information to a large group of health care providers to persuade and influence provision of care. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G20 Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Use of fingers; Walking (3 hours); Standing (3 hours);Specific visual requirement (Far vision correctable, one to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other); Hearing (aid permitted); Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Reaching above shoulder; Near vision correctable

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Corporal Michael J Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3900 Woodland Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 US
• Name: Nicholas Gentile
• Email: [email protected]