The CDCES is an advanced practice dietitian specialized in diabetes. Serving as the diabetes education program manager, this expert works independently as part of an interdisciplinary team. The CDCES conducts comprehensive nutrition assessment and diagnoses, coordinates education programs, maintains productivity standards, manages resources, plans and develops nutrition-related policies, procedures and goals as it relates to diabetes. Located at the Viera VA clinic, Nutrition and Food Service.

Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to: Provide consultant services for diabetes-related products, polices, procedures, research and on complex Veteran care problems to VHA staff including physicians, interns, residents, dietitians, pharmacist, nurses, discharger planners and others within OVAHCS. Conducting a comprehensive nutrition assessment using the Nutrition Care Process Model (NCPM) including nutrition focused physical exam (NFPE), using advanced diagnostic reasoning and clinical judgment when ranking nutrition diagnosis in order of their importance and urgency for the patient. Coordinates the education of medical staff, students, Veterans and families on the medical nutrition therapy for inpatient and outpatient plans. Serves as an education resource, instructing physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, interns and residents with OVAHCS Incorporates the latest TJC, American Diabetes Association (ADA), Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), and other relevant professional standards into nutrition policies, procedures and standards. Promotes quality nutrition practice by sharing current research in the areas of prediabetes and diabetes management. Participates in departmental and interdisciplinary meetings, task forces and projects. 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. Assistance with PACT coverage. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (8:00am-4:30pm). Travel: Occasional travel between sites of care.. Telework: Telework suitable (Teleworks 3+ Days Per Pay Period). Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. PCS: Not Authorized. Functional Statement Title/#: Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice), GS-0630-12 / 99523-S. This position is at the GS-12 - Above Full Performance Level (FPL).

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: a. Citizenship. Citizen 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.) b. 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 program. Supervised 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 CADE. Completion of a coordinated program in dietetics fulfills the requirements of a supervised practice program. Time 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 States. Validation of a foreign degree does not eliminate the need for verification of completion of didactic program, dietetic internship, or coordinated program requirements. The 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 program. c. Registration/Certification. All 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.g. Certified 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)). (1) Exception. Non-CDR registered applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed, pending CDR registration, as a temporary full-time graduate dietitian under 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(B). In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2), this appointment may not exceed 2 years. Applicants appointed under this exception must provide care under the supervision of a registered dietitian at or above the full performance level. Applicants who fail to obtain CDR registration during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be registered with the CDR. (2) Failure to Obtain Registration. In all cases, dietitians must actively pursue meeting registration requirements starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unregistered dietitian with the written requirement to obtain registration, the date by which the registration must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming registered by the deadline. Failure to become registered within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0630 Dietitian series and may result in termination of employment. (3) Loss of Credentials. An employee who fails to maintain the required registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. At the advanced level practice assignment, an employee who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the assignment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate assignment in the occupation when the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists. d. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a dietitian on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and registration requirements or board certification, if applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Dietitians who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Dietitians initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Employees who are retained as a dietitian under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a dietitian. e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. f. English Language Proficiency. Dietitians must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). GRADE DETERMINATION, GS-12 (Advanced Level Practice) CDCES: (a) Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11. ***Preferred experience: At least 3 years of experience working with patients with eating disorders. (b) Credentials. Advanced level practice dietitians must possess a minimum of one advanced practice credential relevant to the area of practice, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). (c) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. An advanced level practice dietitian in nutrition support, renal, oncology, geriatric, or diabetes nutrition specialties oversees the nutrition therapy of the most complex and/or high risk patients. The dietitian provides consultant services to VHA staff, conducts comprehensive nutrition assessment and diagnosis which may include the nutrition focused physical exam. The individual coordinates education programs for facility staff and serves as an education resource, instructing physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, interns, residents, and students on the current research and practice in the specialty area; maintains productivity standards, manages clinical resources, and conducts and/or participates in nutrition research studies and communicates findings through reports, abstracts, presentations, and publications. (d) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's). REFER TO THE EDUCATION SECTION BELOW FOR KSA's.

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience and certification above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Skill in leading a team in the implementation of nutrition-related activities.
(b) Skill in utilizing evidence- based practice guidelines to establish or modify goals and improve patient outcomes.
(c) Ability to communicate in writing to develop policies and standard operating procedures.
(d) Ability to serve as a nutrition expert, providing technical guidance, direction and staff development.
(e) Ability to lead research or performance improvement studies.
(f) Ability to present complex nutrition information to a large group of health care providers to persuade and influence provision of care.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Employees in this assignment serve as an Advanced-Level Dietitian. They conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments for Veterans using the NCP assuring high-quality nutrition care under an advanced and expanded scope of practice. Advanced-Level Dietitians lead a multi disciplinary team developing nutrition-related services, policies, procedures and/or protocols. They provide consultative services regarding advanced therapies and research in providing quality nutritional care. Advanced Level Dietitians develop, monitor and direct practice-specific benchmarks based on standards of care or national initiatives. They utilize knowledge, expertise, principles and/or current research to plan, implement and evaluate organizational initiatives. Advanced-Level Dietitians lead the implementation of new nutrition initiatives or a change in practice to achieve strategic goals. They establish goals, measure outcomes and report progress toward meeting goals to medical center committees, health care teams and/or professional groups. Advanced-Level Dietitians lead staff, create and validate competencies and develop training activities. They lead nutrition research studies or performance improvement and communicate findings through reports, abstracts, presentations and/or peer-reviewed professional publications. Advanced-Level Dietitians present at seminars, workshops and lectures to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts. This assignment must represent substantial additional responsibility over and above that required at the full performance grade level and cannot be used as the full performance level of this occupation.

Contacts

• Address Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Michael Brown
• Phone: 407-405-6894
• Email: [email protected]