Employees in this Dietitian assignment serve as a Dietetic Internship Director and have full responsibility for administering all aspects of an accredited dietetic internship program which includes the overall planning, directing, and oversight of the supervised practice for dietetic interns. Dietetic Internship Directors oversee the daily operations of the program and ensure education, curriculum, policies, and procedures.

Duties

The incumbent in this Dietitian assignment serves as a Dietetic Internship Director for WPB VA Healthcare System. The incumbent has full responsibility for administering all aspects of an accredited dietetic internship program which includes the overall planning, directing, and oversight of the supervised practice for dietetic interns. The Dietetic Internship Director oversees the daily operations of the program and ensure education, curriculum, policies, and procedures are compliant with the ACEND® requirements and are compatible with regulations and procedures for Associated Health Trainees set forth by the VA Office of Academic Affairs (OAA). They serve as a consultant within NFS and with other facility health care professionals regarding current nutrition and food service systems issues, evaluating health care delivery to patients, and designing nutrition related research or performance improvement initiatives. In accordance with ACEND® requirements, Dietetic Internship Directors in VA must be full-time employees. Dietetic Internship Directors spend the majority of time managing the internship program and associated activities. They may have ancillary responsibilities which contribute to the overall function and operation of NFS; however, those ancillary responsibilities will not compromise the ability to successfully manage the required internship program and activities. Duties include but are not limited to: Develops, documents, tracks, and assesses program goals to ensure the program produces measurable results through evaluation of data and improved program outcomes and customer experience. Writes the self-study for accreditation and re-accreditation. Facilitates the ACEND® site visit. Maintains up-to-date program information accessible through online sources. Coordinates program marketing events such as an intern open house, and outreach events. Executes the selection process for dietetic interns, maintaining all records as required by ACEND ®. Establishes an intern selection committee, selection criteria for application to the program and reviews and evaluates all applications prior to selection. Plans and coordinates intern rotations, class schedules and outside seminars with preceptors, presenters, and community affiliations. Establishes, administers, maintains, and coordinates affiliation agreements between WPB VAHCS and community programs/healthcare systems and (e.g., Women, Infants and Children). Resolves policy, program and project issues associated with program and outside affiliations. Coordinates preceptor training and ensures ongoing preceptor competency. Provides direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, and ongoing educational programs related to the dietetic internship program. Ensures timely completion of rotation evaluations. Meets with interns to ensure progress towards program completion. When issues arise, creates action plans that give the intern every opportunity available to meet the requirements for graduation. Develops, maintains, and supervise a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies to assures compliance with various accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities. Has in-depth knowledge and maintains knowledge of current practice in food service systems, nutrition therapy, community nutrition practice, and business/entrepreneurial dietetics with the ability to integrate learning experiences in didactic and practice components of the internship. Provides oversight for dietetic interns from Affiliations including Academic Institutions and Programs within the community. Coordinates and schedules intern rotations and serves as a site representative for the Affiliation. Works closely with other established VHA DI Directors to coordinate education efforts throughout VHA. Issues ACEND verification statements to students who successfully complete the program allowing them to be eligible to apply for writing the registration exam and notifies CDE of student eligibility and maintenance of required records. Supports healthcare system strategic goals by participating in the development of nutritional care indicators, evaluation criteria, collecting continuous quality improvement data, monitoring outcomes, and initiating corrective actions. Participates in innovation and system redesign methodology to improve processes within the service. Stays abreast with current food and nutrition related areas. Analyzes, interprets and collaborates efforts for research initiatives. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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). 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-12 Dietitian (Dietetic Internship Director) Experience and Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you possess at least 3 years of experience as an RDN/RD and have a master's degree (or higher) from an accredited university or college which demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Skill in utilizing data for program improvement to ensure compliance with various accrediting, regulatory and agency authorities. Ability to coordinate class schedules, training activities, seminars and supervised practice experience within the healthcare system and affiliated sites. Ability to implement all aspects of an internship program including developing program goals and objectives, curriculum and policies and procedures to ensure compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements. Ability to oversee the process for the selection of students for the internship program. Ability to evaluate progress towards meeting core competencies. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G20 Evidence-based practice curriculum: The emphasis of the Anne Brezina Dietetic Internship at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and Clinics is evidence-based practice. The latest research is applied in our clinic/hospital-based program. Our department has been identified as "best practice" in the areas of utilization of the Nutrition Care Process, Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam and Home Enteral Nutrition. PREFERRED experience: Master's Degree in Clinical Nutrition, Public Health or other related field is preferred. Facilitating clinical nutrition studies and research projects or collaborating with other disciplines on studies that have a nutrition component while monitoring students, personnel, facilities, and supplies in support of desired outcomes, budgets, and timeliness. Mentoring clinical staff & students in presenting and/or publishing articles, abstracts, or results of research studies in professional journals or at professional meetings. Physical Requirements: The regular and recurring work of the position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc., and staff interaction in patient care areas. Work involves frequent periods of walking, standing and the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, visual acuity, hearing and clear speech.

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.

ACEND® accredited programs are located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory.

Contacts

• Address James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Karen McKee
• Phone: 352-548-6000 X105242
• Email: [email protected]