The Clinical Dietitian serves as the Clinical Nutrition Dietitian for Buffalo VA Medical Center in Western New York. The Clinical Dietitian is the medical nutrition expert and is responsible for planning, developing and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned Veterans, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs.

Duties

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-09 The Clinical Dietitian at the GS-09 level will be involved in the professional practice of dietetics in accordance with the guidance set forth in Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) directives, policies and procedures, and VA regulations governing the practice of dietetics. The Clinical Dietitian may be scheduled and assigned to any nutrition practice area. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Nutritional Care Conducts a comprehensive nutrition assessment utilizing the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) for assigned patients.. Develops and implements an individualized plan for MNT in accordance with the patient's medical program goals and objectives. Performs a Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) during assessments to determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition. Nutrition Education and Coordination of Care Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups, incorporating a learning approach that considers the cultural, religious, educational and medical situation of the patient. Includes information regarding budgeting, menu planning, food purchasing and preparation, food storage and sanitation. Utilizes motivational interviewing techniques to evaluate patient and/or caregiver's readiness to learn and potential for changing behaviors. Evaluates achievement of learning objectives by the patient and/or family. Adapts nutrition education materials and counseling techniques to the patient's level of understanding, which frequently involves simplifying complex dietary restrictions. Business Functions Maintains productivity standards. Practices, effective time management, and prioritizing of tasks to ensure efficient workflow in assigned area. Ensures completion of consult management tasks by reviewing assigned nutrition consults. Ensures appropriate scheduling and timely completion of all assigned consults. Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and completes patient encounters utilizing the Event Capture System (ECS). Quality Improvement/Research Supports Performance Improvement activities by participating in the development of nutritional care indicators, evaluation criteria, collecting performance improvement data, monitoring outcomes, and initiating corrective actions. Contributes to a culture of safety by entering patient safety concerns in the Joint Patient Safety Reporting System (JPRS). Participates in planning and developing nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals. Participation as a Member of the Health Care Team Serves as the nutrition expert for medical staff on the nutritional management of patients. Communicates and influences treatment interventions determined by the medical team through interdisciplinary meetings, team rounds, medical conferences and nutrition-related in-services. Presents seminars, workshops, and lectures to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts. This includes the development and participation of in-service educational programs directed to members of interdisciplinary teams, Nutrition and Food Services personnel, Nursing, and various students, interns and residents. Professional Development Maintains dietetic registration and continuing education requirements. Interprets current clinical knowledge, standards of care, and research to improve patient care. Develops and implements an individualized plan for professional growth and development including participation in professional organizations and activities, workshops, seminars, and staff development programs. Work Schedule: Part-time, 730a-4p-Variable. Including some weekends and holidays. Compressed/Flexible:Not Available. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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). Exception: 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-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. Foreign Education: To be creditable, college and/or university degrees earned outside the U.S and its territories must be evaluated by ACEND and meet ACEND's International Dietitian Education standards which are designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and competencies to sit for the CDR credentialing exam. ~AND~ 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 as a prospective RDN. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the following requirements: (1) Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR (2) Education. Master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college. OR (3) Combination. A Combination of Graduate Education and Professional Experience. *Note: Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. AND (3) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements. b. Knowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition care. c. Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation). d. Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes. e. Ability to develop patient-centered goals. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The position requires intermittent walking and standing.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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

Contacts

• Address VA Western New York Healthcare System 3495 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 US
• Name: Shamika Parnell-Meyers
• Email: [email protected]