Dietitian

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Perry Point (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP eligible

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs at Perry Point, MD invites applications for a Dietitian (Clinical) position. The incumbent will provide nutrition care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) for adult Veterans, assess nutritional status, develop and monitor care plans, and educate patients within an interdisciplinary team.

Eligibility for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) is included, with specialty requirements and potential qualification paths described.

Qualifications

• Must possess a bachelor's or higher degree and appropriate credentialing to sit for the CDR exam; for non-credentialed Dietitians, eligibility for a one-year temporary appointment is available.
• English language proficiency in accordance with policy.
• RDN or RD credential with eligibility to obtain credential.
• Masters degree required for GS-09 level; experience requirements align with GS-07/GS-11 levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide nutrition care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP): assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation.
• Assess nutritional status and develop, implement, and monitor the nutrition care plan for adult Veterans.
• Review and modify diets to meet dietary needs; document nutrition status and education in medical records.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment team and provide nutrition counseling and outpatient follow-up.

Skills

NCP knowledge

Evidence-based practice

Stakeholder collaboration

Performance improvement data

Clinical documentation

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Nutrition care planning

Education

Master's degree in nutrition or related field

Bachelor's degree in nutrition or related field

RDN/ RD credential or eligibility to sit for CDR exam

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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. 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

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-07

• None beyond the basic requirements.

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-09

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR
• Education. Master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

1. Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements.
2. Knowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition care.
3. Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation).
4. Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
5. Ability to develop patient-centered goals.(f) Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies.
6. Ability to collaborate with stakeholders.

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-11

• Experience. At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Demonstrate Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Skill in delivering patient care using the NCP (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation).
2. Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
3. Skill in developing patient-centered goals.
4. Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies.
5. Skill in collaborating with stakeholders.
6. Ability to comply with various accrediting, regulatory and agency authorities.

Preferred Experience

• Serves as an active member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and is independently responsible for managing the total nutritional care to adult Veteran patients of varying ages.
• The dietitian is independently responsible for all phases of assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP).
• Assesses nutritional status, reviews and interprets pertinent diagnostic and treatment data, and develops, implements, and monitors the nutritional care plan.
• Reviews and calculates modified diets to meet the special dietary needs of those patients requiring nutrition intervention.
• In the medical record, accurately documents the nutritional status, nutrient intake, nutritional education, and other pertinent data.
• In addition, is recognized as the nutrition expert and participates as part of the interdisciplinary treatment team within each outpatient clinic.
• Assesses educational needs of a mainly outpatient population, with inpatient coverage as part of the weekend rotation.
• Provides nutrition counseling for individuals and groups and schedules both new and follow-up outpatient visits.
• Will perform other duties, as assigned.

Selective Placement Factor

• Serves as an active member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and is independently responsible for managing the total nutritional care to adult Veteran patients of varying ages.
• The dietitian is independently responsible for all phases of assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP).
• Assesses nutritional status, reviews and interprets pertinent diagnostic and treatment data, and develops, implements, and monitors the nutritional care plan.
• Reviews and calculates modified diets to meet the special dietary needs of those patients requiring nutrition intervention.
• In the medical record, the incumbent accurately documents the nutritional status, nutrient intake, nutritional education, and other pertinent data.
• In addition, the incumbent is recognized as the nutrition expert and participates as part of the interdisciplinary treatment team within each outpatient clinic.
• The incumbent assesses educational needs of a mainly outpatient population, with inpatient coverage as part of the weekend rotation.
• Will perform other duties, as assigned.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.