Dietitian

Veterans Health Administration; Perry Point (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration seeks a Dietitian to provide clinical nutrition care within specialty clinics and general care settings. You will assess, plan, implement, and monitor Nutrition Care Process (NCP) for adult Veterans, documenting progress and collaborating with the treatment team.

The role requires RD/RDN credentialing or eligibility, English proficiency, and U.S. citizenship, with opportunities aligned to GS-07/GS-11 levels and potential for EDRP consideration.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• English language proficiency required.
• Must be registered or eligible for registration as an RDN/RD.

Responsibilities

• Provide nutrition care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP).
• Develop, implement, and monitor patient-specific nutrition care plans.
• Assess nutritional status and interpret relevant diagnostics.
• Document nutrition status, intake, education in medical records.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment teams and outpatient clinics.

Skills

English language proficiency

RDN/RD credential

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Master’s degree from regionally accredited university

ACEND accredited program experience (non-credentialed path)

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 registration 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.

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.
• The incumbent provides nutrition counseling for individuals and groups and schedules both new and follow-up outpatient visits.
• 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.