Dietitian (Clinical)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Clinical Dietitian to manage nutrition care for outpatients at the Appleton and Green Bay clinics. The role requires independent care planning, development of Medical Nutrition Therapy, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities include comprehensive nutrition assessments, ADIME documentation, and leveraging virtual care tools as appropriate per facility policy. Minimum credentialing includes RDN/RD with ACEND alignment.

Qualifications

• Must be a registered dietitian (RDN/RD) and eligible for CDR credential.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Bachelor's degree or higher; ACEND-accredited program or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Independently plan, develop, and direct nutritional care for assigned patients.
• Develop and implement Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT).
• Utilize the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team and coordinate with patient and family.
• Document MNT and patient encounters using ADIME format.

Skills

RDN/RD credential

U.S. Citizenship

Dietitian experience

NCP knowledge

Virtual care technology

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in Nutrition

ACEND-accredited program

Job description

Summary

INTRODUCTION: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the HR Modernization and Shared Services Implementation - which is a new model of organizing and consolidating essential Human Resource (HR) functions and services to the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) level. This position can be filled at either the Appleton or Green Bay Out patient Clinics and the incumbent will work at both locations.

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 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: GS-07 Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• 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 NPC (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
• GS-11 Experience
• At least 1 year of experience as a registered dietitian equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Skill in delivering patient care using the NCP (e.g assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring and evaluation)
• (b) Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes
• (c) Skill in developing patient-centered goals
• (d) Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies
• (e) Skill in collaborating with stakeholders
• (f) Ability to comply with various accrediting - regulatory and agency authorities
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity
• Performs work requiring light to moderate physical
• May be required to perform heavy work - such as scouring and scrubbing large size cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts and trucks in unloading - storing - and delivering supplies
• Subject to continuous standing and walking - and frequent stooping - reaching - pushing - pulling - and bending
• Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

Duties

• The Clinical Dietitian is the medical nutrition expert responsible for independently planning - developing - and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned patients - including those with complex medical and nutritional needs
• He/She supports the facility's mission and coordinates nutritional care with other health care providers - the client - the clients family and the community
• This is an outpatient primary care dietitian position that will serve both the John H
• Bradley Outpatient Clinic in Appleton and Milo C
• Huempfner Outpatient Clinic in Green Bay
• Duties Include but are not limited to: Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process (NCP) - including nutrition focused physical examinations - to establish a nutrition diagnosis and determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition
• Develops and implements Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) to address the nutrition diagnosis - evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes of MNT interventions
• Modifies the plan as needed to achieve positive patient outcomes
• Utilizes assessment and evaluation techniques that consider age-specific needs as well as cultural - religious - and ethnic concerns Calculates nutrient requirements and necessary diet restrictions or food and drug interactions tailoring the diet prescription to each individual patient
• Documents MNT in the medical record using the Assessment - Diagnosis - Intervention - Monitoring - Evaluation (ADIME) format
• Orders labs - diets - supplements - and consults per scope of Practice/Policy Order Authorization Actively participates in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetings
• Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups that is tailored to the Veteran(s)
• Evaluates achievement of learning objectives by the patient and/or family
• Adapts nutrition education materials and counseling techniques to client's level of understanding - which frequently involves simplifying complex dietary restrictions Utilizes virtual care technology to improve access to care
• Maintains accurate record keeping of daily activities and completes patient encounters using approved systems
• Ensure continuous improvement of safe and quality care of Veterans
• Assists in the education of dietetic students and interns
• Plans learning experiences - teaches - and evaluates performance May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment Work Schedule: Full time
• Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm - varies Telework: Available per facility policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD99529S - PD99530S - and PD99531S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized