Dietitian (Clinical)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks Clinical Dietitians to coordinate nutritional care for Veterans in collaboration with the care team.

The role provides medical nutrition therapy to inpatients across surgical and rehabilitation units, with cross coverage of SCI, General Medicine, Mental Health, ICU, and Domiciliary services. Pending credentialing questions may extend timelines.

Qualifications

• Must be registered dietitian or RD with CDR credential (or eligible).
• Citizenship per federal hiring rules; U.S. citizens preferred.
• Experience in clinical nutrition and inpatient care setting is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate nutritional care for Veterans in collaboration with care team.
• Provide medical nutrition therapy to inpatients on surgical and rehabilitation units.
• Cross coverage for SCI, General Medicine, Mental Health, ICU and Domiciliary units.

Skills

RDN/RD Credential

Clinical Dietetics

Medical Nutrition Therapy

Nutrition Counseling

Regulatory Knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nutrition or related field

Job description

Clinical Dietitians coordinate the nutritional care of Veterans in collaboration with other health care providers, the Veteran, the Veteran's caregiver, and the community. This position provides medical nutrition therapy to inpatients on surgical and rehabilitation units, with cross coverage of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), General Medicine, Mental Health, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and Domiciliary units. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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

Grade Determinations

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-07Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-09Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-7 OR Education. Master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND 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.
• (f) Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies.
• (g) Ability to collaborate with stakeholders.

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-11Experience. At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-9. AND 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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Preferred experience

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, Monitoring, and Evaluation (ADIME), Motivational interviewing, Nutrition Support (enteral and parental), Interdisciplinary Team rounds (IDT).

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G20.

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-7 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements

The work 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 required.