Dietitian (Clinical)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Clinical Dietitian to plan, develop, and direct nutritional care for veterans, including those with complex medical needs.

The role supports the facility's mission and coordinates care with other health care providers, the veteran, caregiver, and community. Eligibility depends on RDN/RD credentialing; non-credentialed candidates may pursue a temporary path under specific provisions.

Qualifications

• English proficiency per VA policy.
• RDN/RD credential required or eligible; non-credentialed path available for GS-07/09 with grandfathering provisions.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop and direct nutritional care activities for Veterans.
• Coordinate nutritional care with other health care providers, veterans, caregivers and community.
• Apply evidence-based nutrition practices and participate in continuous improvement.

Skills

English proficiency

RDN/RD credential

Education

Bachelor's degree (US regionally accredited or foreign equivalent)

ACEND accredited program + supervised practice verification

Master's degree (GS-09 requirement)

Job description

The Clinical Dietitian is the medical nutrition expert. The Clinical Dietitian is responsible for planning, developing and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned veterans, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. The Clinical Dietitian supports the facility's mission and coordinates nutritional care with other health care providers, the veteran, the veteran's caregiver and the community.

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

• Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignment. Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) entry level developmental position within the Clinical Section of NFS. They perform increasingly complex tasks as they acquire skills in clinical nutrition to apply evidenced-based nutrition practice
  guidelines. Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers, the Veteran, the Veteran's caregiver and the community. Clinical Dietitians learn to interpret research, apply whole health principles and develop patient centered
  goals. They collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction.

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. And
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

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.
6. Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies.
7. 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. AND
• 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

Reference:

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

Physical Requirements:

Protocols will be followed per the VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. This position requires a medical evaluation. These evaluations include a health history, occupational history, immunization history and tuberculosis screening. These evaluations are completed in health care facilities not to determine suitability but rather to meet Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Joint Commission standards.