Dietitian (Clinical)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Durham, NC is seeking a Clinical Dietitian to lead nutrition care for Veterans with complex needs. This role emphasizes advanced nutrition support, NCP-based assessments, and collaboration across inpatient and outpatient services in the Durham VA system.

You will conduct assessments, tailor diet prescriptions, and use telehealth options per policy to ensure safe, effective care while aligning with VA standards and patient-centered outcomes.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and related standards.
• Experience delivering nutrition care using virtual technologies.
• Ability to deliver patient care units using evidence-based nutrition practices.
• Ability to develop patient-centered goals and monitor progress.
• Experience collecting data for performance improvement and collaborating with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Perform nutrition assessments and develop care plans using the NCP.
• Use virtual care tools to improve access to nutrition care.
• Document patient encounters accurately in approved systems.
• Ensure compliance with accrediting standards and safety/regulatory requirements.
• Provide nutrition education and counseling to Veterans and families.
• Bear responsibility for diet prescriptions, ADIME documentation, and outcomes.

Skills

NCP knowledge

Virtual care

Patient care delivery

Evidence-based practice

Patient-centered goals

Data collection

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Summary

The Durham VA is recruiting for one (1) Dietitian (Clinical) in Durham - NC. The Dietitian (Clinical) is the medical nutrition expert responsible for planning - developing and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned Veterans - including those with complex medical and nutritional needs.This position will contribute to multiple areas of the department including - but not limited to - outpatient nutrition services.

Qualifications

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
• All applicants must hold the RDN credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Note: Applicants who hold the RDN credential have met the education requirement (e.g
• bachelor's degree or higher) of CDR - as such this occupation is considered professional and scientific with a positive education requirement and the procedures in Part I - Chapter 4 of this Handbook will be followed when applying Veteran's preference
• 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-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
• Grade Determinations: Dietitian (Clinical) - GS-09
• (1) Experience
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07)
• OR (2) 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 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-11
• (1) Experience
• At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade
• 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
• 7 (f) Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies
• (g) Ability to collaborate with stakeholders
• 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: Inpatient/Long Term Preferred Experience: At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G20 Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019

Duties

• The duties of the Dietitian (Clinical) in Nutrition & Food Services include but not limited to: They perform increasingly complex tasks under general supervision
• Clinical Dietitians conduct nutrition assessments using the NCP
• Clinical Dietitians also utilize virtual care technology to improve access to care
• They maintain accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and patient encounters using approved systems
• Clinical Dietitians comply with TJC and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient care
• They collect data related to performance improvement activities within Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) and assist in implementing new initiatives
• Clinical Dietitians collaborate with the Food Service Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience - support patient satisfaction and serve as a liaison between clinical units and the food service section 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
• Functions independently and accurately when record keeping
• Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups that is tailored to the Veteran(s)
• Work Schedule: Based on the needs of the Department Compressed/Flexible: Based on the needs of the Department and Supervisor's approval Telework: Ad-Hoc - Available - Per the guidance of the Telework Policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Available