Dietitian (Clinical)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dietitian (Clinical) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs serves as the medical nutrition expert in the Clinical Section of Nutrition and Food Services, coordinating nutritional care with the Veteran, caregiver, and health team.

This role applies evidence-based guidelines, whole health principles, and patient-centered goals to improve outcomes. Applicants may be referred while awaiting licensure but must meet all requirements to hire.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required or as per VA policy
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) – must be registered with the CDR
• Non-credentialed Dietitians may be considered for specific GS levels with conditions and credentialing timelines
• Completion of ACEND-accredited program and supervised practice or eligibility for CDR exam (for certain appointments)
• Experience or education supporting knowledge of accrediting/regulatory requirements and ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices
• Ability to develop patient-centered goals and deliver care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP)

Responsibilities

• Coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with health care providers, the Veteran, and caregiver
• Interpret research and apply whole health principles to patient goals and outcomes
• Apply evidenced-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes
• Develop patient-centered goals and monitor progress
• Collaborate with stakeholders across care teams
• Ensure compliance with accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities

Skills

NCP knowledge

Regulatory knowledge

Virtual nutrition care

Evidence-based practice

Patient-centered goals

Data for performance improvement

Collaboration with stakeholders

Education

Bachelor's degree in dietetics or related field

Master's degree in dietetics or closely related field

Job description

The Dietitian (Clinical) is in the Clinical Section of Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) serving as the medical nutrition expert. They work autonomously in applying 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. They interpret research and utilize whole health principles to develop patient-centered goals and improve outcomes. 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.
• 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.

Grade Determinations

GS-07 Dietitian (Clinical) (Entry Level Developmental)

No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements.

GS-09 Dietitian (Clinical) (Developmental)

Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09 you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) OR a master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related field.

Your experience or education must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition care.
• Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation).
• Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
• Ability to develop patient-centered goals.
• Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders.

GS-11 Dietitian (Clinical) (Full Performance Level)

Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11 up must possess at least 1 year of experience as an RDN/RD equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) which demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Skill in delivering patient care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation).
• Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
• Skill in developing patient-centered goals.
• Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies.
• Skill in collaborating with stakeholders.
• Ability to comply with various accrediting, regulatory and agency authorities.

Preferred Experience

Hospital Experience

Reference

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

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.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.