Dietitian (Clinical)

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. IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: GS-7 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-7 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: – Basic knowledge of principles and practices of dietetics and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). – Ability to provide nutrition care utilizing the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) to patients, family members and/or caregivers considering psycho-social issues and age-appropriate, evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines. – Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with patients, family and/or caregiver, and other professional healthcare providers (e.g., tailoring to audience and use of medical terminology). – Ability to plan and organize work consisting of multiple tasks and priorities under direct supervision. – Basic knowledge of, and ability to use, current information technology operations, software, hardware, terminology, security requirements, and capabilities. – Knowledge of basic food production and service for various populations which incorporates principles of sanitation, safety, and menu planning within a healthcare environment. – Knowledge of educational concepts, methods, and the ability to execute existing education and training activities for Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) employees. GS-9 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or education equivalent to 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education, or a Master’s degree from an accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related field. GS-9 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: – Ability to plan and organize work of considerable difficulty and responsibility, under general supervision. – Knowledge of various food preparation and delivery systems within a healthcare environment. – Knowledge of educational concepts, methods, training materials, and resources and the ability to develop and conduct education and training programs for NFS employees. – Ability to participate in research studies and conduct performance improvement studies and document findings to evaluate staff, food, supplies, equipment, and service, in order to improve the efficiency of the operation. – Knowledge of the principles and practices of clinical dietetics including NCP and MNT in order to plan, develop, and coordinate nutrition interventions, including enteral and parenteral nutrition, interdisciplinary care plans, and nutrition education activities that promote Veteran health, wellness and lifestyle management. GS-11 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: At least 1 year of experience as a registered dietitian equivalent to the next lower grade level, or education equivalent to 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related field. GS-11 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: – Knowledge of best practices in the dietetics profession and in scientific literature, including knowledge of research methods, study design, data collection, interpretation of findings, and translation of results into nutrition practice. – Ability to comply with various accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities. – Ability to develop and maintain a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies. – Knowledge of computer software programs relative to food service systems. – Knowledge of the principles and practices of nutrition care and the treatment of complex cases in clinical settings in order to develop, implement and coordinate best practices in the dietetics profession (e.g. assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation). – Knowledge of best practices in areas of clinical nutrition and the ability to apply nutrition interventions to patients with multiple co-morbidities. – Ability to act as a consultant for health care providers including registered dietetic technicians, dietetic interns, nurses, physicians, medical students, and allied health professionals. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The Clinical Dietitian is the medical nutrition expert. At this grade level, the clinical dietitian is responsible for independently planning, developing and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned veterans, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. The clinical dietitian supports the facilitys mission and coordinates nutritional care with other health care providers, the veteran, the veterans caregiver.