Dietitian, Home Based Primary Care
Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Location: Charleston
Posted on: May 14, 2022
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Job Description:
Summary The Home Based Primary Care 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, nutritional, and social needs. They
will be working with Veterans and their caregivers in the Veteran's
housing as well as virtually over various communication devices.
Responsibilities The focus of this dietitian will be working with
Veterans in their housing as well as via various communication
devices. The position is not located inside a care facility. The
clinical dietitian will be involved in the professional practice of
dietetics in accordance with the guidance set forth in Nutrition
and Food Services (NFS) directives, policies and procedures, and VA
regulations governing the practice of dietetics. The clinical
dietitian may be scheduled and assigned to any nutrition practice
area, and must possess the required knowledge and skills in order
to perform the following functions: a. Nutritional Care: 1.
Conducts a comprehensive nutrition assessment utilizing the
Nutrition Care Process (NCP) for assigned patients. 2. Develops and
implements an individualized plan for Medical Nutrition Therapy
(MNT) in accordance with the patient??s medical program goals and
objectives. 3. Performs a Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE)
during assessments to determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition.
4. Calculates nutrient requirements (calories, protein,
carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, electrolytes and fluids) and
necessary diet restrictions or food/drug interactions. 5. Evaluates
patterns and relationships among data obtained and possible root
causes for nutrition problems. 6. Tailors diet prescription to each
individual patient according to physical and metabolic needs. With
an understanding of the patient??s health condition, designs the
nutritional treatment plan with consideration for psychosocial,
behavioral, physical activity, ethnic and cultural factors to
obtain desirable outcomes and promote long term adherence to a
medical nutrition care plan. 7. Prioritizes the importance of
nutrition problems for optimal health, recovery from illness,
management of chronic disease or disease prevention. 8. Utilizes
evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines and Whole Health
Principles to develop shared goals with the patient and formulates
a plan of care that is focused on the etiology of the nutrition
problem. 9. Works cooperatively with foodservice staff to assure
conformance to diet prescriptions. 10. Identifies patients in need
of nutritional support and recommends the appropriate mode of
support, including suitable route, formula, and rate of
administration. Provides initial and on-going nutritional
assessment of patients receiving enteral (EN) and/or Parenteral
nutrition (PN). Orders EN/PN if Scope of Practice allows. 11.
Orders labs, diets, and consults per Scope of Practice / Clinical
privileges. Evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcome of
MNT interventions. Evaluates the patient's response to care based
on identified, measurable outcomes and reviews the plan, as
appropriate. 12. Documents nutrition care plan in the patient??s
medical record, including nutrition assessment data, MNT initiated
and recommendations, results of nutrition counseling, patient
consents and discharge planning. Measures outcomes through
selecting indicators relevant to the nutrition diagnosis. Evaluates
the effectiveness and measures progress toward outcomes of
nutrition interventions by comparing current findings with previous
goals and/or reference standards. Documentation supports an
interdisciplinary approach and continuity of care. 14. Other duties
as assigned Work Schedule: 8:00am-2:30pm Monday-Friday and will
include being on site once weekly. Telework: Available per Agency
Guidelines Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional
Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not
Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions
of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All
applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing
designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal
drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested
will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration
is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in
written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a
probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online
onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a
requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care
Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans
Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional
Information" below for details. 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. The individual must have earned a bachelor's degree from a
U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign
equivalent and fulfilled each of the following criteria: (a)
Completed a didactic program in dietetics accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
(ACEND), formerly known as the Commission on Accreditation for
Dietetic Education (CADE). (b) Completed an ACEND accredited or
approved supervised practice program. Supervised practice programs
are post-baccalaureate degree programs that provide supervised
practice experiences which meet the eligibility requirements and
accreditation standards of ACEND, formally known as CADE.
Completion of a coordinated program in dietetics fulfills the
requirements of a supervised practice program. Time spent in a
dietetic internship or supervised practice program does not qualify
as creditable experience. Individuals who have earned college
and/or university degrees outside the United States and its
territories also must have their transcripts evaluated by a foreign
transcript evaluation service to determine if their degree is
equivalent to a degree granted by a regionally accredited college
or university in the United States. Validation of a foreign degree
does not eliminate the need for verification of completion of
didactic program, dietetic internship, or coordinated program
requirements. The completion of ACEND didactic program requirements
and at least a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited
college/university or foreign equivalent are necessary for
eligibility to enter an ACEND-accredited supervised practice
program. Registration/Certification. All applicants 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). Advanced
Level Practice Dietitians must possess a minimum of one advanced
practice credential relevant to the area of practice, (e.g.
Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Board Certified
Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR), Board Certified Specialist in
Gerontological Nutrition (CSG), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE),
or Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO)). Non-CDR
registered applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification
requirements may be appointed, pending CDR registration, as a
temporary full-time graduate dietitian under 38 U.S.C.
7405(a)(1)(B). In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2), this
appointment may not exceed 2 years. Applicants appointed under this
exception must provide care under the supervision of a registered
dietitian at or above the full performance level. Applicants who
fail to obtain CDR registration during this temporary full-time
appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to
positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above
the full performance level the candidate must be registered with
the CDR. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-7
Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-9
Experience or Education. 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 master's
degree from an accredited university or college in the field of
dietetics or closely related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills,
and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate
must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to plan and
organize work of considerable difficulty and responsibility, under
general supervision. 2. Knowledge of various food preparation and
delivery systems within a healthcare environment. 3. Knowledge of
educational concepts, methods, training materials, and resources
and the ability to develop and conduct education and training
programs for NFS employees. 4. 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. 5. 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 Experience or Education. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and
Abilities 1. In addition to the experience above, the candidate
must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. 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. b. Ability to comply with various accrediting,
regulatory, and agency authorities. c. Ability to develop and
maintain a system of internal reviews and direct quality control
and performance improvement studies. d. Knowledge of computer
software programs relative to food service systems. 2. In addition
to the KSAs identified in subparagraph 1 above, candidates for
clinical nutrition positions must demonstrate the following KSAs:
a. 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). b. Knowledge of best practices in areas of
clinical nutrition and the ability to apply nutrition interventions
to patients with multiple co-morbidities. c. Ability to act as a
consultant for health care providers including registered dietetic
technicians, dietetic interns, nurses, physicians, medical
students, and allied health professionals. 3. In addition to the
KSAs identified in subparagraph 1 above, candidates for food
service systems management positions must demonstrate the following
KSAs: a. Ability to direct food service and production with focus
on customer acceptance and budgetary guidelines to include
principles of menu planning, food purchasing, delivery schedules,
and ability to estimate food quantities. b. Ability to develop and
maintain a system of internal reviews and direct quality control
and performance improvement studies. c. Knowledge of computer
software programs relative to food service systems d. Knowledge of
the principles of management required to establish program goals
and objectives, to plan and administer a program, coordinate
associated activities, evaluate program accomplishments, redefine
priorities, solve problems, and modify objectives. Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if
you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department
of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or
institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can
verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If
you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements,
you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your
transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For
further information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional Information References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/80 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:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This job opportunity
announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This
position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive
status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The
health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not
covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant
to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are
required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such
accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or
pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only
infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required
to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of
proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will
provide additional information regarding what information or
documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally
required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable
accommodation process. Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an
expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to
temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the
local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the
office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed
on this announcement. Management officials will provide information
about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when
applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to
continue to telework depending upon the terms of your
organization's telework policy and the duties of the position. If
you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not
have in electronic form, view the following link for information
regarding an Alternate Application.
Keywords: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Charleston , Dietitian, Home Based Primary Care, Healthcare , Charleston, South Carolina
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