Job Details

Advanced Level Practice Dietitian

Summary: Advanced Level Practice Dietitians conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments for Veterans using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) assuring high-quality nutrition care under an advanced and expanded scope of practice. Advanced Level Practice Dietitians are the subject matter experts in advanced clinical nutrition and uses knowledge, expertise, principles and/or current research to lead dietitians and nutrition specialty care teams to plan, implement, and evaluate organizational initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Leads dietitians and speciality multidisciplinary teams in developing nutrition related services, policies, procedures and/or protocols.
• Provides comprehensive medical nutritional care applying the NCP in a specialty program, and/or a variety of patient care settings.
• Bases individualized nutrition interventions on the best available research and/or evidence-based guidelines and best practices.
• Provides nutrition education to individuals, small and large groups, peers, licensed practitioner(s), medical students, interns, and residents as applicable.
• Provides consultative services regarding advanced therapies, policies, procedures, and research in the provision of quality nutritional care.
• Develops, monitors, and directs practice-specific benchmarks based on standards of care or national initiatives.
• Utilizes knowledge, expertise, principles and/or current research to plan, implement and evaluate organizational initiatives.
• Leads the implementation of new nutrition initiatives or a change in practice to achieve strategic goals.
• Establishes goals, measures outcomes and reports progress toward meeting goals to medical center committees, health care teams and/or professional groups.
• Leads staff, creates, and validates competencies and develops training activities
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday

Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: PD99523S

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements:

Conditions of Employment:

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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. 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).

Qualifications:

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: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)

Education: Applicants 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:

• 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) AND
• 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, formerly 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.

Licensure: You 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). 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:

GS-12 Advanced Level Practice:

Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Credentials. 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)).

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

An advanced level practice dietitian in nutrition support, renal, oncology, geriatric, or diabetes nutrition specialties oversees the nutrition therapy of the most complex and/or high risk patients.

The dietitian provides consultant services to VHA staff, conducts comprehensive nutrition assessment and diagnosis which may include the nutrition focused physical exam.

The individual coordinates education programs for facility staff and serves as an education resource, instructing physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, interns, residents, and students on the current research and practice in the specialty area; maintains productivity standards, manages clinical resources, and conducts and/or participates in nutrition research studies and communicates findings through reports, abstracts, presentations, and publications.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):

• *Ability to develop, maintain, and supervise a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies to assure compliance with various accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities.
• *Knowledge of the principles of program management and oversight required to develop program goals and objectives, administer and monitor program, evaluate program outcomes/accomplishments, set and redefine priorities, and implement effective solutions in processes/systems as needed.
• Ability to act as a consultant for staff.
• Ability to mentor and educate peers and other multidisciplinary team members in complex issues, procedures and practices.
• Ability to make presentations on topics regarding food, nutrition and health issues.
• Ability to make high level decisions with a focus on delivering patient care and achieving program outcomes.
• Ability to contribute to evidence analysis process to affect practice and identify and create new practice opportunities.

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G20

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform portions of the work. However, there is periodic walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as medical records, food trays, instructional material, books and manuals. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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: 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: ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory.

Additional Information:

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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