Summary
The Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Clinical Dietitian is responsible for planning, developing, and directing all nutritional care activities by applying evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines for all assigned Veterans, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. The clinical dietitian supports the facility's mission and coordinates nutritional care with other health care providers, the Veteran, the Veteran's caregiver, and the community.
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Duties
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Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to:
- Nutritional Care:
- Conducts a comprehensive nutrition assessment utilizing the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) for assigned patients.
- Develops and implements an individualized plan for Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) to address the nutrition diagnosis in accordance with the patient's medical program goals and objectives. Documents MNT in the medical record using the Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, Monitoring, Evaluation (ADIME) format.
- Performs a Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) during assessments to determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition.
- Calculates nutrient requirements (calories, protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, electrolytes and fluids) and necessary diet restrictions or food/drug interactions to each individual patient.
- Evaluates patterns and relationships among data obtained and possible root causes for nutrition problems.
- Nutrition Education and Coordination of Care:
- Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups, incorporating a learning approach that considers the cultural, religious, educational and medical situation of the patient. Includes information regarding budgeting, menu planning, food purchasing and preparation, food storage and sanitation.
- Utilizes motivational interviewing techniques to evaluate patient and/or caregiver's readiness to learn and potential for changing behaviors.
- Evaluates achievement of learning objectives by the patient and/or family. Adapts nutrition education materials and counseling techniques to the patient's level of understanding, which frequently involves simplifying complex dietary restrictions.
- Identifies drug-nutrient interactions and drug-drug incompatibilities and counsels / communicates with the patient regarding the impact on nutrition status and/or nutrient utilization.
- Business Functions:
- Maintains productivity standards. Practices effective time management and prioritizing of tasks to ensure efficient workflow in assigned area.
- Ensures completion of consult management tasks by reviewing assigned nutrition consults. Ensures appropriate scheduling and timely completion of all assigned consults.
- Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and completes patient encounters utilizing the Event Capture System (ECS).
- Manages resources (time, materials, and staff) in a cost-effective manner.
- Assists in developing and revising patient education materials, clinical forms, and protocols.
- Quality Improvement/Research:
- Leads Performance Improvement activities by participating in the development of nutritional care indicators, evaluation criteria, collecting performance improvement data, monitoring outcomes, and initiating corrective actions.
- Contributes to a culture of safety by entering patient safety concerns in the Joint Patient Safety Reporting System (JPRS).
- Participates in planning and developing nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals.
- Participates in service-level strategic planning.
- Participates in peer review using NFS standardized process.
- Participation as a Member of the Health Care Team:
- Serves as the medical nutrition expert for medical staff on the nutritional management of patients.
- Communicates and influences treatment interventions determined by the medical team through interdisciplinary meetings, team rounds, medical conferences and nutrition-related in-services.
- Presents seminars, workshops, and lectures to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts. This includes the development and participation of in- service educational programs directed to members of interdisciplinary teams, various students, interns and Veterans and their family members.
- Coordinates care with colleagues in a variety of medical and home settings to ensure appropriate
transitions of care are addressed to meet the patient's needs.
- Conducts self in a manner that demonstrates adherence to standards of professional performance.
- Professional Development
- Maintains Registered Dietitian Nutritionist registration and continuing education requirements.
- Interprets current clinical knowledge, standards of care, and research to improve patient care.
- Develops and implements an individualized plan for professional growth and development including participation in professional organizations and activities, workshops, seminars, and staff development programs.
- Participates in departmental and/or interdisciplinary meetings, task forces, and projects.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 436-56609-A, 436-56610-A ,436-56611-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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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.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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.
- English Language Proficiency: Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
- Registration: 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.
- Exception for Dietitians who do not possess the RDN credential:
- Non-credentialed Dietitians who meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below, but do not possess the RDN credential, may be given a temporary full-time appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).
- Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following:
- Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college, university or foreign equivalent (refer to ii below).
- 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 is located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory.
- 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.
- Non-credentialed Dietitians may only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 grade level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credential.
- Non-credentialed Dietitians must provide care under the supervision of a RDN at or above the full performance level.
- Temporary appointments of non-credentialed Dietitian will not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.
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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
Dietitian (Clinical), GS-07:
- Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
Dietitian (Clinical), GS-09:
- Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR
- 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:
- 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.
Dietitian (Clinical), GS-11:
- 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 above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Skill in delivering patient care using the 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: Primary Care 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 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 7 to 11.
Physical Requirements: Refer to VA Handbook 5019 for pre-placement examination requirements. Dietitian (Clinical) providing HBPC must possess a current, valid, and unrestricted drivers license in order to operate a government owned vehicle.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
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