Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice)

Advanced Level Practice Dietitian conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments for Veterans using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) assuring high-quality nutrition care under an advanced and expanded scope of practice. They have the knowledge, expertise, principles and/or current research to lead dietitians and nutrition specialty care teams.

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. Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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).

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).

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify at the Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice), GS-12 you must also possess:


Grade Determinations:

• 1. Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• 2. Certification. Must hold an advanced practice certification from a nationally recognized certifying body such as the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists or the National Board of Nutrition Certification. The certification must be directly related to the assignment being filled. For example, where the assignment requires diabetes management, a Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management or Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists certification is qualifying. Commonly held certifications include Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition; Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition; Registered Dietitian Nutritionist-Advanced Practitioner; Certified Nutrition Support Clinician.
• 3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience and certification above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • (a) Skill in leading a team in the implementation of nutrition-related activities.
  • (b) Skill in utilizing evidence- based practice guidelines to establish or modify goals and improve patient outcomes.
  • (c) Ability to communicate in writing to develop policies and standard operating procedures.
  • d) Ability to serve as a nutrition expert, providing technical guidance, direction and staff development.
  • (e) Ability to lead research or performance improvement studies.
  • (f) Ability to present complex nutrition information to a large group of health care providers to persuade and influence provision of care.

Preferred Experience: Three to five years clinical experience as Nutrition Support Dietitian. CNSC certification.Independently writes TPN orders. Manages enteral nutrition modalities.

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

Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Responsibilities:

Some duties include, but are not limited to:

• Leads dietitians and specialty 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.
• Leads nutrition research studies or performance improvement and communicates findings through reports, abstracts, presentations and/or peer-reviewed professional publications.
• Presents at seminars, workshops, and lectures to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts.
• May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment.

Work Schedule: 7 am - 3:30 pm; weekends and holidays
Telework: Available (ad-hoc only)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD99523S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

A Recruitment or Relocation incentive may be paid to a Highly Qualified candidate.

Salary : $102,415