Dietitian (Clinical)

Summary

This Dietitian (Clinical) position is in Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) within the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service at the VA Manie Healthcare Systems located at the Presque Isle, ME location. The position is Part-time at 20 hours per week.

Duties

This Dietitian (Clinical) position is in Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) within the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service. Is the medical nutrition expert responsible for independently planning, developing, and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned clients, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Conducts a comprehensive nutrition assessment for patients at nutritional risk. Develops and implements an individualized plan for medical nutrition therapy in the nutrition care process (NCP) format in accordance with the patient's medical program goals and objectives. Accurately obtains and interprets medical information pertinent to the patient's nutritional care to determine risk, assess nutritional status and develop individual specialized care plans to simultaneously address several disease processes. Calculates nutritional requirements (calories, protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, electrolytes, fluid) and necessary diet restrictions or food/drug interactions. Develops a therapeutic plan for specialized nutrition support, including enteral and parenteral nutrition for patients with complex medical and nutritional needs. Utilizes assessment and evaluation techniques that consider age-specific needs as well as religious and ethnic concerns. Orders labs, diets and consults per Scope of Practice/Clinical privileges. Evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcome of medical nutrition therapy interventions. Evaluates the patient's response to care based on identified, measurable outcomes and reviews the plan as appropriate. Assesses the adequacy of the caregiver's capacity to prepare recommended meals. Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition counseling for individuals, family members and care givers, incorporating a learning approach that considers the religious, educational, and medical situation of the patient. Includes information regarding budgeting, menu planning, food purchasing and preparation, food storage and sanitation. Provides appropriate follow-up in accordance with patient's treatment goals, referring patients for outpatient counseling, community, or home health service as appropriate. Assists in the education of dietetic students and interns. Plans learning experiences, teaches, and evaluates performance. Serves on station committees as assigned. Assists in developing and revising patient education materials, clinical forms, and protocols. Participates in the orientation and training of new dietitians as necessary. Completes special projects as assigned. Work Schedule: Tuesday 8:00am - 4:30pm, Wednesday 8:00am - 4:30pm, Thursday 8:00am - 12:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F02888, F02889, F02890 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is NOT a Bargaining Unit position. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. No award SF50's will be accepted. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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). 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. Grade Determinations: GS-07 Dietitian (Clinical): No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements. GS-09 Dietitian (Clinical): Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09 you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) OR a master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related field. Your experience or education must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience 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 evidenc