Dietitian - Clinical

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

6d

About The Position

Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care for Veterans in collaboration with health care providers, Veterans, caregivers, and the community. They interpret research and use whole health principles to develop patient-centered goals and improve outcomes. They also work with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience and patient satisfaction.

The role includes conducting comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process (NCP), developing and monitoring Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), documenting care using the ADIME format, calculating nutrient requirements and diet restrictions, and recommending nutritional support. Dietitians provide education and counseling, participate in interdisciplinary meetings, complete care plans and Minimum Data Set documentation, and maintain accurate patient and activity records.

Clinical Dietitians also participate in service-level planning, performance improvement, and implementation of initiatives. They help ensure compliance with The Joint Commission and other accrediting standards, contribute to continuous improvement in safe, quality care, and liaise between clinical units and Food Operations. This position is primarily scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with some rotating weekends and holidays. Ad hoc telework may be available under agency policy; the position is not virtual. The full performance level is GS-11, and selection may be at GS-7 through GS-11.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated non-citizen appointment exception.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration, except that eligible non-credentialed candidates may receive a temporary appointment at GS-7 or GS-9 under the stated conditions.
• For the non-credentialed GS-7/GS-9 exception: a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited U.S. institution or foreign equivalent, and completion of an ACEND-accredited experiential or supervised practice program with verification of eligibility to take the CDR registration exam.
• GS-7: Basic requirements; no additional experience or education beyond them.
• GS-9: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or a master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university; demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities, including NCP-based care, evidence-based practice, patient-centered goals, performance-improvement data collection, collaboration, regulatory knowledge, and virtual-care knowledge.
• GS-11: At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade; demonstrate the listed skills and abilities in NCP-based care, evidence-based practice, patient-centered goals, performance-improvement data analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and compliance with accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities.
• Meet applicable application, onboarding, identification, background/security investigation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify; foreign education must meet the stated equivalency requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Two to five years of work experience as a dietitian in an acute care environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process, including nutrition-focused physical examinations, to establish diagnoses and assess malnutrition risk or severity.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and monitor Medical Nutrition Therapy interventions, adjusting plans as needed to improve patient outcomes.
• Document Medical Nutrition Therapy in the medical record using the ADIME format.
• Calculate nutrient requirements and diet restrictions, including food and drug interactions, and tailor diet prescriptions to individual patients.
• Identify patients needing nutritional support, recommend an appropriate mode of support, and communicate with the health care team.
• Participate in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Complete care plans and Minimum Data Set documentation within established time frames.
• Assess educational needs and provide tailored nutrition education and counseling to individuals and groups.
• Maintain accurate records of clinical activities and complete patient encounters using approved systems.
• Participate in service-level strategic planning and implementation of initiatives, policies, procedures, and goals.
• Support performance improvement activities through measure development, data collection and evaluation, and corrective actions.
• Comply with The Joint Commission and other accrediting agency standards and promote safe, quality care.
• Collaborate with Food Operations and department leadership to improve the Veterans' dining experience and patient satisfaction, serving as a liaison between clinical units and Food Operations.
• Use virtual care technology to improve access to care, as applicable to the grade-level assignment.
• Perform other related duties appropriate to the grade and assignment.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type and other factors.
• Annual leave accrual may be increased based on qualifying prior federal or military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level