Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice)

Veterans Health Administration•Long Beach, CA

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Long Beach VA Health Care System is recruiting one Advanced Practice Dietitian for Nutrition and Food Service at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center. The incumbent oversees medical nutrition therapy for the most complex and/or high-risk patients and works with the interdisciplinary health care team to ensure Veterans’ nutritional needs are met, including when alternative nutrition management is necessary. The Advanced-Level Dietitian conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutrition Care Process Model, including nutrition-focused physical examinations. The role provides consultation on nutrition support, therapies, products, policies, procedures, research, and complex Veteran care. The dietitian advises interdisciplinary teams on nutrition recommendations, goals, and therapy effectiveness, and interprets findings to support comprehensive treatment plans. The position also leads and supports nutrition-related initiatives, policies, procedures, protocols, benchmarks, research, and performance-improvement activities. It includes educating staff, students, Veterans, and families; developing staff competencies and training; presenting current nutrition information; maintaining clinical records and productivity standards; and pursuing professional growth and continuing education. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with weekend and holiday rotation as agency needs require. Telework is ad hoc; this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
Must hold the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration, except that qualifying non-credentialed applicants may be appointed temporarily under the stated conditions.
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Must hold the Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) advanced practice certification from a nationally recognized certifying body.
Demonstrated skill in leading a team in the implementation of nutrition-related activities.
Demonstrated skill in using evidence-based practice guidelines to establish or modify goals and improve patient outcomes.
Ability to communicate in writing to develop policies and standard operating procedures.
Ability to provide technical guidance, direction, and staff development as a nutrition expert.
Ability to lead research or performance-improvement studies.
Ability to present complex nutrition information to large groups of health care providers to persuade and influence care.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Subject to background/security investigation and, for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions, pre-employment urinalysis for illegal drug use.
Must meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA Health Care Personnel requirement.
Must complete required onboarding and application documentation and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.
Must meet applicable education and foreign-education evaluation requirements if relying on education for qualification.
Physical requirements are governed by VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Responsibilities

Oversee medical nutrition therapy for complex and/or high-risk patients, including alternative nutrition management when needed.
Provide consultation to VHA staff on nutrition support, nutritional products, policies, procedures, research, and complex Veteran care.
Conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutrition Care Process Model, including nutrition-focused physical examinations.
Coordinate education for medical staff, students, Veterans, and families on inpatient and outpatient medical nutrition therapy plans.
Serve as an education resource for clinicians and trainees on current research and practice related to nutrition support and specialty nutrition topics.
Maintain productivity standards, manage time effectively, and prioritize tasks.
Maintain accurate records of daily clinical activities, including information for scheduling, coding, and billing.
Support performance-improvement activities by developing nutrition-care indicators and evaluation criteria, collecting quality-improvement data, monitoring outcomes, and initiating corrective actions.
Serve as the nutrition expert on interdisciplinary treatment teams and advise team members on recommendations, goals, and therapy effectiveness.
Discuss pertinent findings and interpret nutritional information to support comprehensive patient treatment plans.
Maintain dietetic registration and continuing-education requirements.
Develop and implement an individualized professional growth and development plan.
Lead multidisciplinary work to develop nutrition-related services, policies, procedures, and protocols.
Develop, monitor, and direct practice-specific benchmarks based on standards of care or national initiatives.
Plan, implement, and evaluate organizational initiatives and lead implementation of new nutrition initiatives or practice changes.
Establish goals, measure outcomes, and report progress to medical center committees, health care teams, and professional groups.
Lead staff, create and validate competencies, and develop training activities.
Lead nutrition research or performance-improvement studies and communicate findings through reports, abstracts, presentations, or professional publications.
Present current nutrition information at seminars, workshops, and lectures.