Clinical Dietetic Technician

Description:

This position is located at the Lexington VA Medical Center in Clinical Nutrition Section of Nutrition and Food Services. The Clinical Dietetic Technician has the responsibility of providing a high-level of technical assistance and support to the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Employee will assist both Food and Clinical to complete administrative tasks consistent with expectations of a Dietetic Technician in addition to timekeeping.

Requirements:

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.
• Basic Education Requirement: successfully completed a course of study in an accredited college leading to an associate's degree in Dietetic Technology with an emphasis in Nutrition Care or the equivalent post-secondary education. At least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position.
• Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).

Education must have included instruction in nutrition care/diet therapy, the natural sciences (e.g. anatomy, physiology, biochemistry), social sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology), food sciences, medical terminology, communications, and education. In addition, education must have included supervised field experience in a hospital or similar clinical setting. Note: Copies of pertinent transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application.
Education will not be credited without documentation. An associate's degree in Dietetic Technology(Nutrition Care) from a program approved by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) is preferred.

In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirement above, you must also meet one of the following additional requirements.

GS-05. Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-06. Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-05) in the field of clinical dietetics technology in which you have demonstrated successfully use on the following:
1) Knowledge of nutrition screening process.
2) Knowledge of programs and systems used to manage patient diet orders and preferences.
3) Skill in conducting diet education to selected groups of patients and individuals.
4) Ability to work collaboratively with patients and coworkers to provide nutrition care.
NOTE: Possession of the Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) credential can be substituted for the one year of specialized experience.

Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in CDT developmental positions. It is expected that the CDT receives guidance from higher-level staff members or supervisors and requires minimal supervision. The CDT may modify diet orders for texture/consistency, tolerance, and supplemental feedings as appropriate. The CDT assists the RDN with screening and evaluation of nutrition care needs of patients, development of nutritional care plans including nutrition interventions, and diet counseling outlined by the RDN. The incumbent may assist in related duties that support performance improvement activities for the service.

Clinical GS-07. (1) Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-06).
In addition to meeting the experience or certification requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
1) Knowledge in Medical Nutrition Therapy pertaining to completing nutrition assessments.
2) Knowledge of food service operations.
3) Skill in conducting nutrition intervention, patient interviewing, and nutrition counseling as part of the nutrition care process.
4) Ability to organize, evaluate, and execute teaching plans to provide nutrition education for selected groups of patients and individuals.
5) Ability to effectively communicate nutrition education and care plans with patients, family members, coworkers, internal customers, and external customers.

Assignment . Employees at this grade level serve as full performance level CDTs. They are knowledgeable of a variety of complex diet orders. The CDT will conduct screening and evaluation of nutrition care needs of patients, development of nutritional care plans including nutrition interventions, and diet counseling in collaboration with the RDN. The employee makes recommendations for adjustments to improve patient's recovery and/or teaching plan, evaluates (instruction, demonstration, facilitation) and works collaboratively with the patient and family to develop strategies to meet their learning needs. The CDT educates patients or employees, in groups or individually, and/or those accompanying the patient regarding medical nutrition therapies. The employee serves as a preceptor for dietetic technician affiliated programs and associated tasks as applicable. The CDT assists with administrative or clerical functions associated with food service operations.

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).

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-07.