Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration will be referred in the following order 1) Internal VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) current permanent employees 2) Department of Veterans Affairs current permanent employees 3) Current permanent employees of other federal agencies in the competitive service or covered under the interchange agreement 4) US Citizens

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The Advanced Practice Registered Dietitian/Certified Diabetes Educator (AP, RD/CDE) has mastered the highest degree of skill and knowledge related to nutrition in diabetes through a combination of education, experience, and critical thinking. Primary responsibilities include serving as an advanced level nutrition practitioner overseeing the medical nutrition therapy of the most complex and/or high-risk patients requiring specialized nutrition interventions for acute or chronic diseases. The AP, RD/CDE works closely with the interdisciplinary healthcare team to ensure that patients' nutritional needs are being met; provides expert level consultant services to the medical staff throughout VA Puget Sound; conducts comprehensive nutrition assessment and diagnoses; coordinates education programs; maintains productivity standards; manages clinical resources; develops nutrition-related policies, procedures and goals; identifies medical nutrition therapy problems and solutions; and conducts/participates in the design, data collection, analysis and reporting of clinical nutrition research. Additionally, the AP, RD/CDE plans and conducts nutrition education in diabetes for a variety of medical professionals, interns and students at VA Puget Sound. Administrative and quality management improvement duties are required. Main duties and responsibilities consist of but are not limited to:

Nutrition Care:

• Function at an expert level of advanced practice nutrition in diabetes consistent with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Scope of Practice.
• Provide comprehensive management of the nutritional need of Veterans as they progress through the stages of a variety of acute and/or chronic diseases to address nutrition issues, such as protein energy malnutrition, protein energy wasting, electrolyte imbalances, fluid imbalance, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, and mineral and bone disorders.
• Evaluate nutrition related medication management, including the dosing and timing of medication that may impact nutrition plans of care.
• Communicate with medical teams through interdisciplinary meetings, multidisciplinary patient care rounds, team meetings, and medical conferences to contribute to optimal outcomes.
• Provide appropriate documentation that summarizes the nutrition care plan in the patients' medical record including assessment, diagnosis, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and progress towards goals through the utilization of Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE).

Nutrition Education:

• Provide aggressive nutrition intervention and counseling for multiple comorbidities to help decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality for each Veteran based on individual needs, including nutrient requirements, knowledge and abilities, medical, economic, and social situation.
• Evaluate achievement of learning objectives by the Veteran and/or family. Provide appropriate follow-up in accordance with the patient's treatment goals, referring Veterans to community or home health services as appropriate.
• Develop and revise nutrition guidelines, forms, protocols, age-specific and disease specific Veteran education materials.
• Serve as an education resource, instructing physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, medical students, interns and residents within VA Puget Sound on current research and practice guidelines for diabetes as well as a variety of disease states.
• Conduct education seminars, including in-services and symposiums for the medical center staff on specialized nutrition topics such as diet and insulin management, and malnutrition.

Business/Performance Improvement Functions:

• Incorporate the latest American Diabetes Association (ADA), National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), and other relevant professional standards into nutrition policies, procedures and standards.
• Plan and develop nutrition-related policies, procedures, goals and objectives that support best practices in nutrition and diabetes.
• Conduct and/or participate in nutrition research and quality improvement studies and communicate findings through reports, abstracts, presentations, and publications.
• Promote quality advanced nutrition practice by sharing current research in the areas of prediabetes and diabetes management.
• Function as a mentor for students, interns, peers and other members of the interdisciplinary team on complex issues, procedures and practices within diabetes program.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

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:
A. United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

B. Education and Supervised Practice.
(1) The individual must have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and fulfilled each of the following criteria:
(a) Completed a didactic program in dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), formerly known as the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE).
(b) Completed an ACEND accredited or approved supervised practice program. Supervised practice programs are post-baccalaureate degree programs that provide supervised practice experiences which meet the eligibility requirements and accreditation standards of ACEND, formally known as CADE. Completion of a coordinated program in dietetics fulfills the requirements of a supervised practice program. Time spent in a dietetic internship or supervised practice program does not qualify as creditable experience.

(2) Individuals who have earned college and/or university degrees outside the United States and its territories also must have their transcripts evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service to determine if their degree is equivalent to a degree granted by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Validation of a foreign degree does not eliminate the need for verification of completion of didactic program, dietetic internship, or coordinated program requirements. The completion of ACEND didactic program requirements and at least a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or foreign equivalent are necessary for eligibility to enter an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

C. Registration/Certification. All applicants 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). Advanced Level Practice Dietitians must possess a minimum of one advanced practice credential relevant to the area of practice, (e.g. Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR), Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition (CSG), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), or Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO)).

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).

Preferred Experience:

• Functions at an expert level of advanced practice nutrition in diabetes consistent with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Scope of Practice.
• Applicants MUST have Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) PLUS Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE).

Grade Determinations: GS-12 Advanced Level Practice
Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). This experience includes assignments as staff dietitians at the full performance level. Registered dietitians are responsible for independently planning, developing and directing all nutrition care activities (food service and/or clinical nutrition). Experience can be in a variety of settings such as hospitals, outpatient centers, residential treatment programs, and patient homes where evidence-based approaches to develop menus, counsel patients and provide nutrition care was used.

Credentials. Advanced level practice dietitians must possess a minimum of one advanced practice credential relevant to the area of practice, (e.g. Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR), Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition (CSG), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) or Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO)).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
1. *Ability to develop, maintain, and supervise a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies to assure compliance with various accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities.
2. *Knowledge of the principles of program management and oversight required to develop program goals and objectives, administer and monitor program, evaluate program outcomes/accomplishments, set and redefine priorities, and implement effective solutions in processes/systems as needed.
3. Ability to act as a consultant for staff.
4. Ability to mentor and educate peers and other multidisciplinary team members in complex issues, procedures and practices.
5. Ability to make presentations on topics regarding food, nutrition and health issues.
6. Ability to make high level decisions with a focus on delivering patient care and achieving program outcomes.
7. Ability to contribute to evidence analysis process to affect practice and identify and create new practice opportunities.

References: VA Handbook 5005/80, Part II, Appendix G20.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.