Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process (NCP), including nutrition focus physical examinations, to establish a nutrition diagnosis and determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition.
• Develops and implements an individualized plan for medical nutrition therapy in accordance with the patient's medical problems, goals and objectives.
• Accurately obtains and interprets medical information pertinent to the patient's nutritional care to determine nutrition diagnosis, nutritional status and other risk factors relevant to the disease processes.
• Provides a therapeutic plan for specialized nutrition support, including enteral and parenteral nutrition for inpatients with complex medical and nutritional needs.
• Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition counseling for individuals and groups, incorporating a learning approach that considers the cultural, religious, educational, and medical situation of the patient. Information may include menu planning, budgeting, food purchasing and preparation, food storage and sanitation.
• Assists in the education of students and dietetic interns when indicated. The dietitian will plan learning experiences, teach, and evaluate students' performance.
• Participates in planning, developing, revising and implementing nutrition related policies, procedures clinical guidelines, protocols and the Nutrition Care Manual.
• Presents seminars, workshops, or talks to convey current nutrition information on new and changing concepts. This includes the development of in-services, educational programs directed to members of Primary Care Teams, CBOC teams, Nutrition and Food Service personnel, Nursing, end various students, interns or residents.
• Determines the need for home care to assure continuity of care and makes appropriate referrals to HBPPC, Social Work Service, satellite clinics or other community agencies.
• Stays abreast of current research in Nutrition related areas. Analyzes and interprets nutrition related research related to patient care.
• Maintains dietetic registration and continuing education requirements.
• Develops and implements an individualized plan for professional growth and development including participation in professional organizations and activities, workshops, seminars, and staff development programs.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)

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.

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)).

Grade Determinations:GS-11 (Full Performance).

Assignments. Registered dietitians are responsible for independently planning, developing and directing all nutrition care activities (e.g., food service and/or clinical nutrition). They are responsible for using evidence-based approaches to develop menus, counsel patients and provide nutrition care.

Must demonstrate the following:

1. Knowledge of best practices in the dietetics profession and in scientific literature, including knowledge of research methods, study design, data collection, interpretation of findings and translation of results into nutrition practice.
2. Ability to comply with various accrediting, regulatory and agency authorities.
3. Ability to develop and maintain a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies.
4. Knowledge of computer software programs relative to food service systems.
5. Knowledge of the principles and practices of nutrition care and the treatment of complex cases in clinical settings in order to develop, implement, and coordinate best practices in the dietetics profession (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation).
6. Knowledge of best practices in areas of clinical nutrition and the ability to apply nutrition interventions to patients with multiple comorbidities.
7. Ability to act as a consultant for health care providers including registered dietetic technicians, dietetic interns, nurses, physicians, medical students and allied health professionals.

References: VA Handbook 5005/80, Part II, Appendix G20, Dietitian Qualification Standard, dated September 5, 2014.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some light physical effort may be required. There may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items including training paperwork or manuals, or small equipment, such as: laptop computers, mobile LCD projectors; or driving an automobile. Work often involves talking for long periods of time and incumbent may be susceptible to eyestrain from working long hours on the computer.

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, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.