Dietitian (Clinical)

Full Job Description

Nutrition and Food Services are actively recruiting for one (1) Dietitian (Clinical) within the Community Living Center.

Meeting the needs of all customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions.

Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.

Provides the customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.).

Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). English Language Proficiency.

Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Registration.

All applicants must hold the RDN credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Note: Applicants who hold the RDN credential have met the education requirement (e.g.

bachelor's degree or higher) of CDR, as such this occupation is considered professional and scientific with a positive education requirement and the procedures in Part I, Chapter 4 of this Handbook will be followed when applying Veteran's preference.

Exception for Dietitians who do not possess the RDN credential.

(a) Non-credentialed Dietitians who meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below, but do not possess the RDN credential, may be given a temporary full-time appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C.

§ 7405(c) (2). Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following: Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S.

regionally accredited college, university or foreign equivalent (refer to ii below).Completed an ACEND® accredited experiential or supervised practice program and provide a verification statement from the program director that conveys eligibility to take the CDR registration exam as a prospective RDN.

A list of ACEND® accredited programs is located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory. ii Foreign Education.

To be creditable, college and/or university degrees earned outside the U.S and its territories must be evaluated by ACEND® and meet ACEND®'s International Dietitian Education standards which are designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and competencies to sit for the CDR credentialing exam.

Non-credentialed Dietitians may only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 grade level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credential.

Non-credentialed Dietitians must provide care under the supervision of a RDN at or above the full performance level.

Temporary appointments of non-credentialed Dietitian will not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Registration.

In all cases, Dietitians must actively pursue meeting registration requirements starting from their appointment date.

At the time of appointment, servicing Human Resources (HR) staff in collaboration with the supervisor, will provide non-registered Dietitians the written requirement to obtain registration, the date by which they must acquire it and the consequences for not doing so by the deadline.

Failure to obtain registration within one year from the date of appointment will result in removal from the Dietitian, GS-0630 occupation and may result in termination of employment.

Loss of Credential.

In collaboration with HR Office staff, management officials must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required registration/certification of duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation and/or assignment, which may also result in separation from employment.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS. All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements in paragraph 3 a-f and all the requirements defined in the specific assignment.

Dietitian (Clinical),GS-07. Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) entry-level developmental position.

They work under the guidance of a Dietitian who is at the full performance level or above, performing increasingly complex tasks designed to prepare them for promotion.

Clinical Dietitians conduct nutrition assessments for patients with lower acuity using the NCP while developing skills to apply evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines.

Clinical Dietitians learn to interpret research, apply whole health principles and develop patient-centered goals.

They develop skills in accurate record keeping of clinical activities and complete patient encounters using approved systems.

Clinical Dietitians comply with The Joint Commission (TJC) requirements and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient care.

They collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction. Dietitian (Clinical),GS-09 Experience.

At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR Education. Master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements.

(b) Knowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition care. (c) Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation).

(d) Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes. (e) Ability to develop patient-centered goals. (f) Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies.

(g) Ability to collaborate with stakeholders. Dietitian (Clinical), GS-11 Experience. At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Skill in delivering patient care using the NCP (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation).

(b) Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes. (c) Skill in developing patient-centered goals.

(d) Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies. (e) Skill in collaborating with stakeholders.(f) Ability to comply with various accrediting, regulatory and agency authorities.

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-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. Major Duties:

Reward Brochure: https:https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025-Total-Rewards-Allied-Health-Professions-VA-Career.pdf The clinical dietitian supports the facility's mission and coordinates nutritional care with other health care providers, the veteran, the veteran's caregiver and the community.

The increasing complexity and specialization in nutrition requires that the clinical dietitian have expertise in a wide range of disease entities and treatment modalities.

The clinical dietitian's expertise is specific to diagnosing nutrition problems and the nutrition ramifications of disease entities and medical treatment modalities.

Assessment methodologies such as identifying physical signs of malnutrition, drug/nutrient interactions and depletions, and assessment of intake and nutrient losses are critical skills used by clinical dietitians.

GS-7 Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) entry level developmental position within the Clinical Section of NFS.

They perform increasingly complex tasks as they acquire skills in clinical nutrition to apply evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines.

Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers, the Veteran, the Veteran's caregiver and the community.

Clinical Dietitians learn to interpret research, apply whole health principles and develop patient centered goals.

They collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction.

GS-9 Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) developmental position within the Clinical Section of NFS.

They perform increasingly complex tasks as they continue to develop skills in clinical nutrition to apply evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines.

Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers, the Veteran, the Veteran's caregiver, and the community.

Clinical Dietitians continue to learn to interpret research, apply whole health principles, and develop patient-centered goals.

They collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction.

GS-11 Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) full performance level position within the Clinical Section of NFS serving as the medical nutrition expert.

They are autonomous in their work in applying evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines for all patients, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs.

Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers, the Veteran, the Veteran's caregiver, and the community.

They interpret research and utilize whole health principles to develop patient-centered goals and improve outcomes.

Clinical Dietitians collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am. - 4:30 pm.

Schedule also includes rotating holiday and weekend coverage and on-call (Subject to change based on agency needs). Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 99531-S, 99530-S, 99529-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized