Dietitian; Clinical HBPC

Summary

The Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Clinical Dietitian is responsible for planning, developing, and directing all nutritional care activities by applying evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines for all assigned Veterans, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. 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.

Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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:
  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
• 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations:
  In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
  Dietitian (Clinical) - GS-07:
  Experience or
  
  Education:
  
  None beyond the basic requirements
• 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:
  Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements
• Knowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition care
• Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g.
  
  - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring and evaluation)
• Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes
• Abilit…