Dietitian (Clinical)

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is hiring two Clinical Dietitians, one in Muskogee and one in Tulsa. Working within the Clinical Section of Nutrition and Food Services, dietitians apply evidence-based nutrition practices, coordinate Veteran care with health care providers, caregivers, and community partners, develop patient-centered goals, interpret research, and collaborate to enhance dining experiences, patient satisfaction, and outcomes.

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System - Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System

• Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP), including nutrition-focused physical examinations, to establish nutrition diagnoses and determine the risk and degree of malnutrition.
• Develops, implements, monitors, and evaluates Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) interventions; modifies nutrition care plans as needed to achieve positive patient outcomes.
• Calculates nutrient requirements and determines individualized diet prescriptions, restrictions, and potential food-drug interactions.
• Identifies patients requiring nutrition support, recommends the appropriate mode of support, and communicates recommendations to the health care team.
• Documents nutrition care in the medical record using the Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, Monitoring, and Evaluation (ADIME) format; completes care plans, Minimum Data Set (MDS) documentation, and patient encounters within established time frames.
• Provides individualized and group nutrition education and counseling based on the educational needs and goals of Veterans.
• Actively participates in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetings and collaborates with clinical units, department leadership, and the Food Operations Section to support quality care, patient satisfaction, and an enhanced dining experience.
• Uses virtual care technology and manages clinic grids to maximize access to nutrition services through both virtual and face-to-face modalities.
• Maintains productivity standards, accurate records of daily clinical activities, and independent, timely documentation using approved systems.
• Participates in service-level strategic planning and implements new initiatives, policies, procedures, and goals.
• Supports continuous performance improvement and quality and safety activities, including developing measures, collecting and evaluating data, and initiating corrective actions.
• Complies with The Joint Commission and other accrediting agency requirements to promote safe, high-quality patient care.
• Performs other related duties as assigned that are appropriate to the grade and assignment.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, with various tours, including 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Situational (Ad-hoc) as determined by the agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 99529S, 99530S, 99531S

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.

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).

Registration.

(1) 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.

(2) 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).

i Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following:

A Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college, university or foreign equivalent (refer to ii below).

B 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.

(b) 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.

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

(d) Temporary appointments of non-credentialed Dietitian will not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.

Grandfathering Provision. 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. 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.

(1) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-09.

(1) Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

OR

(2) Education. Master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college.

(3) 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.

(1) Experience. At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade.

(2) 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

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.