Clinical Dietetic Technician

Overview

Clinical Dietetic Technician (CDT) at this level performs all duties and assignments with general instruction and guidance with the Nutrition and Food Service. Responsibilities involve screening patients - collecting nutritionally relevant data such as diagnoses - medications - clinical symptoms - laboratory values - dietary history - and anthropometrics. This position is located at the Kerrville VA Medical Center in Kerrville - Texas.

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:

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Experience and/or
  
  Education:
  
  Education
• Completion of an associate's or higher degree program in Dietetic Technology - Dietetics or another related field of study that is accredited by ACEND
• OR Experience
• Completion of one (1) year of clinical experience in dietetics - and the possession of an active Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) certification
• The experience must have been received after possession of the CDM certification
• Experience/Education Combination:
  Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• English Language Proficiency
• CDT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
  Foreign
  
  Education:
  
  To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at the least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
  
  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:
  Clinical Dietetic Technician - GS-7 Experience
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the lower grade
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs
• Knowledge in Medical Nutrition Therapy pertaining to completing nutrition assessments
• Knowledge of food service operations
• Skills in conducting nutrition intervention - patient interviewing - and nutrition counseling as part of the nutrition care process
• Ability to organize - evaluate - and execute teaching plans to provide nutrition education for selected groups of patients and individuals
• Ability to effectively communicate nutrition education and care plans with patients - family members - coworkers - internal customers - and external customers
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Associates degree in Diet Technology or Bachelors degree in Dietetics 1 year experience in Diet Technology
  Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Standards/
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing - or speech may be required
• Some lifting of trays - bending down - sitting - and standing for substantial periods of time.

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career
  - Duties may include but are Not Limited to:
  Makes recommendations for adjustments to the plan of care to improve patient's recovery and document outcomes on nutrition intervention; modifies diet orders for texture/consistency - tolerance - and supplemental feedings as appropriate under the oversight of the RDN
• Educates patients or employees - in groups or individually - and/or those accompanying the patient - regarding medical nutrition therapies
• Serves as a preceptor for dietetic technician affiliated programs and associated tasks as applicable
• Assists with administrative or clerical functions associated with food service operations
• Assists in related duties that support performance improvement activities for…