Clinical Dietetic Technician
This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Veterans Affairs Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VA SNHCS) in Reno, NV. The position will include coverage for areas including acute psychiatry and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Other areas of coverage may include, among others, acute medicine and surgery, Spinal Cord Injury, brain injury rehabilitation and Community Living Center veterans. The incumbent is responsible for assisting the Clinical Dietitian in providing medical nutrition therapy, patient education and diet communication functions. Major Duties include but are not limited to:
Assists the clinical dietitians in providing medical nutrition therapy Screens individual patients to evaluate their nutritional needs Provides basic nutritional care for inpatients, collects food preferences, allergies, food intolerances; answers questions about menu items and diets Provides basic dietary education to patients and caregivers Understands and uses medical terminology Completes medical documentation using an electronic medical record system Performs program support work such as the collection, compilation, research and/or tracking of data and program information Works closely with clinical dietitians to create and update menus as necessary Maintains an accurate database of recipes, diet patterns, diet orders, food preferences in VISTA Reviews tray tickets, diet activity, and assists food service in resolving any menu related issues Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule:
Rotating Days/Weekends, Rotating Shifts (7:
00am-3:
30pm, 7:
30am-4:
00pm, 8:
00am-4:
30pm) This position is required to work holidays. Position Description/PD#:
PD-0222-O GS-640-07 Clinical Dietetic Technician This position is covered by the bargaining unit. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2020. Time-In-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note:
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Basic Requirement:
Candidates must have successfully completed a course of study in an accredited college leading to an associate's degree in Dietetic Technology with an emphasis in Nutrition Care or the equivalent post-secondary education. It must have included instruction in nutrition care/diet therapy, the natural sciences (e.g., anatomy, physiology, biochemistry), social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology), food sciences, medical terminology, communications and education. In addition, qualifying education must include supervised field experience in a hospital or similar clinical setting. (Applicants MUST submit a copy of transcripts). In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, the applicant must also possess:
Specialized
Experience:
Applicants must have One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
Interviewing patients to obtain diet history, nutrition assessment data and/or food preferences Documenting progress notes and updating the medical record Developing nutrition care plans for patients Monitoring and assisting in the evaluation of food intake Adjusting meal patterns and nourishments for selected patients to accommodate preferences and tolerances Educating selected patients about their prescribed diets Teaching classes for groups of patients Candidates for CDT positions must possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs):
1. Knowledge of Human Nutrition Requirements In Health And Disease:
This includes knowledge of the nutrient needs and the indicators for nutritional care; ability to identify individuals at nutritional risk within the patient population using pre-established screening data; and ability to develop and/or adjust a nutritional care plan for patients not at nutritional risk. 2. Ability to Gather Data from the Medical Record and Document Information Pertinent to Nutritional Care:
This requires knowledge of medical terminology, abbreviations, laboratory tests, clinical, social and anthropometric data sufficient to understand nutrition-related material in a medical record; ability to interpret a physician's diet order; and ability to record accurate and understandable nutrition care plan information, for example, diet history, screening data, etc. 3. Ability to Monitor and Influence the Patient's Nutritional Intake:
This requires the ability to accurately observe and/or record dietary information from individual patients; knowledge of factors that influence or limit individual food choices, preferences and acceptance; knowledge of the psychological effect of food on the patient; ability to calculate the nutritional content of food intake; knowledge of the four basic food groups and the recommended amount of foods from each group; and knowledge of the principles and nutrient content of modified diets. 4. Ability to Provide Nutrition Education for Selected Groups of Patients:
This includes the ability to identify basic nutrition education needs of individuals; ability to plan and present nutrition information for a pre-established patient outcome; ability to identify and use appropriate methods to determine a patient's understanding, compliance and use of nutrition principles; knowledge of meal planning, preparation, sanitation and food safety principles and the ability to teach them to patients. 5. Skill in Patient Interviewing and Nutrition Counseling:
This includes knowledge of the principles of effective communication and ability to evaluate information obtained in a patient interview. 6. Ability to Interact and Communicate Orally with People from a Variety of Backgrounds:
This includes other members of the health care team. 7. Ability to Function Effectively in a Support Position within a Clinical Dietetic Section of a General Medical and Surgical and/or Psychiatric Hospital:
This involves the ability to follow oral and/or written instructions, ability to accomplish work within established time frames; ability to work under pressure with constant interruptions; and ability to maintain composure under adverse conditions. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Analysis and Problem SolvingClinical Data Collection/DocumentationComputer SkillsCustomer ServiceFood Service 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. Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation may also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:
the use of assistive devices, job modification or restructuring, provision of readers and interpreters, or adjusted work schedules. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboard process. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https:
//www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Assists the clinical dietitians in providing medical nutrition therapy Screens individual patients to evaluate their nutritional needs Provides basic nutritional care for inpatients, collects food preferences, allergies, food intolerances; answers questions about menu items and diets Provides basic dietary education to patients and caregivers Understands and uses medical terminology Completes medical documentation using an electronic medical record system Performs program support work such as the collection, compilation, research and/or tracking of data and program information Works closely with clinical dietitians to create and update menus as necessary Maintains an accurate database of recipes, diet patterns, diet orders, food preferences in VISTA Reviews tray tickets, diet activity, and assists food service in resolving any menu related issues Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule:
Rotating Days/Weekends, Rotating Shifts (7:
00am-3:
30pm, 7:
30am-4:
00pm, 8:
00am-4:
30pm) This position is required to work holidays. Position Description/PD#:
PD-0222-O GS-640-07 Clinical Dietetic Technician This position is covered by the bargaining unit. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2020. Time-In-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note:
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Basic Requirement:
Candidates must have successfully completed a course of study in an accredited college leading to an associate's degree in Dietetic Technology with an emphasis in Nutrition Care or the equivalent post-secondary education. It must have included instruction in nutrition care/diet therapy, the natural sciences (e.g., anatomy, physiology, biochemistry), social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology), food sciences, medical terminology, communications and education. In addition, qualifying education must include supervised field experience in a hospital or similar clinical setting. (Applicants MUST submit a copy of transcripts). In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, the applicant must also possess:
Specialized
Experience:
Applicants must have One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
Interviewing patients to obtain diet history, nutrition assessment data and/or food preferences Documenting progress notes and updating the medical record Developing nutrition care plans for patients Monitoring and assisting in the evaluation of food intake Adjusting meal patterns and nourishments for selected patients to accommodate preferences and tolerances Educating selected patients about their prescribed diets Teaching classes for groups of patients Candidates for CDT positions must possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs):
1. Knowledge of Human Nutrition Requirements In Health And Disease:
This includes knowledge of the nutrient needs and the indicators for nutritional care; ability to identify individuals at nutritional risk within the patient population using pre-established screening data; and ability to develop and/or adjust a nutritional care plan for patients not at nutritional risk. 2. Ability to Gather Data from the Medical Record and Document Information Pertinent to Nutritional Care:
This requires knowledge of medical terminology, abbreviations, laboratory tests, clinical, social and anthropometric data sufficient to understand nutrition-related material in a medical record; ability to interpret a physician's diet order; and ability to record accurate and understandable nutrition care plan information, for example, diet history, screening data, etc. 3. Ability to Monitor and Influence the Patient's Nutritional Intake:
This requires the ability to accurately observe and/or record dietary information from individual patients; knowledge of factors that influence or limit individual food choices, preferences and acceptance; knowledge of the psychological effect of food on the patient; ability to calculate the nutritional content of food intake; knowledge of the four basic food groups and the recommended amount of foods from each group; and knowledge of the principles and nutrient content of modified diets. 4. Ability to Provide Nutrition Education for Selected Groups of Patients:
This includes the ability to identify basic nutrition education needs of individuals; ability to plan and present nutrition information for a pre-established patient outcome; ability to identify and use appropriate methods to determine a patient's understanding, compliance and use of nutrition principles; knowledge of meal planning, preparation, sanitation and food safety principles and the ability to teach them to patients. 5. Skill in Patient Interviewing and Nutrition Counseling:
This includes knowledge of the principles of effective communication and ability to evaluate information obtained in a patient interview. 6. Ability to Interact and Communicate Orally with People from a Variety of Backgrounds:
This includes other members of the health care team. 7. Ability to Function Effectively in a Support Position within a Clinical Dietetic Section of a General Medical and Surgical and/or Psychiatric Hospital:
This involves the ability to follow oral and/or written instructions, ability to accomplish work within established time frames; ability to work under pressure with constant interruptions; and ability to maintain composure under adverse conditions. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Analysis and Problem SolvingClinical Data Collection/DocumentationComputer SkillsCustomer ServiceFood Service 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. Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation may also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:
the use of assistive devices, job modification or restructuring, provision of readers and interpreters, or adjusted work schedules. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboard process. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https:
//www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
- Department:
0640 Health Aid And Technician - Salary Range:
$43,251 to $56,222 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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