Chapter 6 Online Lecture Notes
- 1. Chapter 6 Online Lecture Notes Compare and contrast the ACEND Core Knowledge statements to the Core Competency statements. Just as the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) has outlined specific Core Knowledge for the academic part of your dietetics education, there are also specific Core Competency statements for the supervised practice component of both dietetic technician and dietitian education programs. As you read through the Core Competency statements, you will see that performance-based and action verbs are used to demonstrate that these are hands-on skills to be developed, readying you for practice in the “real world.” Just as with the didactic portion of dietetics education, the supervised practice competencies have been developed from practice audits and research with practicing dietetics professionals who understand what an entry-level professional should be able to do when arriving on the first job. In general terms what is the supervised practice experience? The supervised practice experience is exactly what the name implies. It is a time when a student or an intern can practice the competencies expected of a professional while under supervision. You can hone your skills and get a feel for what the day-to-day activities are like for a dietitian or dietetic technician in a relatively low-risk environment. How many hours are required in the supervised practice component, and when does it occur? Supervised practice programs for dietetic technicians must be a minimum of 450 hours. Supervised practice programs for dietitians must be a minimum of 1,200 hours. The program may opt to include more hours of training if needed to achieve program goals. This training occurs at different points, depending on the type of program in which the student is enrolled. Some students graduate from a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and then are admitted to a post-baccalaureate Dietetic Internship (DI). DIs vary in length. Some are as brief and intense as 8 months, during which interns work 40 hours per week to complete the requirements. Others may last 1 or 2 years, especially if graduate coursework or a master’s degree is combined with the supervised practice program. Students in Coordinated Programs in Dietetics (CPs and ICPs) are involved in supervised practice concurrently with their didactic coursework. Some programs may start the supervised practice experience during the junior year and extend the acquisition of the 1,200 hours over three or four semesters. Discuss ways in which you can decide what type of supervised practice program you should choose. Visit program websites; actually visit the program to talk to faculty and students, if possible; and check out program statistics before making the all-important decision to apply for a supervised practice program. Another great resource for decision making is the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice. Every year, many DIs host open houses so prospective applicants can learn more about the various programs that are available. Keep in touch with your didactic program director, because he or she may be notified about these open houses. Also, during student activities at the annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibition (FNCE) of the Academy, DIs often set up displays and information tables about their programs. Another good way to acquire information about supervised practice is to visit the Student Center website, an area on the public Academy website (www.eatright.org) that is chock full of great information for students. The Members Only section of the Academy website offers additional information for Academy student members about improving one’s chances of getting an internship placement, student tips for success in supervised practice, and information about the availability of DIs. Other sources for information and guidance about the DI application process are the websites set up by DIs themselves.
- 2. Delineate the 10 steps recommended in the chapter for applying for the supervised practice experience. 1. Gain dietetics-related work experience 2. Investigate the available supervised practice programs 3. Narrow your choices 4. Become familiar with the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) 5. Register for computer matching 6. Send letters of reference/recommendation 7. Send official transcripts of all academic coursework 8. Proofread your application 9. Make a copy of your application 10. Check the due date Describe some important reminders for having a successful interview. Prepare for this interview as you would for a job interview. Check the date, time, and location for the interview and be punctual. If the interview is in person, remember that the visual impression you make is very important. Dress professionally and conservatively. If you don’t know what is appropriate, check with the Career and Employment Services group on your college campus, reread Chapter 4 in this book, or refer to any of the “how to” books in your local bookstore that give hints on the interview process. Before the interview, make a list of questions you would like to ask, and think through questions that might be posed to you. If you have a career portfolio showing examples of your academic work or any other activities in which you have participated, consider taking it with you to the interview or providing the admissions committee a link to your portfolio or professional website if it is online. If your interview is by telephone, take the call in a quiet location where you will not be interrupted. Also, consider taking the call on a “corded phone” rather than on a cell phone, where you might lose the signal or otherwise get disconnected. Remember to smile while you are talking. It shows in your voice. Be enthusiastic and upbeat. Even though the interview committee can’t see you, they will be able to sense the energy and excitement in your voice. Describe how computer matching works and why careful prioritization of the programs you have applied to is so important. Computer matching is a contractual agreement between the Academy and D & D Digital Systems, whereby you are matched through a computerized process with the highest-ranked program that offers you a position. Computer matching uses the prioritized list of programs to which you applied and the internship’s prioritized list of their applicants to make the matches. There is a $50 charge to applicants to participate in this process. Much thought should be given to the next step, which is prioritizing the programs to which you have applied. You must remember that your highest priority match is the one you must accept. In order to take full advantage of the supervised practice experience, what should a student keep in mind? Establish a cordial and cooperative relationship with your preceptor(s) and share your interests and professional goals. Look at this internship experience as if you were beginning a new job. Always look and act professionally as a member of the organization’s team. Remember that you are still learning. Confidence is a good thing, but don’t act like you know all the answers! Come to your experience prepared to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity you’ve been given. Do your “homework” before each learning experience by reviewing your notes and looking over
- 3. readings that relate to that rotation. Before you begin each day, formulate objectives and think through what you want to accomplish. At the end of the day, do a quick assessment of how successful you were in reaching your goals, and reformulate new goals for the following day. Remember the big picture and use systems thinking. Don’t get so engrossed in one activity that you miss what else is going on around you. Analyze what you are doing and how it relates to everything else in your unit, department, or the organization as a whole. Every decision or action has repercussions throughout the organization. Take time to make those connections and learn from them. Plan your time wisely and accomplish as much as you can. If you are in the middle of an important task with which you have been charged, finish the task. Others may be depending on your completion of that assignment. Remember that professionals often are salaried, not hourly, employees. Stay until the job is done and your responsibilities have been fulfilled. Don’t be a “clock watcher”! Be flexible, positive, enthusiastic, and polite. Demonstrate initiative, but remember there are limits to your authority. If you are not sure what those boundaries are, check with your preceptor. And finally, treat others the way you’d want to be treated. Remember that the professionals you work with in your supervised practice experience may be references for you for future employment or other opportunities. Don’t burn any bridges! If you were a married person with young children and unable to move (and there are no programs available in your area) to complete the supervised practice experience, list some options that might be possible for you to complete. A relatively new phenomenon in the world of supervised practice is the distance internship. As distance education didactic programs in dietetics have grown, the idea of distance internships has also become a reality. The Academy website currently lists 16 internships that offer distance education options. These programs work with each intern to select facilities in the location where the intern lives and to design a personal internship experience for that student. Why is the supervised practice experience called the second step in the three-step process to become a credentialed dietetic practitioner? The third step is the national credentialing exam. If you are a CP or Dietetic Technician program student, one Verification Statement will be issued to you, showing that you have completed both the academic and supervised practice requirements to sit for the national credentialing exam. CP students are eligible to take the national Registration Examination for Dietitians, whereas Dietetic Technician graduates are eligible for the national Registration Examination for Dietetic Technicians.