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University Medical Center Dietetic Internship
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General Information
The University Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program is a full-time Nutrition Therapy Emphasis program. The internship was established in 1973 and has gone through many changes throughout the years to meet the expanding role of the dietetic intern, dietitian and healthcare industry. We are based in a preeminent academic medical center that supports the clinical nutrition emphasis of our program. Our graduates are successful practitioners working in areas such as out-patient dialysis, nutrition support, community nutrition, acute hospital care, ambulatory care and long term care. Our Clinical Preceptors have a combined clinical nutrition experience of over 50 years and have specialties in the areas of organ transplantation, artificial heart device, cystic fibrosis, neonatal/pediatric nutrition, critical care, oncology, diabetes and specialized nutrition support. Our Food Service Systems Preceptors are experienced team leaders and managers from ARAMARK. And, our Public Health/Community Nutrition Preceptors are also established dietetics practitioners within the Tucson community. The University Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program has a 5-year first-timer passing rate for the Dietitian Registration Examination of 100%.
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Helpful Links
For information in pdf format, please visit our facility web page at: http://www.umcarizona.org/UMC/body.cfm?id=735 University Medical Center: www.umcarizona.org ARAMARK Healthcare: www.aramark.com Arizona Daily Star: www.azstarnet.com Apartment housing: www.life.arizona.edu/apartmenthousing/ U of A Newpaper: Wildcat online housing: www.wildcat.arizona.edu/housing/
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Scholarships
Scholarship applications are available though the ADA Education and Accreditation staff at: 1-800-877-1500, ext 5400 Scholarship applications can be electronically downloaded from: http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/CADE_7056_ENU_HTML.htm
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Program Description
GENERAL INFORMATION The Dietetic Internship Program is designed to provide an attainment of all entry level performance requirements in Food Service Systems Management, Clinical Nutrition Therapy, and Public Health Practice areas. Opportunity is provided for each intern to attain excellence in these practice areas through structured learning experiences at University Medical Center and affiliate sites. The program is developed so that the intern, under the guidance of the Registered Dietitian, learns necessary skills, progressively assumes greater responsibilities and is provided with opportunity to demonstrate competence. The Dietetic Internship begins in early-August and is completed in May (approximately 10 months). At the successful completion of the Dietetic Internship, the intern is provided with a verification statementand can apply to take the Dietitian Registration Examination. MISSION The mission of the University Medical Center Dietetic Internship program is to provide the highest quality supervisory practice experience specializing in clinical nutrition therapy to facilitate development of entry-level competence as a dietetic practitioner. STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY We believe that students enter the dietetic internship with varying levels of knowledge, skills, and interest and that they learn at different rates and in various modes; thus, the program must be designed to accommodate these individual differences within the boundaries of skills needed to demonstrate entry-level competence outlined in the Performance Requirements. Working and learning to apply knowledge in a small group or in a one-to-one setting will assist the intern to achieve competency as an entry-level dietetic practitioner. The intern should have the opportunity to work in various practice settings and to observe several role models demonstrating the highest standards of professional practice. At the successful conclusion of the Dietetic Internship, it is anticipated that the intern shall have demonstrated entry-level competency as a dietetic practitioner. Each intern shall have achieved the stated competencies and objectives outlined in the curriculum. These competencies are based on the Performance Requirements identified by The Commission on Dietetics Education/American Dietetic Association.
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Program Goals
Goal #1: Prepare graduates who have met the entry-level performance requirements as defined by CADE in order to become competent entry-level registered dietitians. Outcome Measures: · At least 90% of graduates will pass the registration examination on their first attempt. · At least 90% of interns will complete the dietetic internship program within 1 year. · At least 80% of graduate employer respondents will agree or strongly agree that the graduates are effective entry-level dietitians. · At least 80% of graduates, seeking employment in dietetics, will obtain a dietetics related position within 6 months post graduation. · At the completion of the program, 90% of interns will agree/strongly agree that they feel competent to practice as an entry-level clinical dietitian. · At the completion of the program, 90% of interns will agree/strongly agree that they feel competent to participate in the management of food and nutrition service systems. Goal #2: Provide progressive, cutting-edge clinical nutrition therapy experience to prepare interns to effectively assess and treat specialized patient populations, especially in the acute care setting. Outcome Measures: · Graduates will achieve, on average over the 5-year period, a scaled score that is at least 2 points above the national average for the Nutrition component of the Registration Examination for Dietitians. · At least 80% of graduates will agree/strongly agree that they feel competent to perform in the acute care setting providing care for specialized populations; i.e., critical care, pediatrics and transplantation. · Clinical nutrition rotation classes will be reviewed/revised yearly to reflect current literature and practice. Classes offered will include nutritional care for specialized patient populations and/or diagnoses such as transplantation, artificial heart device, pediatric/adult critical care, enteral and parenteral nutrition support, trauma and neonatal intensive care. · At least 80% of graduates will agree/strongly agree that they are competent to utilize the Nutrition Care Process, including identifying nutritional diagnoses/problems, in the nutritional care of their patients. · At least 80% of interns will achieve a score of 75% or greater on the Clinical Nutrition Therapy Comprehensive Post Test. The post- test includes advanced level practice concepts such as adult/pediatric critical care enteral and parenteral nutrition support and transplantation. Goal #3: Provide a program in which interns will be able to effectively apply and communicate current research and scientific information in practice as an entry-level practitioner. Outcome Measures: · At least one research based abstract, poster or article developed by interns will be accepted for presentation or publication annually at the state or national level. (Group Project) · At least 80% of employer respondents will agree/strongly agree that graduates are able to incorporate current research and scientific information into their daily clinical practice, i.e., medical nutrition therapy is justified by evidenced based research. · At least 80% of graduates will agree/strongly agree that they feel competent to evaluate and utilize current research/literature in order to incorporate into their dietetics practice. Interns will state competency and comfort in utilizing generally accepted nutrition practice guidelines and emerging or controversial research to provide cutting edge nutrition care to specialized patient populations.
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Student Learning Outcomes
1. Scientific and Evidence Base of Practice: integration of scientific information and research into practice. 2. Professional Practice Expectations: beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviors for the professional dietitian level of practice. 3. Clinical and Customer Services: development and delivery of information, products and services to individuals, groups and populations. 4. Practice Management and Use of Resources: strategic application of principles of management and systems in the provision of services to individuals and organizations. 5. Medical Nutrition Therapy: assessment, provision and evaluation of medical nutrition therapy for specialized populations across the lifespan in the acute care and ambulatory settings.
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Plan of Instruction
I. Orientation (2 weeks) Fall - 1 week Winter - 1 week II. Clinical Nutrition Therapy (17 weeks) Phase I Mild Nutritional Risk/Acuity (3 weeks) Cardiology/Cardiothoracic Surgery (Myocardial infarction, Aortocoronary Bypass; Congestive Heart Failure; Cystic Fibrosis; Minor Surgery -- AVR/MVR/PTCA); Dysphagia/ Poor Feeding; Food Allergies; Gastroenteritis/Gastro-enterology (GI Bleeding, Colostomy, Diverticulitis); HIV/AIDS (stable); Mild Malnutrition; Obesity; Oncology; Pregnancy; Pulmonary (COPD, Respiratory Distress without intubation, Asthma), General Pediatric Care, Pediatric Obesity, Non-stressed Pediatric Oncology. Phase II: Moderate to High Nutritional Risk/Acuity (4 weeks) Complicated Cystic Fibrosis; Endocrine (Pre-existing, Gestational Diabetic Ketoacidosis; New Diabetes Diagnosis); Failure To Thrive; Hepatic Disease (Ascites, Cirrhosis, Encephalopathy); Ileostomy Moderate Malnutrition; Renal Disease (Pre-Dialysis, Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis); Pancreatitis; Pre/Post Transplant (Cardiac Device, Malnourished); Wound Healing/Decubitus Ulcers Phase III: High Nutritional Risk/Acuity Specialized Nutrition Support (4 weeks) Enteral/Parenteral Support; Gastroenterology (Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, GI Fistula); GI Surgery (Short Bowel Syndrome, Post-Gastrectomy); Respiratory Distress with intubation; Severe Malnutrition, Trauma, NICU Phase IV: Staff Responsibility /Clinical Nutrition Management (6 weeks) III. Food Service Systems Management (9 weeks) Production, trayline, catering, cafeteria, warewashing, purchasing/inventory, diet office, school foodservice, continuous improvement, Sanitation, quality control; human, financial, physical and material resource supervision, menu development/analysis, team leader training, Budget process, marketing functions, quality improvement, professionalism, regulatory agency activities, Special Day (cafeteria meal project), staff responsibility. II. Public Health/Community Nutrition (9.5 weeks) Experiences include, but are not limited to: -Community hospital -Outpatient dialysis -Geriatric/long term care facility -Ambulatory care clinics -Pima County Public Health Department -Eating Disorders
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Description of Learning Opportunities
CLINICAL NUTRITION THERAPY University Medical Center offers the dietetic intern a wide variety of cutting edge, patient-care experiences that enhance the development of core competency skills needed as an entry-level dietitian. Additionally, under the guidance of clinical preceptors who are recognized as experts in various specialties (i.e. organ transplantation, artificial heart device, cystic fibrosis, neonatal nutrition, critical care, nutrition support, diabetes care, pediatric nutrition and oncology diseases), the intern is afforded the option to excel in individual areas of clinical interest as well as in advanced clinical nutrition therapy. Because University Medical Center is a major teaching hospital, our Nutrition Services faculty is fully integrated with the medical staff, and interns are encouraged to use their knowledge assertively. Interns are provided the opportunity to develop clinical nutrition management knowledge/skills during the staff responsibility rotation. FOOD SERVICE SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT The majority of this experience is provided within the UMC Support Services department which is managed by ARAMARK Healthcare and is responsible for the nutrition services, patient tray service, full service cafeteria, Diet Office/Room Service, customer service associates and environmental services. Off site experiences allow the intern to compare and contrast different food service operations. The rotation is arranged so that the intern gradually gains the requisite competencies to plan, coordinate, supervise and execute a Special Day in the cafeteria. PUBLIC HEALTH/COMMUNITY NUTRITION The public health and community nutrition experiences are coordinated to provide varied opportunities in Tucson and the surrounding areas. Off site assignments offer exposure to community populations and services such as the Pima County Health Department, UMC outpatient services, outpatient dialysis centers, eating disorders, long term care, and community hospitals. This rotation also provides some insight to different occupational opportunities for the registered dietitian.
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Admission and Application Requirements
Completion of a Baccalaureate or Master's degree in Nutrition or Dietetics from an accredited college or university. Completion of the required academic Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) course work or verification of intent to complete. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale is preferred.
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Internship Fee and Estimated Expenses
APPLICATION FEE (non-refundable): $60.00* made payable to University Medical Center DIETETIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FEE (non-refunable): $5500.00* made payable to University Medical Center PRACTICE LIABILITY INSURANCE: Intern carries at own expense. HEALTH INSURANCE: Intern carries at own expense. TRANSPORTATION: A car is not mandatory, but is strongly suggested. Local bus service is available. AUTO INSURANCE: Intern carries auto insurance to provide self-coverage as passenger in vehicle driven by another party. REQUIRED BOOKS: $ 300.00* *Subject to change. All interns are required to complete and pass a health screen prior to starting the internship program.
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Applicant Responsibilities
Review the Applicant Responsibilties on the following web site: http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/CADE_13978_ENU_HTML.htm
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How to Apply
The University Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program participates in the on-line centralized internship application (DICAS)for the SRPING Match. The DICAS portal will not be available until after December 8, 2010 for the Spring 2011 Match. Link to DICAS: https://portal.dicas.org Email: DICASinfo@DICAS.org The on-line application must be completed no later than 11:59 PM Central Time on February 15, 2011. The fee to use DICAS is $40 for the first application submitted and $20 for each additional application. When completing the application form, applicants MUST include the name and contact information (specifically an e-mail address) for each reference. This will trigger an e-mail message requesting completion of a reference form. The form will be completed on-line. Students submitting more than one application will need to use the same references for all applications. Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended should be sent to: DICAS - Transcript Dept PO Box 9118 Watertown, MA 02472 Applicants who apply to internships using DICAS will be asked to complete a personal statement in 1,000 words or less. Questions to be addressed in the personal statement include: - Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession? - Why have you selected a Clinical Nutrition Therapy Emphasis Program? - What are some experiences that have helped to prepare you for your career? - What are your short-term and long-term goals? - What are your strengths and weaknesses or areas needing improvement? Applicants must also register with D&D Digital on-line at www.dnddigital.com for computer matching and select dietetic internship priority choices by 11:59 PM Central Time on February 15, 2011. There is a $50 computer matching fee. A non-refundable application fee of $60.00 must be mailed and postmarked by February 15th, 2011. Check or money order should be made payable to University Medical Center and mailed to: Susan Bristol University Medical Center Nutrition Services PO Box 248088 1501 N. Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85724
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Selection Process
The review of applications and ranking of applicants is focused on selecting the most qualified and compatible applicants suited to the internship's Nutrition Therapy focus. The selection committee will consider selection of more than one intern from the same school or state.
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Graduation Requirements
Graduates of the University Medical Center Dietetic Internship will complete all program requirements. 1. Completes the scheduled 37.5 weeks of supervised practice/class presentations. 2. Begins each rotation/phase fully prepared and satisfactorily completes the requirements for each rotation/phase: minimum rating of 3 (adequate performance) for all performance evaluations and assignments. 3. Completes all assignments by established deadlines. 4. Completes assigned research projects including an abstract, poster and/or an article, according to established criteria, for submission to ADA, ASPEN or other appropriate association/publication. 5. Shows attendance at a minimum of two Southern Arizona District Dietetic Association meetings, and at least one other professional meeting outside of the regular workday. 6. Completes Clinical Nutrition Therapy and Food Service Systems Management Staff responsibility experiences with performance ratings of 3 or above. 7. Exhibits the University Medical Center PRIDE Values: o Personal Responsibility o Respect for Self and Others o Innovation Through Teamwork o Dedication to Caring o Excellence in Customer Service 8. Demonstrates proficiency in the Competencies/Learning Outcomes for Dietetic Internship Programs set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education AND the program specific Medical Nutrition Therapy Competency/Learning Outcomes. Upon completion of the internship program requirements, graduates will receive a verification statement from the program director to be approved to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians. Graduates will be competent to practice as entry-level dietitians.
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Contact Information
Susan Bristol, MS,RD, CNSD Clinical Nutrition Manager Dietetic Internship Director University Medical Center Support/Nutrition Services Room 0430 P.O. Box 245088 1501 N. Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85724 Telephone: (520) 694-6622 Pager: (520) 694-6000 ask for pager 1383 sbristol@umcaz.edu
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Accreditation
The University Medical Center Dietetic Internship is currently granted accreditation through December 2016 by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606, 312/899-5400.
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