Food and Nutrition Services -   Dietetic Internship

    Program Completion Requirements


Dietetic Intern Program Completion Requirements:

To earn the Dietetic Internship Verification Statement, the dietetic intern must:

·    Complete supervised practice rotations with an overall rotation evaluation score of “3 Satisfactory” or above.

·    Complete staff relief assignments with an overall staff relief experience score of “3 Satisfactory” or above

·    Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in graduate courses

·    Achieve a score of 80% or better on all exams administered outside of the graduate college

·    Achieve a score of 90% or better on clinical competency exams.

·    Achieve a score of 80% or better on all assigned projects.

In the event that a student in the dietetic internship:

·    exhibits habitual disregard of policies and procedures of the program, department, or institution,

·    is absent or late without cause and/or proper notification,

·    acts dishonestly,

·    uses/has possession of alcohol or illegal drugs immediately before or while on duty and/or the use of which affects classroom or supervised practice,

·    takes on responsibilities without authority,

·    violates confidentiality of a patient/client,

The incidence(s) will be investigated and the dietetic intern may be dismissed from the program, or placed on probation and removed from a rotation and/or will be assigned additional work and/or counseling until an additional level of professionalism is achieved.

Dietetic interns whose performance does not meet the above criteria for progressing in the program, will have the opportunity to follow program retention and remediation procedures.

Program Retention and Remediation Procedures:

If upon review of the above criteria, it is determined that a dietetic intern is failing to meet performance criteria, the Dietetic Internship Director confers with the dietetic intern regarding performance and/or conduct and implements a plan for improvement that includes the following:

  • Written Guidelines for improved performance within designated time frames (cannot exceed 8 weeks past the end of the internship).

  • Copies of the guidelines are given to the dietetic intern, preceptor to whom the intern is assigned, selected associate directors, and the department director.

  • The dietetic intern's performance is evaluated by the Dietetic Internship Director in consultation with the preceptors, selected associate directors, and department director, and the internship director makes the final decision on the disposition of the dietetic intern regarding successful completion of internship requirements or termination from the program.

Verification Statement Procedures

After the Dietetic Internship Director verifies that each dietetic intern has completed all requirements for program completion, Verification Statements are awarded.  The Dietetic Internship Director follows the Commission on Dietetic Registration, Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) and submits completed data to CDR on the internship completion date.

Termination

The dietetic intern is asked to leave the program because it is determined that competencies are not reached even after 8 weeks of remedial rotations.  The dietetic intern is counseled on support services available on campus.

 

Dietetic Intern Evaluation Process:

The following policies were developed to ensure that each dietetic intern receives frequent feedback throughout the course of the internship, and understands the requirements necessary for program completion and award of Dietetic Internship Verification Statement. 

The evaluation of the dietetic intern is measured using a variety of formative and summative strategies. Formative strategies assess the student's progress, and summative strategies evaluate knowledge and performance at the end of rotations and courses and at the end of the Dietetic Internship.

  1. Frequent verbal feedback from the preceptors, program coordinator, and internship director will be provided to the dietetic intern throughout all rotations and projects.  The interns will receive formative oral feedback throughout the program thus the written summative evaluation at the end of the rotation or project should not contain any feedback that was not shared throughout the rotation.
  2. The dietetic intern must complete all of the assigned learning activities in clinical and management rotations.  Learning activities are outlined in the curriculum for each rotation.  Upon completion of each rotation, the dietetic intern will submit supportive documentation to the preceptor as confirmation that all learning activities have been completed.  The preceptor will review all learning activities to confirm that all work has been completed and evaluate the interns on each learning activity and overall performance in the rotation on the scale below.

1=UNSATISFACTORY.  Does not meet requirements of the rotation.  Needs basic concepts repeated, consistently demonstrated a poor level of retention and comprehension.  Overall performance leaves considerable room for improvement.  Requires an inordinate amount of supervision and follow-up.

2=NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.  Work is often below quality and quantity standards.  Improvement is needed but overall requirements are usually met.  Requires additional counseling, training, experience, and/or initiative to meet requirements in selected areas of rotation experience.  Requires more than normal supervisory direction and follow-up.  Needs assistance on many projects; required guidance to achieve pre-determined objectives.

3=SATISFACTORY.  Meets the standard of expected performance.  Quality and quantity of work consistent with requirements on most assignments.  Competent in knowledge necessary to perform required tasks; able to utilize resources to meet requirements of the rotation.  Errors are infrequent.  Almost always completes assigned work on schedule.  Rarely requires assistance on routine aspects of experience; however, requires help with non-routine assignments.  Requires normal amount of supervision and follow-up. Performs all activities with some assistance; generally achieves pre-determined objectives.

4=MORE THAN SATISFACTORY.  Exceeds standard of entry level performance, even on some of the most complex assignments.  Exceptional quality of tasks completed.  Extremely accurate; rarely makes errors.  Demonstrates initiative in development and implementation of assignments; gathers information above expectations and is able to utilize in a conceptual manner.  Requires minimal direction or supervision.  Performs all activities correctly; works with minimum assistance once guidelines are established; meets pre-determined objectives.

The completed rotation evaluation forms are turned into the Dietetic Internship Director who monitors that the interns have met the required criteria.  If some or all components of a rotation do not earn a “3” in first semester or second semester, the module may bear repeating or remedial work.

 Project Evaluation Procedures:

The dietetic intern participates in several group and individual projects throughout the internship.  These projects are graded against pre-established standards and methods by the Dietetic Internship Director in order to establish grading consistency and in some instances also evaluated by preceptors, peers, and a self-evaluation by the intern. 

The dietetic intern must complete 100% of all assigned projects.  All projects must be completed with a grade of 80% or better.  Any performance that is unsatisfactory (below 80%) must be performed again for re-evaluation.

 

 Exams Evaluation Procedures:

 The dietetic interns must pass all exams (outside of the graduate classes) covering didactic knowledge.  Interns must earn 90% or better on the Clinical Competency exams and pass the ServSafe Certification exam.  Deficiencies will be made up with remedial work, and the exam will be re-administered.

 

Mid-Year and End-of Year Evaluations:

A structured session with the Dietetic Internship Director and the dietetic intern is held at the midpoint and end of the Dietetic Internship.  Dietetic interns complete a self-evaluation of clinical and management skills and evaluation of rotations and classes.

The evaluation consists of a discussion of the intern’s rotation and course performance, personal difficulties, professional goals, and/or progress toward personal goals for the Dietetic Internship.