Iowa State University
College of Human Sciences and College of Agriculture College of Human Sciences College of Agriculture



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Additional Nationwide Option Information

Information Specific to the Preceptor

 

Those applying for the Nationwide Option of the program must complete the following in addition to the previously noted application materials:

    • Completed rotation schedule with preceptors and facilities listed
    • Preceptor application forms (includes form, resume and copy of CDR card)
    • Facility application forms
    • Primary and secondary contact information

This information is required to be submitted with your application for the following reasons:

    • The time frame between the "match/acceptance date" and the program start date is too short for you to adequately identify and select preceptors.
    • The application reviewers must be assured that you have professionals in your area who are willing to participate with you and this program.

In order for the intern enrolled in the Nationwide option, s/he must identify appropriate contact persons, preceptors, and facilities that will provide opportunities to complete the supervised practice component of the internship. The program has identified learning outcomes, assignments, and readings that the intern completes to ensure that all competencies and requirements are met.

The "primary and secondary contact persons" are Registered Dietitians who may assist in identifying and contacting professionals and facilities in your area to complete the required supervised practice components of the internship. The contact persons will also serve as a connection and provide communication as needed between the intern, the preceptors, and the ISU faculty. The contact persons may also serve as preceptors for the intern but this is not required. Both contact persons must fill out and submit the required documentation. The requirements are discussed below.

A "preceptor" is an expert or specialist, such as a Registered Dietitian, who provides practical experience and training to a dietetic intern. As you select your preceptors, it is suggested that you have at least 2 RD preceptors in the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) rotation and at least one RD preceptor in the Community Nutrition (CO) rotation. While it is preferable to have at least one RD preceptor in the Management (FSM) rotation this may not be feasible. If there is not a RD in the FSM rotation, you should select an appropriate professional in the area such as the department director or the program coordinator. As noted in the definition above, the preceptor is an expert or specialist. You may have as few as 4 different preceptors (1 for MNT, 1 for CO, 1 for FSM, 1 for school food service) or as many as 20 or more different preceptors. Each preceptor must fill out and submit the required documentation in order for you to be considered a candidate for the internship. The requirements are discussed below.

The precepting facility is an organization or business that provides the opportunity for the intern to complete the required supervised practice. This facility may be a hospital, a public health agency, a university dining center, or a long-term care facility. Each facility must have the required documentation completed in order for you to be considered a candidate for the internship. The requirements are discussed below. The preceptor or contact you have identified for the facility is the person from whom you request the completion of the facility form.

Affiliation agreements will be completed between Iowa State University legal counsel and the precepting facility after the intern has been matched to the program. Occasionally some facilities prefer to use their own version of an agreement, in that case the legal counsel of ISU and the facility will work together to reach agreement. The affiliation agreement is the completed facility form. The ISU affiliation agreement is located here: Iowa State University Affiliation Agreement

Selecting Preceptors and practice sites:

Contact professionals in your area who may have opportunities for you to complete the required supervised practice experience. See "things to keep in mind" as you identify preceptors and practices sites. See "Examples of Supervised Practice Sites " for contact ideas. If the professional you ask declines this opportunity to participate in dietetics education, remember to ask for additional contact suggestions. Be sure to share information about the rotation schedule, assignments, and evaluations, see program requirements page. Other program information for prospective preceptors includes:

FAQs about selecting preceptors:

  • How should I go about finding preceptors?
    • Start with contacts that you may currently have.
    • Have you worked or volunteered in a facility that has one or more RD's? Typically, the people for whom you have worked have a favorable impression of your ability and commitment to succeeding in an combined DI-MS Program.
    • Have you attended any meetings with RDs? Network with these individuals in your quest to find qualified RD preceptors.
    • Have there been RD guest speakers in any of your classes?
    • Do you know dietitians who enjoy working with students? Those dietitians who have successfully precepted other interns are often willing to work with additional interns.
    • Once you have decided which dietitians to contact, call their offices and make an appointment to talk with them. Since there are forms to be completed and application materials to discuss, a face-to-face meeting is best.
    • Even if these contacts do not agree to be your preceptors, they may know someone else whom you might approach.
  • How should I go about finding supervised practice facilities?
    • The ideal hospital facility would have a wide variety of acute, chronic, and outpatient services as well as the full-range of foodservice operations. The usual inpatient census should be at least 100 and there should be at least 2 full-time RDs.
    • The ideal community agencies (Office for the Aging, Long-term Care, and Public Health) would be involved in broad planning and management of food and nutrition services as well as direct client care.
    • Facilities should be large enough to have several full-time RDs. Talk with the RDs who have agreed to serve as your preceptors - they should be able to guide you in approaching hospital administrators and agency directors.
  • Does my clinical rotation need to be completed in a major medical center?
    • No. You are more likely to fin small community hospitals or long term care facilities with sub-acute units agreeable to sponsor you. An internship may already be in place in a larger hospital. We have not found any difference in pass rate on the RD exam or job placement as a result of completing clinical in a smaller facility.
  • How many RDs should work at the hospital where I complete my clinical rotations?
    • At leaset 2 full-time RDs. This provides you the opportunity to learn different styles of professional skills.

Scheduling internship experiences:

The rotation schedules for the internship classes are located below. Please note that your plans must follow the schedule as closely as possible because interns complete group projects together and must be completing the same rotations at the same time. The program has identified learning outcomes, assignments, and readings that the intern completes to ensure that all competencies and requirements are met.

Information Specific to the Preceptor

Preceptor's Application Process & Forms

As an internship preceptor, your involvement during the application process is critical to the intern's success in being selected for the internship. Your assistance is needed in suggesting local facilities and other preceptors that will provide the intern with the required experiences in medical nutrition therapy, food service and community nutrition. Please review "Dear Prospective Preceptor Letter" and "Preceptor Handbook." The experiences are planned according to a "Rotation Schedule" (all found above). An applicant's preceptor application and facility information forms must show where the intern will accomplish all required experiences and who will be precepting those experiences.

    • Due Date for November 2009 match - September 25, 2009
    • Due Date for April 2010 match - February 17, 2010

Forms must be completed by all facilities and by each preceptor providing experiences for the intern and included in the applicant's program application packet.

As part of the selection process, potential preceptors may be contacted by the Internship Director to further clarify information contained in the application.

NOTE: All internship appointments are tentative until the Iowa State University Affiliation Agreements are completed and signed by the facility and the College after the intern applicant is selected to the internship.

Additional Preceptor Forms

Program Information for Preceptors

Evaluation Forms

The evaluation forms used throughout the internship to assess the intern's progress and skill development.

Food Science and Human Nutrition