:: The Dietetic Internship Program at West Virginia University Hospitals ::

Internship and Hospital Philosophy/Mission/Goals and Outcomes

West Virginia University Hospitals (WVUH) exists to provide a quality health care system, including tertiary services, to the citizens of West Virginia and surrounding region. Equally important, WVUH is committed by law and philosophy to be the primary clinical site for the education and research programs of the West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.

The Dietetic Internship Program at WVUH, is designed to prepare entry-level generalist dietitians for employment in current and future roles with an emphasis on medical nutrition therapy. The student must have exposure to the current knowledge base and be provided with opportunities to practice skills needed to function as a professional in a changing society. The program should enable the student to recognize the continuous changes in the profession of dietetics and in the realm of healthcare. The provision of an educational environment that is stimulating to the student and effective in providing professional growth is the intent of this internship.

The philosophy and mission statement of the Dietetic Internship Program is in accordance with that of West Virginia University Hospitals. The program goals and outcome measures are as follows:

1. To train competent entry-level generalist dietitians with an emphasis in medical nutrition therapy.

95% of appointed students will complete the requirements of the internship program and graduate within 24 months.

Interns will achieve a rating of “S” on rotation evaluations indicating satisfactory knowledge and skills for all competencies/student learning outcomes prior to graduation.

Graduates will achieve a first-time passing rate of 85% over a five year period and a 100% passing rate overall.

12 months after completing the DI, employers who respond will give intern graduates a rating of “3” or higher on performance compared to other entry-level graduates they have hired indicating satisfactory.

2. To maintain a high quality program with supportive staff who effectively train students in relevant skills and behaviors.

Interns will show improved scores on the mock exam pre-program and post-program

Interns will rate their overall internal and external rotations with a score of “3” or higher reflecting it was beneficial.

Interns will rate their overall internal and external preceptors with a score of “3” or higher on all criteria indicating satisfactory.

Interns will rate class days with a score of “3” or higher indicating satisfactory.

12 months after completing the DI, 90% of employers who respond would be willing to hire more graduates from our program.

3. The program will foster a commitment to life-long learning and service to the profession.

12 months after graduation, 100% of graduates who are registered will have submitted a learning plan to CDR.

12 months after completing the DI, 90% of graduates who respond will indicate they took their RD exam within one-year of completing the DI.

12 months after completing the DI, 75% of graduates that respond will indicate they are members of the American Dietetic Association.

12 months after completing the DI, 90% of graduates who respond will be working in a dietetics-related position.

Classes

Dietetic Interns attend their rotations 4 days a week and attend class 1 day a week from September-April. From May-June, five days a week are spent in assigned rotations. Class days include journal club presentations, case study presentations, and lectures by clinical dietitians and other health care professionals. In March, class days are used to provide nutrition presentations to various school and community groups as part of National Nutrition Month.

Program Highlights

Interns have complete access to the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Library, the Computer-Based Learning Center, and the WVU Main Library. During WVUH Dietetic Interns Display their projects. orientation, interns are instructed how to conduct on-line searches, how to set up free e-mail accounts, and how to access various services provided by these facilities. Interns have the opportunity to take computer classes in a variety of areas including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML and Dreamweaver.

Interns spend 21 weeks in clinical rotations with experienced dietitians in a variety of specialty areas. They also have 6 weeks of administrative and food service management rotations and 8 weeks of community affiliations, including public health, community education, and outpatient clinics. Interns also have 1 week dedicated to attending the state dietetic association annual meeting.

Interns are given 2 weeks of choice which they can spend in any area of interest, in any location, as long as a preceptor can be found. These weeks must be pre-approved one month in advance of the assigned dates.

There is 1 week of orientation at the beginning of the internship; including orientation to the Health Sciences Center and an Introduction to Clinical Nutrition. Interns are given 10 days of vacation. Five days are scheduled in December during the holiday season, while the other 5 days are scheduled in the spring, usually the week before or after Easter.