Develop knowledge and skills to meet accreditation standards as a Registered Dietician (RD).
Objective
Develop Knowledge And Skills Necessary To Provide Entry Level Services
Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills associated with the standards of the American Dietetics Association (ADA).
Indicator
National Registration Examination For Dietetics (RD Exam)
Graduates who take the National Registration Examination for Dietetics (RD Exam) will pass it on the first time it is attempted. This indicator is consistent with the requirements of the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), the accrediting body for the American Dietetics Association.
Criterion
80% Passing On First Administration
The report from the American Dietetic Association will indicate that 80% of first-time test takers on the National Registration Examination for Dietetics (RD Exam) who have graduated from the Combined Master's and Dietetic Internship Program pass the exam.
Finding
RD Exam Results
Of the six students who have taken the Registration Examination for Dietetics (RD Exam), all have passed on the first attempt, for a pass rate of 100%, well above the 80% goal.
The RD exam report for those that took the exam between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011, were received in August 2011. The report shows our students averages in two areas (Nutrition and Food Service) as well as the national average. Previous reports have found that the interns are continually below the national average in the area of Nutrition.
Action
Addressing Identified Weaknesses
At this point, this criterion has been met for 2010-2011. The pass rate has improved substantially over the rate for 2009-2010. The new DI Director and those involved with this program in teaching and administration will encourage students to take this exam in a timely manner. This action is important because the ADA notes that students who take the RD Exam in the first six months following graduation have a significantly higher first-time pass rate.
The DI Director is providing case studies and class discussions/lectures specific to the area of Nutrition to help increase knowledge and application of material.
Objective
Internship/Field Activities
Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills as they participate in internship/field activities that prepare them for entry-level positions as dieticians.
Indicator
RD Supervisor Checklist Of Portfolio Activities
Embedded assessments are found in courses such as FCS 579, 530, 583, 575, and SOC 543. For example, as each student complete a semester of FCS 579, the supervised practice portion of the program, the Registered Dietitian supervising that student completes a check sheet indicating which of the skills of the entry-level dietitian have been met with that semester's work. A portfolio of activities in the courses FCS 583 and 575 and SOC 543 will be used to measure student learning as they progress through the Combined Master's and Dietetic Internship Program. An example of a portfolio is available in the Dietetic Internship Director's office but portfolios for this program generally are much too large to attach to this document.
Criterion
90% Of Students Scoring At Least 80% Of Entry Level Dietitian Competencies
90% of students' portfolio evaluation (the evaluations of the Registered Dietitians with whom the students were working is part of this) will show successful completion of 80% or more of the competencies for an entry-level dietitian.
Finding
Portfolio Assessment
100% of students in this cohort demonstrated successful completion of at least 80% of the competencies for an entry-level dietitian based on portfolios and portfolio assessment. Even though the interns met the targeted score, they were weaker in the areas of community and food service nutrition.
Action
Entry-Level Preparation Based On Portfolio Assessment
When students' portfolios are not up to the standard required of the program, the DI Director mentors students regarding portfolio presentation and information, and portfolios are not accepted until they meet her standard. Her standard is based on requirements for an entry-level dietitian and is formed by her regular attendance at and participation in ADA-sponsored workshops regarding expectations of the profession. The new DI Director is continuing this course of action.
The DI Director will address program standards with incoming interns at orientation and mentor interns in portfolio development throughout the program. When competencies are not met, the DI Director will mentor and guide the intern to meet the standards either through course assignments or additional rotation experiences.
Objective
Demonstrated Knowledge And Skills For Entry-level
Students will demonstrate entry-level knowledge and skills to provide dietician services.
Indicator
Mock RD Exam
The Mock RD Exam, developed by the DI Director, has proven, over the past three years it has been used, to be an excellent diagnostic tool as well as a predictor of whether or not the student will pass the National Registration Examination for Dietetics (RD Exam) on the first attempt.
Criterion
90% Of Students Score At Least 80% On Mock RD Exam
90% of students who exit the program will score a passing grade on the Mock RD Exam of 80% or higher (a passing grade on the Mock Rd Exam is required before a Letter of Verification will be issued; the Letter of Verification must be issued before a student can sit for the National Registration Examination for Dietetics).
Finding
Mock RD Exam Results
Of the 10 students in the cohort, only 8 graduated in December of 2010. The other two graduated in May of 2011. All of these graduates for 2010-2011 (10) have passed the Mock RD Exam.
The current DI Director does not have the exam or exam scores to be able to determine strengths and weaknesses at this time. In the future, the DI Director will be able to see which areas on the exam the interns are scoring well on or not well on, indicating either a strong or weak area.
Action
Mock RD Exam Results
The Mock RD Exam will continue to be used as a method of determining whether students are ready and prepared to take the Registration Examination for Dietetics (RD Exam). Students who do not pass the Mock RD Exam will not be issued the Letter of Verification that is required in order to take the RD Exam.
If an area identified on the Mock RD exam is less than satisfactory (80%), then the DI Director will provide study/review material specific to that area to increase intern knowledge. The DI Director will also review the program to identify and modify the program as needed to strengthen the student skills identified by low results on the Mock RD Exam.
Goal
Supervised Practice
Students in the Combined MS and Dietetic Internship Program will progress through supervised practice in clinical, community and foodservice rotations and a curriculum that will augment knowledge and increase skills to promote excellence in research and dietetic practice.
Objective
Scheduled Rotations And Research Activities
Students will demonstrate practical and critical thinking skills from each scheduled rotation and research activity. Rotations are in various clinical, community, food service, and research settings and total 1,200 hours over three long semesters. Content and activities in the rotations are designed to meet the requirements of the accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education.
Indicator
End-of-Rotation Exams
End of rotation exams developed by faculty will be used to measure students' progress toward knowledge and skills demonstrations.
Criterion
90% Of Students Score 80% At End Of Rotations
Over 90% of the students will indicate on an exit survey completed at the end of the program that, through program goals, they have acquired practical and critical thinking skills and provide a rating of satisfactory or higher on the survey
Finding
Progression/Successful Completion
100% of the ten students graduating in December of 2010 and May of 2011 completed their rotations. Surveys have been sent to the eight students who graduated in December but only three have been received. 100% of the interns indicated that all the rotations were satisfactory for achieving their goals and acquiring appropriate skills. The highest satisfaction was with the clinical rotation. The students had lower satisfaction with their community and food service rotations.
Action
Progression/Successful Completion
This cohort lost one member initially, but she was replaced with another. The member who replaced the one who left early in the program was one of the two who graduated in May 2011 rather than in December of 2010. The other member who graduated in May had been planning to complete a master's thesis as part of her work, but the abrupt departure of the DI Director in December of 2010 interrupted that plan. All 10 members of the cohort did complete the program by May 2011. The new DI Director will continue to contact program graduates of December 2010 and May 2011 requesting that they respond to the survey.
The DI Director will work with the preceptor/facility at the community and food service sites to improve the experience the intern receives. This includes site visits, e-mail, and phone communications. May also include additional assignments and/or rearranging the work load the intern undertakes to create a successful learning environment. If the site is unable to meet the standards of the program, then the site will no longer be used by the program.
The DI Director will strengthen the students' knowledge in the area of nutrition (including clinical, food service, and community) through case studies and assignments at rotation sites and in the classroom. The DI Director is also closely assessing the interns' portfolios throughout the program to ensure that all competencies are met. When competencies are lacking or missing, the DI Director will mentor and guide the intern to completing the competencies either through course assignments or additional rotation experience.