Develop knowledge and skills to meet accreditation standards as a Registered Dietitian (RD).
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 dietitians.
Indicator
RD Preceptor Final Evaluation Of Student Activities
Students complete rotations in three areas: medical nutrition therapy, community, and foodservice management. At the end of each rotation, the RD preceptor assesses the student's competence and readiness as an entry level dietitian.
Criterion
90% Of Students Scoring At Least A "B" On Final Evaluation Form
90% of students' final evaluation (completed by RD preceptor) will show the student has met the competencies necessary for an entry-level dietitian.
Finding
Final Evaluation Results
All 10 students (100%) made a "B" or higher on their final evaluation form for medical nutrition therapy, community, and foodservice management rotations.
Action
Addressing Final Evaluation Weaknesses
Three students received a "B" in community rotation compared to two students in medical nutrition therapy and 1 student in foodservice management. The new Public Health Nutrition course and other new graduate nutrition courses will help prepare students to met and exceed competencies at their rotations.
When competencies are not met as indicated by a "C" on the final evaluation form, the DI Director will mentor and guide the student to meet the standards either through course assignments or additional rotation experiences. These assignments can be tailored based on the needs of the individual by evaluation feedback from preceptors.
The verification statement allowing students to sit for the RD exam are not provided until all competencies are met. The competencies are based on requirements for an entry-level dietitian and is formed by regular attendance at and participation in AND-sponsored workshops and webinars regarding expectations of the profession.
Objective
Demonstrated Knowledge And Skills For Entry-level Dietitian
Students will demonstrate entry-level knowledge and skills to provide dietitian services.
Indicator
Mock RD Exam
The Mock RD Exam, developed by faculty, has proven, over the past four 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 85% On Mock RD Exam
90% of students who exit the program will score 85% or higher on the Mock RD Exam. A passing grade on the Mock RD Exam of 80% or greater 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, 8 students scored 85% or higher on the Mock RD Exam. All 10 students passed the Mock RD Exam with at least an 80% and earned their Verification Statement.
Action
Mock RD Exam Identified Weaknesses
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). Making above the minimum of 80% may indicate students are better prepared to pass the RD exam on the first attempt.
To better simulate the actual RD exam, the students will be required to take the Mock RD Exam on the computer instead of the current paper version. There are several computer versions already available for use from the AND and other RD review sites that utilize the same format as the RD exam. The next graduating class will be required to take the Mock RD Exam through one of the approved review sites.
Objective
Develop Knowledge & Skills Necessary To Provide Entry Level Services
Graduates will demonstrate the knowledge and skills associated with the standards of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
Indicator
National Registration Examination For Dietitians (RD Exam)
Graduates who take the National Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD Exam) will pass on the first attempt. This indicator is consistent with the requirements of the Commission on Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting body for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Criterion
80% Passing On First Administration
The report from Pearson VUE will indicate that after graduating from the program, 80% of first-time test takers on the National Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD Exam) passed the exam.
Finding
RD Exam Results
The official results of the cohort that graduated in December 2014 is not available at this time. All 10 graduates have self-reported taking the RD exam within the last eight months. Two of the ten self-reported not passing on the first attempt. Based on the self-report, the pass rate is 80% for this most recent group of graduates, meeting the 80% goal.
Action
Addressing Identified Weaknesses
At this point, this criterion appears to have been met for 2014-2015. For the past four years, the pass rate has consistently been at or above 80%. Students must satisfactorily complete all competencies and make an 80% or better on a mock RD exam prior to graduation. To help students prepare for the RD exam, students are required to complete an RD review course prior to graduation. All students are encouraged to take the RD exam in a timely manner (within 3 months) after graduation.
The DI Director, graduate faculty, and preceptors are continuing to provide case studies, journal articles, and discussions/lectures specific to the area of Medical Nutrition Therapy, Food Service Management, and Community Nutrition to help increase knowledge and application of material. A graduate course in Public Health Nutrition has been added to the MS in Dietetics curriculum starting Fall 2015 and three other nutrition-specific graduate courses will be added as well in the 2015-2016 year.
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 Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Indicator
Program Exit Survey
At the completion of the program, an exit survey will be given within two weeks of graduation. The exit survey will be used to measure students' feelings of success with the program by evaluating program goals and activities used to meet the competencies.
Criterion
90% Of Students Met Goals
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 10 students graduating in December of 2014 successfully completed their rotations and the exit survey. Eight of the 10 students (80%) indicated that all the rotations were satisfactory for achieving their goals and acquiring appropriate skills. The highest satisfaction was with the foodservice management rotation and the lowest satisfaction was with their community rotations.
Action
Progression/Successful Completion
All 10 students of the cohort completed the program by December 2014. The activities and projects completed during rotations have been revised to improve the experience the student receives.
For this cohort, 80% of students indicated they met their goals during the program. Incoming students create goals they want to achieve throughout the program at DI orientation in August. The DI Director will continue to review the goals with each student and provide feedback on whether or not the goals are realistic and in the scope of the program.