Undergraduate | Student Dietetic Association FDNS 5800 Practicum

 

3 Semester Hours Credit / Minimum Of 120 Hours

Summer Semester: 8 Weeks, 15 Hours Per Week (You can get started early if it's OK with your supervisor and do fewer hours per week - but you still need the same total hours)

Fall/Spring Semester: 15 Weeks, 8 Hours Per Week

FDNS 5800 Dietetics Practicum, Step-by-Step

Discuss the site of the practicum with Dr. Fischer (Fall and Spring) or Dr. Grossman (Summer) and how to contact the supervisor. It is possible for you to arrange the site of the practicum (outside of Athens) provided that you obtain a letter of consent from the person who will supervise your practicum (a Registered Dietitian.)

1. Call the supervisor and arrange a work schedule. Working time should be at least 8 hours per week (in summer - 15 hours per week,) 120 hours total.

2. Dr. Fischer (Fall and Spring) or Dr. Grossman (Summer) will meet with the practicum students periodically during the semester to discuss the experiences of the practicum. The time will be arranged at the beginning of the semester.

3. The students are to keep a monthly log of hours and types of activities throughout the practicum.

4. Be sure to call your supervisor if you are not able to be there. You must make up the hours that you miss. Discuss how to do this with the supervisor.

Course Objectives:

The student will:

1) apply foods and nutrition knowledge in a typical community dietetic practice setting;

2) gain knowledge of the needs of clients in a nutrition and dietetics practice site in the community;

3) gain a knowledge of the organization and current activities in a typical dietetics practice setting in the community and their personal role within that setting;

4) gain a knowledge of the role of foods, nutrition and dietetics professional within the health care team and community;

5) demonstrate the ability to use oral and written communications as appropriate to their setting; and

6) be able to document activities and learning activities completed as a part of the practicum experience.

Possible Practicum Sites:

In Athens

St. Mary's Hospital
1 student
Work with clinical dietitian to counsel patients in hospital.

Athens Regional Medical Center
4 students
Work with clinical dietitians (1 student)

Work with diabetes educator (1 student)

Work with outpatient dietitians (2 students)

Cooperative Extension Program
1-2 students
Work with state and local level cooperative extension agents to plan and deliver nutrition programs, write articles and pamphlets for public

Public Health Nutrition
1 student
Work with dietitians and health educators to plan and deliver nutrition programs and observe client counseling in WIC and other clinics

Nutrition Research in Applied Settings (Interview required)

Nutrition and Aging

1 student

Work with Dr. Mary Ann Johnson

Nutrition education of older adults in Elderly Nutrition Programs

Work with Dr. Rick Lewis (Interview required)

1 student

Review educational materials on sports nutrition, observe nutrition counseling sessions, observe/participate in team presentations, contribute to the Sports Nutrition Newsletter, help develop educational materials, help with bone scans, and supermarket shopping tours.

Other Options For Practicum

Work with dietitian you know elsewhere. You must get permission from the registered dietitian to do a practicum experience. The facility must also agree to allow the practicum. Please provide the name, address and phone number of the dietitian you plan to work with and give this to me, fill out application and turn in to me. I will communicate with the registered dietitian concerning the practicum requirements.

Peer Nutrition Educator Program with Alice Bender

You must apply for this program. You must attend a class in the Summer and conduct programs during Fall and Spring. Call Ms. Bender at 542-8690 for more information.

Professional Guidelines for a Practicum

Approach your practicum experience as a professional in the health care field. Although you are not being paid for your practicum, it still should be approached as if it is a paid position in the field. Practicum students are there primarily in the role of learner, but part of your function is to be of assistance to the agency wherever possible. The preceptors are adding additional work to their daily schedule to supervise you. Further, successful performance of practicum duties may well result in useful professional contacts, job prospects, favorable letters of recommendation, etc.

1. Call the agency two weeks prior to the start of your practicum, in order to remind them that you are coming and to confirm start date and time, dress code, parking arrangements, and so on. Complete any orientation needed.

2. Be on time every day and report to the person or unit to whom you were directed. If that individual is not present or available, make your presence known to someone else in the office. Similarly, do not plan to leave early unless you have discussed this with your preceptor.

3. While at the health agency, students are required to wear appropriate business dress unless otherwise instructed by supervisor. Some agencies may require a lab coat. The casual dress permissible on college campuses is not acceptable in agencies. Hair must be neat, business style and under control. Jewelry must be business style. Make up should be in accordance with the rules of good grooming for business hours. Casual shoes, sneakers, shorts, jeans and skimpy tops
are not appropriate.

4. Once you have set a schedule, do not deviate from this. If you are sick or must be late, be sure to call and notify the appropriate person in the agency within 30 minutes of the start of your scheduled time.

5. Do not use the office telephone, computer, fax machine or other office supplies or facilities for personal (including academic) purposes unless you have been granted permission to do so. Keep any necessary personal calls you do make infrequent, short, and to the point, so as not to hamper the work of the agency. Limit personal beepers to emergencies only.

6. Remember that, as part of your work, you may or may not have access to information is confidential. Be sure to consult with your preceptor about the types of information to which you may have legitimate access, and the types of information that are off-limits to you, as well as about any procedures for protecting confidentiality.

7. A certain amount of routine and tedious work come with any position. It is appropriate for you to carry out such tasks as office work, just as others in the professional world do. It is only when you are asked to do these things far more than others in the agency, compromising your opportunities for exposure to the agency’s full range of other functions, that you should be concerned.

8. Try to approach your practicum experience proactively. Ask questions of agency personnel. Ask what you can do to be useful, if you have time on your hands. Also, request certain experiences, if you think they are within your capabilities and would enhance your learning experience in the agency.

9. Learn and follow all agency policies and procedures. When in doubt, ASK!

10. While you are in the agency, remember that you are not a regular employee. Please practice courtesy and respect to all employees. If you are having a concern or a problem during your rotation, please contact me immediately.

11. More Tips

a. Be on time and prepared.

b. Do not be afraid to ask; it’s the only way to learn.

c. Do not be shy about asking to work. Familiarize yourself with the operations. If not, you will be spending a lot of time at a desk doing paperwork.

d. Introduce yourself to everyone you meet. You never know when you will meet these people again. They may be staring at you in the future from across an interview table, offering you a job.

e. Know your limitations. There are certain things that you cannot do. Don’t worry; some day it will be your turn.

f. Follow instructions and listen when someone talks to you.

g. Do not be afraid to acknowledge your limitations. If you feel uncomfortable doing something discuss this with your supervisor.

h. Be as precise and accurate as you can when doing paperwork.

i. Get to know other health care professionals. You can make lifelong friends who might help you with your career (or even personal life) in the future.

j. Remember to have fun and smile!