Finding sites and preceptors
Finding sites and preceptors
Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT): Acceptable sites for MNT rotation included acute care hospitals, long term care facilities, Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) facilities, or rehab care centers. The MNT rotation is 10 weeks in length and must include experiences in critical care and outpatient counseling, either in the primary site or an alternate site depending on the facility. Interns are required to perform at least one week of staff relief at the end of the MNT rotation to demonstrate competence at an entry-level. The facility must have a minimum of one full time Registered Dietitian to serve as the primary preceptor.
Food service management rotation is 6 weeks in length. Acceptable sites include health care facilities, such as hospitals, long-term care, assisted living or rehab centers, or school food service. The rotation may be completed in one or more facilities. Preceptors are not required to be Registered Dietitians but must demonstrate competence in the areas of food service and management through their work experience, academic training or both. Interns are required to complete at least one week of staff relief at the end of the food service management rotation to demonstrate competence at an entry level.
Community nutrition rotations (5 weeks) may include WIC or Head Start experiences, outpatient counseling (if not covered in the MNT rotation), wellness and LTC (if not covered in the MNT rotation) in addition to public health/community programs. The length of stay in the various community rotations will be determined by the availability and accessibility of the required experiences and must be approved by the GCDI program director. Interns are required to complete at least one week of staff relief at the end of the community rotation to demonstrate competence at an entry level.
Elective rotation is 3 weeks in length and may be in an area of entrepreneurship or other areas of interest to the intern. Competencies for the elective rotation will be the business plan and marketing plan for a business or service developed as a collaboration between the program director/coordinators, preceptor and intern. Preceptors don’t necessarily have to be Registered Dietitians but do have to be qualified for the job they hold. For their elective rotation some interns choose sports nutrition or private practice dietician or they do an additional 3 weeks at one of their previous rotations. Questions about the acceptability of elective sites should be sent to the internship director
All rotations will require a signed affiliation agreement with the GCDI.