Facility and Preceptor Selection

You must identify preceptors to work with you in a clinical and community settings when you apply to the program. Potential preceptors must complete the preceptor and facility application forms. Please direct prospective preceptors to the preceptor web page for more information and resources.

•  Sample Schedule

Clinical Site 

Considerations in choosing a clinical site:
Potential sites include:
• Small community hospitals
• Large medical centers

• Long-term care facilities with sub-acute units


Look for sites that can provide the following experiences/skill development:

• Nutrition screening
 and assessment
• Charting in the medical record

• Development of nutrition care plans

• Interaction with members of the health care team

• Interaction with patients



Consider sites that can provide experience in areas such as:

• Dialysis

• Cardiac rehabilitation

• Diabetes self management

• Weight loss

• Individual medical nutrition therapy



Clinical rotation hours: 320
Your primary preceptor must be a registered dietitian. The site selection and preceptor application forms for your primary clinical rotation must be submitted with your application. Additional forms may be submitted after acceptance into the program.   In addition to an acute/sub-acute care rotation, you must complete a long term care rotation

Long-term care rotation hours: 96

Community Site

Considerations in choosing a community nutrition site:
Potential sites include:
• Public Health Departments

• Area Agencies on Aging

• Cooperative extension

• American Heart Association

• American Cancer Society

• Alzheimer’s Association

• Migrant Head Start



Look for sites that can provide the following experiences/skill development:


• Development of communication skills
         
•  Written articles
         
•  Program lecture or display development
         
•  Grant writing
         
•  Educational materials


• Development of management skills
        
•  Budget development
         
•  Strategic planning
         
•  Employee scheduling



Consider sites that can provide experience in 

• Coalition development

• General health screenings

• Working with under-served, vulnerable populations

• Marketing of nutrition education programs and services



Community rotation hours:  128
It is preferred that the primary preceptor be a registered dietitian, however, other health care professionals may be appropriate. The site selection and preceptor application forms for your primary community site rotation must be submitted with your application to the program. Additional forms may be submitted after accepted into the program.  You must also include a WIC experience.

WIC rotation hours: 96

Food Service/Management Site

Considerations in choosing a food service rotation site

Potential sites include:

• Hospitals

• Long term care facilities

• School nutrition services

• University dining services



Look for sites that can provide the following experiences/skill development:

• Budget development

• Employee scheduling

• Employee hiring process

• Disciplinary/termination process

• Quality assurance monitoring

• Menu/recipe development

• Costing of menu items

• Develop specifications for food items and equipment

• Sanitation and safety procedures


Your preceptor must be a registered dietitian, food service director and/or food service supervisor. It is preferable that a non-RD preceptor hold the Certified Dietary Manager credential. Site selection and preceptor application forms can be submitted after acceptance into the program.
  You can also consider getting clinical management experience in addition to experience in a food service setting.

Food Service/Management rotation hours: 192

School Experience
An experience in a school setting is required.   This can be met through food service and/or nutrition education.   

Supervised Practice Hours Summary