Choosing Distance Sites and Preceptors

Distance interns are expected to locate their sites and preceptors outside of the 50 mile radius of Bowling Green, Ohio. For distance interns, a tentative schedule is due by October 1 of the Introduction to Internship Course. If needed, elective sites and preceptors can be arranged later, even into the rotation semester. This policy exists to accomodate for networking and pursuing additional opportunities that may arise while meeting new people during rotations. 

For scheduling, interns should start with rotations such as Foodservice, Community, or WIC.  Interns are REQUIRED to complete the Long Term Care rotation BEFORE starting the Clinical rotation. Generally, the Clinical (Acute/Hospital) rotation should be towards the end of the internship experience. Aim to begin the Clinical Rotation May or later of the internship year.  

With approval from DI leadership, interns may begin rotations in mid-October of the Introduction to Internship (FN 6200) Fall Semester, though if needed, distance interns may also plan to begin rotations in January at the start of BGSU's Spring Semester. 

Interns who have previous work experience relevant to a required supervised practice rotation may be eligible to apply that experience towards alternative supervised practice hours. The employment position must have been in a managerial role, however, a shift manager role is not eligible. This consideration is determined on a case-by-case basis and is subject to the guidelines set forth by ACEND. Contact the DI program director for more information.

Minimum requirements for preceptors:

• The acute care rotation must be completed under the supervision of a registered dietitians as the primary preceptor.
• The long term care preceptor can be an RDN, NDTR, or on occassion, a nutrition associate practicing under the supervision of an RDN. 
• The foodservice preceptor is not required to be credentialed as an RDN or DTR. 
• Preceptor information forms or preceptor resume must be submitted for any preceptor who will supervise the intern and verify completion of experiences.
• Preceptors must be able to document appropriate continuing education for the previous two years. 
• New preceptors must be willing to review the preceptor web page and preceptor handbook as well as maintain an open line of communication (via email or phone) with the director to clarify expectations

Minimum site requirements:

•  Clinical sites (including acute care, sub-acute care, long term care or hospice) must be accredited by the Joint Commission or other appropriate accreditation agency.

•  Sites must be willing to enter into an Affiliation Agreement with Bowling Green State University.  Site generated Agreements will be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel for compatibility with the laws of the State of Ohio. 

•  Site information forms must be completed for any site at which the intern will have patient/client contact, interaction with facility employees beyond their preceptor or the general public, or act as a representative of the facility.  This requirement may be waived for experiences that involve shadowing only for one week or less.

Find a Preceptor

Clinical Site

Considerations in choosing a clinical site:

• Community hospitals
• Medical centers
• Sub-acute/long term acute care facilities (LTACH).  
• Long term care/convalescent care/nursing homes/ skilled nursing facilities do not meet this requirement

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.

In addition to an acute/sub-acute care rotation, you must also complete a long term care rotation.

Long-term care rotation hours: 96

Community Site

Considerations in choosing a community nutrition site:

• Public Health Departments

  
• Area Agencies on Aging

  
• Cooperative extension

  
• American Heart Association

  
• American Cancer Society

  
• Alzheimer’s Association

  
• Migrant Head Start


• United Way
• Head Start
• Food Banks
• WIC
• Supermarket Dietitians
• Cooperative Extension
• EFNEP
• SNAP-Ed
• Family Nutrition Program

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 areas such as:


• 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. 

You must also include a rotation experience that includes pregnant and lactating women. WIC Clinics are an excellent choice for this target population, though maternal fetal clinics or other settings that serve this audience are options. Reach out to the program director more more information. 

WIC/Maternal Fetal rotation hours: 64

Food Service Management Site

Considerations in choosing a food service rotation site:


• 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

The foodservice management experience is intended to develop competency is a management setting. Interns with previous foodservice experience in a management role or holding the CDM Certificate with foodservice management experience may meet requirements to have some or all of the foodservice rotation waived. Interns seeking this option must do so after acceptance to the BGSU DI, completion of BGSU DI Orientation and summer case studies, and work 1:1 with DI Leadership to be considered for this option. Note that interns who have previous work experience in the foodservice setting that is not a management role, including shift managers, are not eligible for waived foodservice hours.

Food Service Management rotation hours: 128

This rotation can be completed in a healthcare, school or University setting. Keep in mind that interns are required to schedule an experience in which you will work with school age children. If your foodservice rotation is in a setting that does not include school aged children, another rotation will need to meet that criteria.

*These hours represent minimums – any rotation can be extended to and count towards the electives hours.   This is also contingent on the intern meeting entry-level competency based on completion of the required experiences.

**These hours are accumulated through the completion of case studies, trainings and simulations.

Additional Information

By applying to the BGSU Distance Internship option, interns do so with the understanding that they are required to secure all rotation types and preceptors. If a site/preceptor cannot be located, the DI Director will assist by offering contacts in the intern’s geographical location, as known and available to the director. For successful and timely completion of the program, it is critical that interns do not procrastinate reaching out to preceptors and organizing the rotation schedule.

For interns who leave or are dismissed from a site prior to completing required competency or time at the site, the internship director is not responsible for replacing that site. For interns who elect to refuse to comply with site requitements for any reason, the burden of replacing the site, preceptor, or completing supervised practice hours falls to the intern. Interns who are dismissed from a site due to disciplinary action relevant to the site are subject to additional disciplinary action relevant to the DI program’s policies and procedures.  

After receiving guidance at the BGSU DI Orientation, distance interns are responsible for connecting the DI Director to each preceptor via email to initiate the affiliation agreement process. For distance sites that the BGSU DI has an active affiliation agreement, distance interns are responsible for connecting the DI Director to the preceptor in advance of the rotation. It is advisable that distance interns check in with DI Leadership to see whether an active affiliation agreement is in place for a site. Distance interns are prohibited from reaching out to preceptors and sites that fall within a 50 mile radius of Bowling Green, Ohio. For more information, reach out to DI Leadership.