Nutrition Services: Education
The BIDMC Dietetic Internship is a 10 month program with a special emphasis on nutrition therapy. The program runs from September to June and provides more than 1200 supervised practice hours. It is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of The American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606, 312-899-5400, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Association and the United States Department of Education. The internship program builds on the foundation of knowledge gained during didactic preparation, and provides practitioner competencies for entry level dietetics practice. Graduation requirements must be met in order to successfully complete this program. In order to graduate the intern must:
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Act professionally in accordance with the code of ethics for the profession of dietetics
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Meet all competencies for the program
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Complete all rotation related paperwork
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Complete all assignments and projects
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Complete and present one nutrition care plan
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Present two abstracts
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Pay tuition in full
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Make up for lost time due to excessive sick days or approved leave of absence
Upon completion of the program, dietetic interns receive a signed Verification Statement indicating they are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians as administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (www.cdrnet.org), and qualify for active membership in The American Dietetic Association. Once they take and pass the registration exam, they are then eligible to apply for licensure in Massachusetts (www.mass.gov). If the new R.D. requires licensure in a state other than Massachusetts, they should obtain information from that state's licensure board.
Mission and goals of the BIDMC dietetic internship program
The mission of the Dietetic Internship is to recruit the best intern applicants for the internship and provide them with experiences that help them meet the core competencies required to become qualified dietitians, and to instill in them the importance of excellent patient care, individual accountability, and involvement in the community. We recognize the need for future registered dietitians in the Boston community and the United States, and actively support the mission of The American Dietetic Association as being "...the advocate of the dietetic profession serving the public through promotion of optimal nutrition, health and well being."
Goals and Outcome Measures for the BIDMC Dietetic Internship:
Goal #1: Train graduates to practice competently in entry level dietetics:
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Alumni of BIDMC's program will achieve a first time pass rate of at least 80% on the RD exam, over a 5 year period.
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The results of the RD exam will be at or above the national mean.
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The DI program will maintain a 90% or higher internship completion rate.
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At least 80% of graduates surveyed after graduation will indicate that the internship prepared them well for employment.
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At least 80% of the DI graduates from the past 5 years will be employed in the field of dietetics.
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At least 80% of employers of our graduates will indicate that the intern was adequately prepared for the position they obtained.
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At least 85% of the DI graduates will recommend BIDMC DI program to prospective interns.
Goal #2: Continually improve the quality and diversity of intern applicant pool, in order to select and graduate successful practitioners.
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There will be at least 45 applicants each year for the program.
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Interns matched to the DI during the past 5 years will represent a variety of colleges.
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Interns matched to the DI during the past 5 years will represent a variety of states/countries.
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Interns matched to the DI during the past 5 years will include men and ethnically diverse applicants.
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Interns matched to the DI during the past 5 years will represent a variety of pre-internship work experiences.
Goal #3: Prepare graduates to assume leadership positions.
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Graduates will earn an advanced level qualification such as CNSD, CDE, certificate of training in adult weight management, or other specialty certification.
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DI graduates will pursue an advanced degree (e.g. MS, MPH).
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DI graduates will be prepared to assume leadership positions by becoming involved in national, state and/or local dietetics associations.
Goal #4: Expose dietetic interns to a wide variety of experiences that embrace cultural diversity and promote commitment to the community.
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BIDMC graduates will choose to work in the community setting.
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BIDMC interns will choose a "plan your own" experience (pyo) in the community setting.
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BIDMC interns will volunteer to participate in community events (e.g. health fairs, presentations) during the internship.
Meeting Our Goals:
- 98% of our graduates completed the requirements for the dietetic internship program and became eligible to sit for the RD examination. (2005-2009)
- The first time pass rate of our graduates taking the RD examination is 91%. (2005-2009)
- When surveyed, 97% of our graduates stated they would recommend the BIDMC dietetic internship to prospective students. (2005-2009)
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