Pasco County Health Department Dietetic Internship

Mission, Goals and Outcomes

MISSION:

 To educate nutrition graduates for leadership roles in the profession of dietetics in a stimulating environment which is both conducive to learning and committed to excellence, where full realization of human potential and commitment to improving the health status of the community are pursued.

  GOALS:

 Goal 1:  To prepare dietetic professionals who have knowledge and skills necessary to practice clinical, food service management, and community nutrition with a special emphasis for the challenges unique to public health nutrition.

 Outcome Measures:

• Over a 5-year period eighty percent of program graduates will successfully complete and pass the registered dietitian exam on the first attempt.
• Eighty-five percent of employed graduates will rate themselves as well-prepared for their first employment position as a State of Florida County Health Department nutrition professional.
• One-hundred percent of interns receive a rating of 3 or better for all the entry-level competencies.
• Seventy-five percent of employers will rate graduate employees as meets or exceeds expectations when evaluating preparation as public health nutritionists.

Goal 2:  To increase the availability of public health nutrition registered/licensed dietitians within the local health departments throughout the State of Florida.

Outcome Measures:

• Ninety-five percent of interns admitted into the dietetic internship will complete the program.
• Eighty-five percent of non-state employee graduates will obtain employment with a local County Health Department within six months of graduation from the program.
• Ninety percent of employee graduates will complete their requisite work service obligation as stipulated by the Dietetic Internship Program Agreement.

Goal 3:  To provide an opportunity for health department nutrition staff to improve their professional practice skills thereby enhancing the delivery of WIC client services and benefits.

Outcome Measures:

• One-hundred percent of eligible State of Florida local County Health Department Nutrition Educators are offered the opportunity to apply for the Dietetic Internship.
• Not less than fifty percent of interns will be selected from the pool of state employee applicants each year.
• One-hundred percent of state employee graduates will return to their sponsoring local County Health Department upon program completion.
• Ninety percent of supervisors will rate graduate employees as improved or greatly improved when evaluating professional skills.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: 

1. Interns will be able to successfully assess the clinical nutritional needs of specialized populations and provide appropriate nutritional therapy, i.e. acute care and ambulatory care settings.

2. Interns will be able to plan, deliver and evaluate community nutrition practices and services and counsel diverse individuals and populations in community settings across the lifespan.

3. Interns will demonstrate the ability to effectively manage food and nutrition service systems and staff.

4. Interns will develop and demonstrate professional attitudes and values, leadership skills, and the higher ethical approaches to practice.

5. Interns will develop critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration and communication skills incorporating current research and scientific information into dietetic practice.