18 - Additional Information

For complaints related to HIPAA compliance, refer to the OU Health Office of Compliance.

For complaints about the program that do not fall under the purview of the above processes, the process below should be followed:

• A student should first attempt to resolve the matter informally via a conference with the individual associated with the program (faculty member, staff, preceptor, instructor, or evaluator) as soon as possible after the precipitating event. The student should set forth his or her concerns in writing and set up a conference.
• If the dispute is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student after conference with the other individual, the student must attempt to resolve the matter with the program director within 10 days after the conference with the other individual. Again, the student should set for his or her concerns in writing, send this document via e-mail to the program director, and set up a conference with the program director. (In those cases, in which the complaint is against the program director, the student should attempt to resolve the matter with the department chair.) During this part of the informal resolution process, the program director will meet with the student and consider the information contained in the detailed written statement provided by the student, confer with the other individual if deemed necessary, attempt to resolve the matter, and advise the student that he or she may further address the complaint to the department chair.
• If the issue is again not resolved to the satisfaction of the student after the conference with the program director or the conference with the program director is not appropriate, the student should address the concern with the department chair within 10 days of the conference with the program director. At this point, the complaint is considered a formal complaint, and record of the complaint and its resolution will be kept on file for at least 7 years per ACEND accreditation standards. Prior to this meeting with the department chair, the student should set for his or her complaint in writing and send it to the department chair via e-mail when setting up the conference. The department chair will again attempt to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the parties involved and may involve college dean as needed.
• Complaints against the program related to noncompliance with ACEND accreditation standards may be submitted in writing after all other options within the program and within OUHC have been exhausted. These complaints may be submitted directly to ACEND.

The faculty believes in providing opportunities which develop and enhance the professional growth of the intern. Membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is required. As a matter of policy, interns are also encouraged to participate in professional meetings, conventions, projects, etc. The following activities are highly encouraged:

1. Intern memberships in local, state, and national professional organizations;
2. Preparation, display, and presentation of professional-related exhibits, essays, poster presentations, etc.;
3. Participation in National Nutrition Month activities; and
4. Attendance and participation at any function in which new knowledge or the quality of professionalism is enhanced.

In promoting the above philosophy, interns are required to attend at least one professional meeting and tum in a summary through Canvas. They are highly encouraged to attend others when possible, particularly:

• Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics meetings (OkAND);
• Conventions of the Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (OkAND meets twice annually, in the Fall and the Spring); and
• Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibits (FNCE), the annual convention of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (held each fall).

The faculty encourages interns to also attend other nutrition-related meetings and seminars, which are offered at times other than those, which require the intern to be in scheduled experiences. Approval to attend conferences, seminars, etc., which conflict with routine academic schedules is to be arranged through the DI Director after securing initial approval from the preceptor at the respective affiliation site.
 

Program costs vary and are subject to change. Current program costs are provided to the intern upon acceptance to the Program and can be obtained from the Bursar's office website. 

The Department of Nutritional Sciences presently occupies suite 3057 of the Allied Health Building, 1200 N. Stonewall, and includes offices for each of the faculty members, a Departmental Office for staff, and a workroom (room 3069). In addition, there is a food lab in room 3055.

The Department maintains several pieces of equipment, which can be utilized by the interns when needed for class presentations, review of A-V materials, etc. Most major classrooms within the College of Health Building also have equipment for presentations as well.

Intern lockers in the Allied Health Building are available on a first-come-first-serve basis and are checked out through the College of Allied Health, Office of Academic and Student Affairs.
Interns are responsible for any items placed in their lockers and the University is not liable for any loss.
 

Students are urged to assist with program development and student governance by attending student governance meetings and volunteering for committees. One opportunity includes volunteering for the Student Advisory Team (StAT). Each internship class will elect a representative. Representatives are also elected from the CP class and graduate program class to attend the beginning of Department Faculty Meeting once per month to bring to the faculty any issues the class is currently facing. Because interns are not on campus due to rotations, they will report any issues to the other StAT representatives to be presented in Department Faculty Meetings. New representatives will be chosen at the start of each class.

A Student Dietetic Association exists within the Department for those students desiring to participate in an organization that celebrates and promotes the profession of dietetics.
Sponsorship of the Student Dietetic Association rotates among faculty and information related to membership is circulated at the beginning of each Fall semester and is available at all times from the Clinical Coordinator. Dues, by-laws, activities, etc., are established by the organization.
 

Access is available through the intern's "OneCard". The OneCard is used as an ID and building/room/lab access card. The "OneCard" is $10.00 for interns, which is collected at the time a photo is taken. Replacement cards for lost or stolen ID's are $15.00. Payment may be made by cash or check. OneCard services are located in the Service Center Building, Room 118.

An intern who intends to practice in Oklahoma should request and submit a completed application for Provisional Licensure in Dietetics (P.L.D.) prior to accepting a position. The application materials may be requested from The Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, PO Box 18256, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-0256, or by calling 405/848-6841.

Graduates cannot practice dietetics in Oklahoma without being licensed by the above Board. Violation of the law may result in a misdemeanor. New graduates must have a Licensed Dietitian (L.D.) as a direct on-site supervisor when working under a temporary letter to practice (this occurs for all new graduates). During this time the new graduate cannot use the credentials
P.L.D. and all chart notes in the medical record must be co-signed by an L.D. When the new graduate receives the license as a P.L.D., then he/she may practice under general supervision of a L.D. The graduate can legally use the credentials P.L.D. and charts notes can be signed as P.L.D. and do not require the L.D. to co-sign.

Once the graduate receives notice of passing the Registration Examination, he/she must notify the Board and submit an application for changing the P.L.D. to L.D. Once the graduate receives the L.D. license, he/she may practice without the supervision of the L.D. The graduate may then use the credentials, R.D. L.D.
 

The Commission on Dietetic Registration has noted with concern an increase in the use of the term R.D.E. (registered dietitian eligible) to designate registration eligibility by recent graduates.
R.D.E. is not a credential recognized by CDR or the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Both employers and the public find the term confusing. Individuals should not use the term R.D.E. for employment or other purposes.
 

Upon successful completion of the Internship Program and receipt of the Verification Statement, an intern is eligible to apply to take the Registration Examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Applications for the Exam will automatically be sent to the individual when CDR has established registration eligibility. Applications for eligibility are filed by the DI Director upon completion of the practice experience. The intern will be notified of all deadlines regarding registration and application for the Registration Exam during the internship experience. It is then the responsibility of the intern to ensure that these deadlines are met.

In February of 2018, the Code of Ethics Task Force updated the Academy's Code of Ethics. The revised Code of Ethics has been in effect as of June 1, 2018 and can be found on the Academy’s website. 

The Robert M. Bird Health Campus Library is located at 1000 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 on the Health Campus and serves as the major resource for health information in Oklahoma. Resources are easily accessible by computer here. Library faculty and staff are exceptional in providing individualized service to both interns and faculty. In addition to books and hard copy journals, the Library provides a number of on-line database searching capabilities that are helpful to interns. E­ Resources include CINAHAL Plus with Full Text, Current Contents, DynaMed, EBM Reviews (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), EBSCO, EMBASE, ERIC, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Journal of Visualized Experiments, Medline (OVID), PsychINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, UpToDate and Web of Science. Most journal articles are readily available and downloadable as PDF files. Other articles may be accessed through Interlibrary Loans.

Students admitted to the internship program have successfully received a verification statement from a Didactic Program in Dietetics. Students then embark on a curriculum including supervised practice that is planned to meet the 2022 ACEND core competencies (CRDN) for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Dietetic Internship Program competencies outlined by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) depict the level of knowledge and skills (competencies) which students graduating from the internship program should have attained. Current internship program competencies can be found here. Competencies must be met to progress in the program, and following successful completion these competencies, the student has earned a Certificate of Completion and receives a verification statement.

The program director will notify the Commission on Dietetic Registration and submit required forms. CDR then notifies the students they may register for the national registry examination. When the student passes the exam, they are credentialed as Registered Dietitian (RD)/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). All credentialed RD/RDNs are required to participate in continuing professional education to maintain their credential. Membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, is encouraged but not required. The Dietetic Internship Program is accredited through 2027 by ACEND.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995 Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400
Website | Email

Commission on Dietetic Registration
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190 Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Phone: 800-877-1600, Ext. 5500
Website | Email
 

The University of Oklahoma is accredited through the Higher Leaming Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The next reaffirmation of accreditation is to be set in 2022-23.

The DI Program is accredited through 2027 by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) which periodically reviews the practices, procedures and educational outcomes of its accredited programs. This process includes the consideration of third-party comments regarding the program's compliance with the accreditation standards, which may be obtained from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the educational program and should be sent to the attention of Mary Gregoire, PhD, RD, FADA, FAND, Executive Director, Accreditation and Education Programs, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995.