Bluffton University

Dietetic internship

2018-19 ISPP DIETETIC INTERNS
Joshua Becasen (San Diego State)
Morgan Campbell (Bluffton University)
Matthew Chezem, DTR (University of Akron)
Emily Kirk (Indiana University of PA) 
Nhung Le (San Francisco State University)
Grace Michalik (Western Michigan University) 
Grace Mignery (Miami University of Ohio) 
Kathryn Risser, DTR (San Diego State University) 
Anielly Rocha (University of North Florida) 
Danielle Williams (Northwest Missouri State University) 

ABOUT BLUFFTON'S INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Bluffton's ISPP has an emphasis in community and public health nutrition. This program is similar to a traditional internship in that we organize your supervised practice rotations at established facilities near Bluffton, but with the flexibility to adjust some of your experience to address individual interests and goals. Additional professional enrichment opportunities include attendance at dietetics-related conferences (including FNCE 2018) and field trips, participation in individual and group projects and seminar days.

As a Bluffton intern, you will gain valuable dietetic experience and be part of the campus community. You'll have access to educational, cultural and spiritual activities, the support of our Center for Career and Vocation, student health and counseling services, and student athletic and recreational facilities. Plus, all interns who successfully complete our program will take part in an intensive RD Exam review course and will be eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetics registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN.)

One hundred percent of our 2015-16 graduates passed the RD Exam and are now practicing registered dietitians. Bluffton ISPP's overall intern pass rate for the past five classes exceeds the ACEND minimum RDN exam pass rate standards established for dietetic internships. 

Bluffton's ISPP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago Ill., 60606-6995, phone: 312-899-0040 ext 5400, http://www.eatright.org/ACEND. 

Program overview

The Bluffton University dietetics Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) is a full-time, nine-month program that meets Accreditation Council for Education of Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) requirements for supervised practice. This allows graduates of our program to sit for the national Registered Dietitian Exam to become registered dietitians/nutritionists (RDN) and licensed dietitians (LD) in the state of Ohio.

Bluffton's program has a concentration of Community Nutrition and Public Health, in keeping with the university's enduring values of discovery, community, respect and service, and based on the demographics of our surrounding community, which includes both rural and urban population settings.

This ISPP is organized much like a traditional internship, in that we have a full-time experience coordinator who is responsible for establishing supervised practice sites, orienting preceptors and ensuring that interns meet the necessary competencies as required by ACEND.

Interns complete rotations in a variety of areas of practice, including clinical inpatient and outpatient, nutrition support, renal services, food service management in patient, institutional and school settings as well as several community rotations within an hour's radius of campus. ISPP interns have the unique opportunity to serve with Mennonite Disaster Services for a two-week rotation at one of a variety of sites around the United States. The coordinator may also work with interns to plan elective experiences and enrichment opportunities specific to their interests and career goals. This ISPP does not currently grant credit for prior learning experiences received outside of Bluffton's planned supervised practice program.

The Bluffton ISPP curriculum is based on materials developed by ACEND and involves a professional development aspect to help interns develop their organizational and leadership skills, and to encourage life-long learning and professional involvement.

Our program includes class and conference days, on-lone learning and resources, as well as an RD exam review course at the end of the year. Interns who complete all the required elements of our program are awarded 18 hours of graduate credit which may be transferable to other institutions based on individual university guidelines.

Bluffton's ISPP is part of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department. We are not a distance internship. Our interns are considered Bluffton University students and have the opportunity to take advantage of student recreational, technical and career development resources, as well as student health and counseling services. Interns may attend cultural, spiritual and athletic events on campus, which are often free for students.

 

APPLICATIONS for the 2019-20 internship year will be accepted in DICAS in spring 2019. Check back for details.