Site And Preceptor Selection

IF YOU LIVE IN THE NEW YORK or LONG ISLAND AREAS, NYDDI HAS IN PLACE SEVERAL SITES AND PRECEPTORS FOR ROTATIONS.

If you live outside of the NY area, we have signed affiliation agreements in several parts of the country.

Interns are required to secure their clinical preceptor before admission. We ask interns to download the two-page preceptor form from our Website and send it to your planned preceptor. Ask your preceptor to sign and complete the form. It is a non-binding agreement. Have them send you the signed form and attach it your enrollment form.

NOTE: Clinical rotations at hospital are challenging to find. Therefore, we suggest you contact local nursing and rehabilitation facilities that provide enteral feedings. Preceptors in these settings tend to be more accessible to guide you in completing assignments.

Future interns frequently express concern about securing preceptors. This is understandable. Some hospitals have contracts with other programs. Don’t be discouraged. There are plenty of qualified preceptors grateful to have an ambitious intern work with them.

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For best results follow some of these proven tips -

The best way to secure any rotation is to call the facility and speak to the Dietitian. Try to make an appointment for an interview. Once an appointment is secured you are on your way to securing a rotation.

Success takes perseverance. Start by calling and leaving a message introducing yourself with the gatekeeper Dietitian. Follow the same day with an email. This is then followed with a follow up call and voicemail message. Our experience has shown the formula of call, email, call works.

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We cannot overemphasize the need to act swiftly securing facilities, preceptors, and affiliation agreements. This process takes time, frequently months. Certain preceptors require interviews, while certain facilities require their own medical and background clearances. Interns must continually work at following up.

The idea of interviewing with a preceptor beforehand is to develop some chemistry. We want both parties to determine in advance if they think their time will be well spent. It is always easier to move on if the intern feels the preceptor, space and or location, is not a right fit for you.

NYDDI strongly encourages interviewing with preceptors.

In many ways a preceptor is also a mentor. They are sacrificing their work time and knowledge with the intention of helping you become the best possible entry-level dietitian. Like any relationship, it takes time to get to know one another. The smartest starting point is to establish a work schedule. Once established, it makes sense to review your assignments with the preceptor in advance.

Finding your own preceptors and facilities can lead to professional relationships while working alongside preceptors and other staff each day. We often hear of interns who have received job offers after developing close relationship while completing their internships. For us, this is one of the most rewarding aspects or our internship.

Within the first few days it is best to share with the preceptor the following:

• NYDDI Handbook
• Work schedule
• Assignments to meet competencies
• Daily assignments (preceptor may adjust as needed)

We strongly suggest a scheduled 15–20-minute meeting with your preceptor once each week to plan projects and address issues.

This meeting is generally summarized in the intern weekly summary (part of the DI app).

Your preceptor meetings are the hallmark of building strong communication habits which will stay with you throughout your career.

Preceptors are busy! Interns need to remind their preceptors what is required to be on the same page.

NYDDI provides preceptors with a useful Preceptor Handbook and Preceptor Slides once we receive the signed forms.

Preceptors are asked to review material on the ACEND website regarding their work as preceptors. It is an excellent resource and provides helpful guidance before and during their work as a preceptor. See links below -

ACEND training and volunteer opportunities introduction (eatrightpro.org)

Preceptors and Mentors (eatrightpro.org)

If Preceptors are a member of NDEP see the following link –

NDEP Preceptor Resources (eatrightpro.org)

By participating in trainings, preceptors can earn C.E. credits. Please view the links for details.

Rotation Site tips

• Preferred order is FSM, Community, Clinical, Health and Nutrition Influencer
• Rotations may be split. For the sake of continuity, it is best for only one clinical site.

Site And Preceptor Selection

To supervise interns, the site must have on staff a qualified professional to serve as a preceptor.

For clinical rotations the preceptor must be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

For other rotations and concentrations, it is preferred that a preceptor be a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist or either a certified, licensed or appropriate degreed professional.

Except for clinical nutrition, preceptors are not required to be RDN’s. Qualified preceptors need to have the education and experience needed to provide guidance for supervised practice experience.

See this list of preceptor options –

Preceptors must be licensed to meet state and federal regulations or credentialed as needed in the area or areas in which they are providing intern supervision.

Preceptor responsibilities include:

• Work with interns to schedule work / learning experiences

• Orient the intern to the facility

• Mentor the intern and provide daily supervised learning experiences

• Review the curriculum assignments with the intern

• Evaluate intern work using our online software (the DI app)

• Be familiar with NYDDI internship policies (NYDDI handbook)

• Act as liaison for the NYDDI internship

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Preceptors are not paid or compensated for the time they spend with interns. The intern’s work helps them do their jobs while at the same time provides interns with invaluable real-life experiences.

Most importantly, preceptors are asked to set aside adequate time to provide proper supervision with a willingness to share experiences that will help the intern grow.