Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago offers two tracks of an accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) to prepare students to become professional registered dietitians.  Students benefit from the Niehoff School of Nursing's constructive and supportive environment, learning the leadership, communication and management skills they need to pass the registration exam and enter dietetic practice as competent, highly qualified professionals.  Graduates of Loyola’s Dietetic Internship program are highly sought for positions in health care and wellness nutrition programs. Students enter a wide range of dietetic careers, including:

• Clinical dietitian in an acute or long-term care facility
• Community nutritionist
• Food-service manager/director in food operations
• Private practice
• Consultant in food business and industry.

   
Mission Statement of the Loyola University Chicago Dietetic Internship 2010

The mission of the Loyola University Chicago Dietetic Internship (LDI) is to provide students with a quality dietetic internship (supervised practice) within the context of a Jesuit Catholic University, and the requirements of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). The internship is committed to the development of emerging professional Registered Dietitians who firmly believe that nutrition has a profound importance in promoting human health and quality of life. The focus of learning activities is to strengthen the intern's knowledge requirements, and support the development of competence and skills guided by accreditation standards to meet program goals and learning outcomes through constructive and supportive supervised practice. Interns should become competent in the application of theoretical education, adjusting to the reality of existing practice environments, and develop interaction skills with other professionals, workers, and clients. Throughout the internship, emphasis is placed on the conviction that the competent and ethical practice of dietetics is infused with service to God and fellow humans. Competent practice is defined not only as the application of knowledge in nutrition, foods, and related areas, but also as the development and use of skill in leadership, communication, and management. The internship also recognizes that dietetics is a rapidly changing field and that practitioners have a continued responsibility for self-directed learning and professional education.

   
LDI Program Goals

LDI Program Goal 1:  To provide quality experiential preparation enabling graduates to successfully complete the Loyola Dietetic Internship, master the competencies and learning outcomes for DI programs as defined by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), pass the registration exam and enter dietetic practice as competent professionals.

LDI Program Goal 2:  To support the mission of Loyola University Chicago through the development of graduates who seek to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice and faith.

LDI Program Goal 3:  To develop a concentration in public health nutrition through knowledge and skill achievement as defined by the LDI public health nutrition competencies.

LDI Program Goal 4.  To prepare dietetics professionals who are able to apply principles of outcomes performance management to dietetic practice through completion of the Master of Science in Dietetics degree.

   
LDI Program Outcome Measures

LDI Outcome Measure 1.1:  Based on the average from the most recent five year period, 90% of the LDI graduates, in each track, will successfully complete the program within 150% of anticipated program length.  For the DI track, 150% of anticipate program length is 18 months.  For the MS/DI track, 150% of anticipated program length is 35 months.

LDI Outcome Measure 1.2:  90% of current dietetic interns, in each track,  will achieve a score of 85% or greater for each of his/her evaluations for each supervised practice (SP) experience.

LDI Outcome Measure 1.3:  90% of current dietetic interns, in each track, will achieve a grade of 85% or greater for each of the required courses for the LDI.

LDI Outcome Measure 1.4: Based on Program Completion Survey data, 90% of interns, in each LDI track, will indicate that they were provided with opportunities to master competencies by an average score of 4 or greater for each competency.

LDI Outcome Measure 1.5:  Based on averages from the most recent five year period, the pass rate for LDI graduates, in each track,  as first-time test takers on the Registration Examination for Dietitians will be 80% or greater.

LDI Outcome Measure 1.6:  Based on the most recent five year period, using information obtained from the LDI Graduate Surveys, and other information professional networks, 70% of LDI graduates, in each track, who seek employment in dietetics, will be employed within 3 months of LDI completion.

LDI Outcome Measure 1.7: Based on returned Employer Evaluations completed one year post-LDI completion, at least 90% of employers of LDI graduates, in each track,  who respond, affirm that they would hire an LDI graduate again.

LDI Outcome Measure 2.1:  Based on responses from the Program Completion Survey, at least 90% of LDI interns, in each track, will respond that they "agree" or "strongly agree" that their professional development expanded their knowledge through service to humanity.

LDI Outcome Measure 2.2:  Based on responses from the Program Completion Survey, at least 90% of LDI interns, in each track, will respond that they "agree" or "strongly agree" that they were prepared to contribute to the nutritional well-being of a diverse group of residents in an urban environment such as Chicago.

LDI Outcome Measure 3.1:  Based on responses from the Program Completion Survey, at least 90% of LDI interns, in each track, will respond that they "agree" or "strongly agree" that their experience with the LDI increased their knowledge and skills related to public health nutrition.

LDI Outcome Measure 4.1:  At least 90% of students who are in the MS/DI track will successfully complete the comprehensive exam requirements synthesizing outcomes performance management theory and principles with their selected dietetic practice topic in accordance with SON comprehensive exam requirements over a 5 year period. 

   
Two Options for completing the Loyola Dietetic Internship

Starting in fall 2010, a revised LDI will be offered to meet CADE 2008 education standards for dietetic internships.  In addition, two options or tracks will be offered as outlined in the table below.  Each track will meet the revised CADE standards for dietetic internships.  Ten students will be admitted annually to each track of the LDI as coordinated by nation-wide, computerized matching by D&D Digital (see below).

   
Summary of Supervised Practice Experiences

Interns complete eight rotations during the course of the program which are nested within FONU 403, 405 and 407. Interns are scheduled to complete supervised practice 8 hours/day, typically Monday through Friday.  Interns should expect to be in supervised practice two-three weekend days per semester.  Time for travel is not part of supervised practice.

FONU 403 (2 credits)

Medical Nutrition Therapy (55 days): Interns learn to complete the tasks of a clinical dietitian and follow the host facility's standards of care and practice guidelines. Interns are initially assigned a low number of assessment, screening, educational and follow-up activities per week on less-complex patients. As the weeks proceed, interns are assigned more complex cases and the volume of patients increases. In addition, interns participate in the quality management program for clinical nutrition care, in-service presentations, patient care conferences and departmental meetings.

Dialysis Medical Therapy (5 days): Interns develop medical nutrition therapy skills with a focus on renal patients.

FONU 405 (2 credits)

Public Health Nutrition (35 days): This experience allows interns to work with diverse age groups, as well as socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Interns are involved in planning and conducting group classes, planning and evaluating menus for group feeding programs, planning and implementing community-based intervention programs, and communicating nutrition information to groups through written and oral measures.

Professional Development (10 days): Students identify an area of professional dietetic practice that they would like to explore with additional experiences.  The DI Director and student collaborate to develop this individualized experience using available resources.

Research (10 days): Students develop and engage in scholarly inquiry under the direction of faculty and preceptors including perspectives of ethical considerations, research methods, statistical analysis and dissemination of findings. Projects may be individual, group and/or at other supervised practice sites.

Marketing Rotation (5 days):  Interns have the opportunity to work on marketing a food product or nutrition service, employing market strategies, evaluating consumer needs and trends, testing products and interacting with the media. Possible sites include food and pharmaceutical companies, public relations firms and wellness programs.

Nutrition

FONU 407 (1 credit)

Management Rotation (25 days): Interns actively participate in all aspects of food-service management, including production, purchasing, service, inventory systems, human resources, safety and sanitation. Through this experience, interns gain experience in problem solving, quality management and fiscal management.

Long-Term Care Rotation (5 days): (5 days): Interns work collaboratively with preceptors to provide nutrition care to the elderly, developmentally disabled, psychiatric and rehabilitation residents in long-term care facilities. This rotation includes experiences in both clinical nutrition care of residents and management of food-service operations within long-term care facilities.

   
Summary of Graduate Coursework

Required courses for either track of the LDI: Students completing either track of the LDI are required to complete 13 graduate credits as follows: a) 8 credits in didactic course work (FONU 400, 402, 404, 406), and b) 5 credits in supervised practice (FONU 403, 405, 407 as described above). Once a week, students are required to participate in class at the Loyola University Medical Center campus in Maywood, Illinois covering topics related to their supervised practice. Class time is not calculated in the supervised-practice hours and typically are scheduled from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Classes include lecture, discussion, group problem-solving, critical-thinking activities, exams and additional assignments.

Courses (13 Graduate credits as follows)

Required courses for the MS/DI track: Besides those listed above, students who are matched to the MS/DI track are required to take additional courses which are part of the Master of Science in Dietetics degree program.  Please note that completion of the MS in Dietetics degree also requires successful comprehensive exam completion according to policy of the School of Nursing.  Details can be found at: http://www.luc.edu/nursing/dietetic_ms.shtml.

Details about the Loyola academic calendar, including the start dates of each semester, can be found at: http://www.luc.edu/academics/schedules/index.shtml.

   
Monthly Seminars and Activities

Interns broaden their perspective on various areas of dietetics through seminars, group tours and other activities.  Participation in all seminars and related activities is mandatory for all interns.  Examples include:  participation in the Illinois Dietetic Association (IDA) Annual Assembly, IDA Lobby Day in Springfield, IL, seminars on sports nutrition, reimbursement and ethical issues in dietetic practice, media training, and an ethnic food tour.  Participation in these activities is required. This time is not calculated as part of supervised-practice or didactic hours. An additional fee is added to tuition to cover the costs of seminar participation.

   
Accreditation

The Loyola University Chicago Dietetic Internship (LDI) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), an agency of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Upon successful completion of all LDI program requirements (supervised practice and didactic), students receive a verification statement and are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.  Information about accreditation status can be obtained from:

Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education
American Dietetic Association
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
1-800-877-1600 ext 5400 or education@eatright.org

   
Application Requirements

Application requirements include:

1. completed standard Dietetic Internship application using the ADA form,
2. three letters of recommendation using the standard ADA form,
3. original transcripts from all colleges or universities in sealed envelopes,
4. "Verification Statement" of completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics or the "Intent to Complete" form completed by the DPD Program Director,
5. application fee of $40 payable to Loyola University Chicago,
6. letter of application to the Loyola Dietetic Internship which should be one page, single-spaced, and address:

• for which track(s) of the LDI the applicant wishes to apply,
• how the applicant's work experiences (paid or volunteer) has prepared her/him to complete a dietetic internship,
• the applicant's strengths and weakness (areas for improvement), and
• the applicant's anticipated career plans for the next five years.

Applications should be postmarked by February 14 and sent to: