NIDIP has been granted FULL ACCREDITATION status by the:

 

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190

Chicago, IL 60606-6995

800-877-1600 ext 5400

eatrightpro.org/acend

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

 

Welcome to the Nutrition Ink Dietetic Internship Program

 

The Nutrition Ink Dietetic Internship Program is a full time, 1000 hour program with a program- specific concentration in MNT for Nutrition Support. As full time interns, you will be expected to secure your own preceptors and practice sites, and participate in the internship a minimum of eight hours each day, five days per week, in addition to completing assignments. The Nutrition Ink Dietetic Internship Program accepts thirty (35) interns each year and requires interns to complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised dietetic practice. Recognizing that individuals have different interests and priorities, Nutrition Ink Dietetic Internship Program offers an Elective of a specialty area of choice, and a Research Project which may be done in any of the major rotations. As an intern, you will be expected to learn from, interact with and counsel a diverse population across the lifespan, for a variety of medical conditions, and in a variety of settings. Interns may receive credit for previous work or volunteer-related experience based on approval by the internship director to complete the program early. Our orientation is over the summer and interns will receive summer assignments to submit before rotations can begin.Interns are required to participate in the online orientation unless a medical note from your healthcare provider is submitted to excuse the intern due to medical reasons. Prospective candidates should have basic computer skills including, but not limited to, internet, email, scanning documents, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat. Interns are required to locate their own supervised practice sites and preceptors. Rotations start in September and end in May. Beginning rotations in foodservice and community nutrition allow the intern to develop a foundation in the less complex learning experiences, then as the intern demonstrates increasing growth, autonomy and responsibility, the experiential learning activities increase in complexity as the intern progresses through the clinical rotation, MNT concentration in Nutrition Support and the Research/Medical Library rotation.

 

 

PROGRAM MISSION

 

Nutrition Ink Dietetic Internship Program provides a quality education to graduates in meeting and maintaining standards of excellence by working with people of various racial,ethnic, and diverse backgrounds and demonstrate knowledge and practical skills to become competent and productive entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

 

GOALS AND OUTCOMES

 

Goal 1: Graduates will be competent entry-level registered dietitians

          1.    At least 80% of graduates will score a 3 or 4 (on a 4 point scale) for agreeing they are a competent entry level dietitian on end                   of program survey.
         2.    At least 80% of graduates who respond to the one year post graduate survey will score a 3 or 4 (on a 4 point scale) for agreeing                  that "the program provided me with the tools to be a competent dietitian".

          3. Program Completion: At least 80% of program interns complete program requirements within 15 months (150% of program

             length).

          4. Graduate Employment: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related

              fields within 12 months of graduation.

          5. Graduate Performance on Registration Exam:

                    a. At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of                                         program completion.

                    b. The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on                             the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%

6. Employer Satisfaction: At least 80% of employers, who respond to a survey on program graduates in their first year of           employment, will rate their satisfaction with graduate preparation for entry-level practice as 2 or higher (averaged on a 3-point scale).

 

 

Goal 2:   Graduates will practice with culture sensitivity to the community’s diverse population

 

          1.  At least 80% of graduates will score a 3 or 4 (on a 4 point scale) for agreeing they are able to practice with culture sensitivity                   to the community’s diverse population on the end of program survey

          2. At least 80% of the employers who respond to a survey on hired program graduates in their first year of employment will rate

              graduate's ability to work effectively with clients of different cultures, ethnicities, or backgrounds as 2 or higher (on a                       3-point scale).

          3. At least 80% of the program graduates confirm that they feel competent to work with clients of various ethnic/cultural   

              backgrounds.

 

Program outcomes are available to the public upon request.

 

 

POLICIES

 

The program policies have been established to delineate the responsibility of each intern throughout the program and are the criteria used to determine continuance in the program.

 

 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

 

Application Requirements:

To be considered for acceptance to the Nutrition Ink Dietetic Internship Program, candidates must  present a Verification Statement from an approved Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) showing coursework completed within 5 years or less AND have earned a Master's degree OR have been accepted into an accredited Master's degree program. Candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale), a minimum Science GPA of 3.0 and a minimum DPD GPA of 3.0. The policy of Nutrition Ink Dietetic Internship Program is to provide equal opportunity to all applicants for admission to the program. All applicants must apply through the DICAS online system.

 

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited DI program at NIDIP are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

 

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.

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For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.

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It is ACEND's considered opinion that the program is designed to and does meet all state dietetics licensure and certification laws.

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Graduation Requirements:

Once accepted to our distance-learning program, all learning experiences specified in the program curriculum must be completed at a level of sufficient competency. Interns will receive frequent evaluations and feedback from the Nutrition Ink staff and the Program Director and should always have a current assessment of their performance in the internship.  Interns who fulfill all the program requirements will receive a certificate of completion, and will be eligible to take the National Examination for Registered Dietitians. Graduating interns must also:

• Pass the assigned unit exam modules with a score of 70% or more.

• Complete rotations according to schedule during the 10 month period. On a case by case basis, the Program Director will review for approval the written requests for an extension beyond 10 months and written requests for leave of absence.  

• Fully prepare for each rotation and satisfactorily complete the requirements listed on the evaluation documents for each rotation.

• Complete all rotation assignments by the established deadlines.

 

Steps to Becoming an RDN:

 

This program fulfills the supervised practice portion of becoming a RDN

 

1. Meet all admission requirements  2. Complete all graduation requirements
3. Pass the registration exam   4. Achieve state certificartion/ licensure, it applicable

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As 2024 gets closer we have partnered with the following university's. These schools offer a MS degree with an online curriculum. 

Click on the image for more information.

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COST BREAKDOWN

 

Tuition Reimbursements

If an intern decides to withdraw from the program, the intern is entitled to a full refund of tuition paid minus the tuition deposit up until 1 month before the first day of orientation. There is no tuition refund if withdrawal/dismissal occurs after this time. If the intern plans to attend and is allowed to return the following year, then the intern is considered as a new applicant.

 

Estimated Expenses: 

• Application Fee- $FREE!

• Tuition (includes non-refundable $1000 deposit)  -  $11,500

• Fee for program extensions up to 15 months   -  $500 per month for the first 3 months - $1000 per month for the last 2 months

• Books/Supplies 

• Meals during internship

• Transportation  

• Health Insurance required  

• Equipment Requirements

• Mobile Phone and Internet Access  

• Academy student membership  

• Student District membership  

• Professional Meeting

• Payment transaction fees

• Drug Screen and Background Check- Included with tuition

 

Program will provide ID badge, General and Professional Liability Insurance, Certificate of Completion

 

Expenses for Orientation

Orientation is conducted through an online platform and is free for interns to attend.

 

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION PLEASE DOWNLOAD OUR PROGRAM BROCHURE

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Watch our interview with RD2BE here

Or listen to it on Spotify or Apple Podcast

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