James H. Quillen VA Medical Center

Program Rotations and Schedule

Interns are scheduled up to 1240 hours of supervised practice that lasts approximately 32 weeks.

Supervised Practice Rotations

Rotation	Hours
Orientation	40
Medical/ Surgical (Inpatient)	120
Critical Care/ ICU	80
Long Term Care/ Hospice	80
Mental Health / Psychiatry	40
Oncology/ Nutrition Support	40
Primary Care	40
Integrative and Whole Health Nutrition	80
MOVE! and Bariatric Group	80
Home Based Primary Care	80
Diabetes Clinic	80
Food Service and Administrative	240
Women, Infants, and Children	80
Community Sites	80
Nutrition Practicum (Previous Staff Relief)	80

 

Important Reminders

All efforts are made to provide the rotation experiences listed above, however rotations are subject to change, without notice, based on patient care needs and the availability of preceptors.
The program breaks (during supervised practice hours) for the entire week of Thanksgiving (Monday-Friday the week of Thanksgiving) and 1 week towards the end of December. These two weeks will be unpaid breaks without any scheduled hours. 
Interns will observe federal holidays during their supervised practice rotations. Ex: Labor Day, Columbus Day. 

*Distance Education: Interns will participate in several rotations offering telehealth appointments for our nation's Veterans. Interns will have the opportunity to become very familiar with conducting telehealth appointments. Within these rotations, preceptors may or may not be located in the same physical location as the intern. Interns rotating with a teleworking preceptor will be provided with all needed equipment and space needed for appointments, as well as, an onsite preceptor. Interns are not eligible to telework at JHQ VAMC. Students are provided an intern office on campus, VA-issued laptop, headphones and secure internet connection at no cost to connect virtually for appointments. 

Dietetic Internship Only Option
Length: 8 months 

The DI is a fulltime program with 40 hours of supervised practice scheduled per week.  The program starts in August and finishes in mid-April.  Typically, interns are scheduled Monday through Friday but may be asked to work an occasional weekend.  In addition to supervised practice hours, dietetic interns have assignments or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience.  Graduates are issued a verification statement after successfully completing the supervised practice hours and completing all assignments, with a minimum score of “competent at entry level” in all competencies. No award for prior supervised practice hours is available.

Combined MS University of Alabama/ Dietetic Internship Option (MS/DI)
Length: 20 months, includes the 32 weeks of supervised practice

The combined MS/DI program begins with enrollment in University of Alabama’s MS in Human Nutrition program year one, followed by the supervised practice experience at James H Quillen VA Medical Center which occurs in the second year, after interns have completed all but 2 courses in the MS in Human Nutrition.  The remaining 2 courses will be completed along with supervised practice rotations in year 2. Supervised practice is a fulltime program with 40 hours of supervised practice per week.  Typically, interns are scheduled Monday through Friday but may be asked to work an occasional weekend.  In addition to supervised practice hours and required coursework, dietetic interns may have assignments or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience.  Graduates are issued a verification statement after successfully completing the supervised practice hours, all assignments, with a minimum score of “competent at entry level” in all competencies, and conferral of the master’s degree.

• Students in the MS / DI option will need to allow the university to share information on academic progress with the dietetic internship.

Sequence of MS / DI option:

1. Application and admission to University of Alabama (UA) School of Graduate Studies through UA.
2. Application and admission to James H Quillen VA Medical Center Dietetic Internship through DICAS and D&D Digital.

Year 1:

• Summer Semester:  Start online MS Program through UA and complete required courses, online.
• Fall and Spring Semesters:Interns will continue the online MS program through UA and complete required courses, online.

Year 2:

• Summer Semester:   Interns will continue in the online MS program through UA taking required courses, online.
• Fall Semester: Interns admitted to James H Quillen VA Medical Center Internship will relocate to Johnson City, TN to begin supervised practice rotations at James H Quillen VA MC and affiliate community sites. 
• Interns will rotate in supervised practice for 32 weeks from August until May while completing the final two courses for the MS in Human Nutrition.
• Supervised practice is completed in May of the 2^ndVerification statements are provided upon successful completion of the MS degree and the Dietetic Internship.

A copy of the academic calendar for students in the graduate degree option can be found on the website for the Office of the University Registrar.

Course titles can be found on the University of Alabama's website.

* Links above will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs Website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.

Page Updated: September 2024