The Moncton Hospital Post-Graduate Dietetic Internship Program

The Moncton Hospital Post-Graduate Dietetic Internship Program is comprehensive 47-week accredited program recognized by the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP). Once interns graduate from the program, they are eligible to write the Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE) required to practice as Registered Dietitians and register with provincial regulatory bodies.

The Moncton Hospital accepts 4 students each year with the program commencing in October. Students pursuing a career in dietetics have been mentored by this program for over 40 years.

Program Mission, Vision and Goals

Our Mission

Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital Post-Graduate Dietetic Internship Program’s mission is to provide dietetic interns supervised high-quality practical learning experiences in all areas of practice in order to develop as competent entry level dietitians.

Our Vision

To facilitate high standard dietetic internship education that allows interns to develop their skills, build on their strengths and allow them to use university-acquired knowledge and apply it into a practice-based setting. We are committed to providing abundant and varied learning experiences during the internship in order to train well qualified, empathetic individuals who contribute to Horizon’s vision of providingExceptional care. Every person. Every day.

The Moncton Hospital Post-Graduate Dietetic Internship Program’s goals and objectives:

• To allow students to gain quality experience in clinical nutrition, management, population and public health, communication and research to develop entry level competencies in accordance with the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice’s (PDEP) national standards.
• To provide supervised practical experiences that will allow students to develop and attain the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice (ICDEP) required to work as an entry-level dietitian.
• To allow flexibility for students to further develop their skills in their areas of interest.
• To allow students to develop their professional skills and self-confidence while working as valued members of a team.
• To establish commitment towards lifelong learning and professional competence.

Orientation

For the first 2 weeks of internship, interns are oriented to the hospital and the internship program.

• Orientation to hospital and internship (1 week): This includes activities such as touring the hospital and Food and Nutrition Services, reviewing the interns’ manual, standard operating practices, assignments, evaluation forms, etc.
• Orientation to Clinical Nutrition (1 week): Interns are oriented to clinical nutrition in a classroom setting, with sessions relating to patient/client interviewing, documentation, nutrition assessment and introduction to medical nutrition therapy for various conditions.

Food Service / Management (11 weeks)

• This includes 4 weeks of Junior Administration where interns gain experience in a conventional kitchen being exposed to main production, meal assembly and distribution and ingredient control areas.
• 4 weeks in Senior Administration where experience is gained in labour relations, menu planning, budgeting, total quality management and purchasing. During this time the interns work closely with the director of Food and Nutrition Services and the administrative support dietitian.
• Interns also work together on a three-week food service project.

Clinical Nutrition / Nutrition Care (17 weeks)

• 3 weeks with the Diabetes Education Centre dietitians/Certified Diabetes Educators
• 2 weeks with the Ambulatory Care Dietitians
• 3 weeks with each of four in-patient Dietitians (12 weeks)
• Interns gain experience with patient assessment, development of nutrition care plans, individual and group counselling, team rounds and case conferences.

During their clinical rotations, interns prepare a report and present on a Nutrition Special Topic.

Independent Professional Staff Experience (3 to 4 weeks)

These weeks will be assigned or may be requested in an area of the intern’s interest.

Off-Site and Electives Placements (8 to 9 weeks)

A 5-week population and public health / health promotion / community nutrition placement is mandatory. We try to accommodate intern’s requests for specific rotations either in an area of special interest to the student or close to where friends or family live.

Project Development (2 weeks)

Basic scientific research methods and principles are utilized to investigate a simple problem/QI topic in clinical or administrative dietetics (group project).

Professional Development (incorporated throughout the program)

Various classes are given to provide interns with the maximum number of learning experiences during their internship year. Each rotation has an assignment related to the area. These assignments are practical and supplement the hands-on experience of the rotation while helping the student achieve the competencies for the rotation. Some assignment and projects will require interns time outside the internship regular work hours to complete.

To be eligible for the internship program, the applicant must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student at the time of application.

The applicant must be a current student in an undergraduate Food and Nutrition program recognized by the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) OR must have graduated within the past 3 years from an undergraduate Food and nutrition program recognized by PDEP.

Good academic performance (cumulative average of > 73%: 3.0 GPA or B average) is required unless circumstances are exceptional.

Dietitians of Canada (DC) no longer manages the annual selection process for post-degree internship programs. Each applicant is responsible to send their application package directly to the internship coordinator at The Moncton Hospital.

The application package should contain the following:

• Current contact information: Should include current and permanent (if different) email address, phone number and mailing address.
• Resume: E-mail resume to ClinicalNutritionMoncton@HorizonNB.ca.
• Transcript(s) of Marks: unofficial transcript(s) (include first semester of current academic year plus any post-secondary transcripts for courses credited towards your undergraduate degree).
• Confirmation of Completion of Accredited Academic Program Form: You can use the Dietitians of Canada form; Confirmation of Completion of Academic Program Form.
• Three (3) Confidential References: one Academic reference from university faculty member(s) and at least one from a previous or current employer or supervisor (work and/or volunteer experience). We strongly encourage that one reference be from a Registered Dietitian. You can use the Confidential Reference for Program Match Application. Have the referees complete the form and place in a sealed envelope signed across the flap.
• Cover letter: handwritten letter. This letter should be concise but still highlight your qualifications and tell us why you are an ideal candidate for our program. There is no length/word limit for this program specific letter.
• Non-refundable application fee: $40 Cdn, made to the order of: The Moncton Hospital Dietetic Internship Program.

Please place all the above documents into 1 envelope and send to:

The Moncton Hospital Dietetic Internship Program

135 MacBeth Avenue

We strongly recommend sending your package Express Post for guaranteed arrival date.

Incomplete packages will not be accepted.

Application Deadline: Third Friday of January

The selection committee is composed of the internship director, a minimum of 1 food service dietitian and 3 clinical dietitians.

The committee evaluates candidates on the following:

• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Interpersonal and team skills
• Self-direction and motivation to continue learning, career goals, commitment to dietetics and organizational and time management skills
• Confidence
• Leadership
• Maturity and dependability/reliability
• Good academic performance (including academic awards and scholarships)
• Relevant previous experience (paid and/or unpaid) and/or extracurricular activities

Interviews are held for selected applicants. Telephone or virtual interviews will be offered to candidates unable to attend in person. Regional preferences: If two applicants are equivalent, the preference in ranking will go to the applicant from Atlantic Canada.

• Number of Appointments available: 4
• Entrance date: Early October
• Language: Proficiency in English is required
• Hours of work: 37.5 hours/week, some shift work involved
• Vacation: 11 days, usually assigned at Christmas and Easter
• Statutory Holidays: 11

Sick Days
Up to 10 days are allowed for sick time. It may be necessary to make up sick time, depending on the rotation(s) involved, in order to achieve required competencies.

Uniform
They can be borrowed from the department. Plain uniform, lab coat, and closed-toe shoes are required while in junior administrative rotations. Professional dress and closed-toe shoes are expected for all other rotations.

Onboarding Requirements
Upon acceptance to the program, interns are required to have a criminal reference check completed, submit proof of required immunization and meet the requirements outlined by Horizon Employee Health Services and Education Placement (including mandatory orientation modules).

New Brunswick Association of Dietitians (NBAD) membership
All applicants seeking practical dietetic experience in New Brunswick are required to be registered as a Dietetic Intern with the New Brunswick Association of Dietitians as stated in the Association regulatory documents ($100 registration fee).

Professional Liability Insurance
Personal professional liability insurance is required and is available through DC (fees waived for DC Student Members).

Accommodations
Intern’s responsibility. No on-site parking is available to students; therefore accommodation within walking distance to the hospital is strongly recommended.

Graduation
Held annually. Each graduating student receives a diploma and pin.

Dismissal
If at any time a dietetic intern’s conduct or performance is unsatisfactory in meeting the high standards of the profession, the intern may be asked to withdraw from the program.

If you require further information, please contact the Internship Director/Clinical Nutrition Manager at:

The Moncton Hospital
Clinical Nutrition
135 MacBeath Avenue
Moncton, NB E1C 6Z8
Tel.: 1-506-857-5408
Fax: 1-506-857-5621
Email: ClinicalNutritionMoncton@HorizonNB.ca