**Supervised Practice Hours** *(Required element 1.6)*
Students complete a minimum of 1,080 supervised practice hours through the following practicum experiences:
**Practicum I (NSP 6123)**
- Food Service
- 180 hours
**Practicum II (NSP 6223)**
- Food Service
- 180 hours
**Practicum III (NSP 6323)**
- Community
- 180 hours
**Practicum IV (NSP 6424)**
- Clinical
- 270 hours
**Practicum V (NSP 6524)**
- Clinical
- 270 hours
**Total Hours**
- 1,080 minimum supervised practice hours
*Actual totals may vary slightly depending on schedules, holiday calendars, and site-specific requirements.*
**Completion Standards** *(Required Elements 8.1.b, 8.1.c, 8.1.g)*
To successfully complete supervised practice experiences, students must:
- Earn a minimum average of 75% on graded activities.
- Achieve all required competency requirements.
- Receive ratings of at least 3 on supervised practice evaluation tools.
- Complete all required supervised practice hours.
- Accurately document supervised practice hours in the Typhon management system.
If required supervised practice hours are not completed:
- A grade of Incomplete (I) will be assigned until required hours are completed and documented.
- Failure to complete required hours may result in a grade of F.
Students receiving a grade of F in a practicum course are not permitted to progress in the program and must reapply for admission if space is available.
**Additional Supervised Practice Information** *(Required Elements 1.6, 8.1.g)*
- Approved professional activities may count toward supervised practice hours when approved by the Program Director or practicum instructor.
- Simulations, case studies, and other alternate supervised learning activities may count toward supervised practice hours when permitted by ACEND standards and approved by the practicum instructor.
Students are responsible for maintaining accurate records of supervised practice hours and experiences in the Typhon management system.
**Preceptor and Supervised Practice Site Selection** *(Required Elements 6.1, 6.2, 7.2.k, 8.1.g)*
Students are responsible for identifying potential supervised practice sites and preceptors. The Coordinated Program in Dietetics provides guidance throughout the process, maintains a database of previously approved sites and preceptors, and assists students who encounter difficulty securing placements. While the program makes reasonable efforts to assist students in identifying appropriate supervised practice experiences, placement at a specific site or geographic location cannot be guaranteed. Students should anticipate that travel may be required to complete supervised practice experiences. The availability of qualified sites and preceptors varies by geographic location. In some cases, students may need to travel, temporarily relocate, or complete rotations outside their local area to meet program requirements and required competencies. The program assists students in securing geographically accessible supervised practice sites whenever possible.
Students are not required to identify supervised practice sites and preceptors at the time of application. However, all required clinical supervised practice sites must be secured and approved before the start of supervised practice experiences. Supervised practice sites are evaluated annually through review of student evaluations, preceptor feedback, and program faculty assessment to ensure continued adequacy and appropriateness for competency attainment. *(Required element 6.1.c)*
**Site and Preceptor Approval Process** *(Required elements 6.1.a-b, 6.2.a-b)*
Before a supervised practice experience may begin:
- The student must identify a proposed site and preceptor.
- The Program Director or Practicum Instructor must review and approve the proposed site and preceptor.
- The Program Director or Practicum Instructor must determine that the site can provide sufficient learning experiences and opportunities to meet required competencies.
- The Program Director or Practicum Instructor must confirm that the preceptor possesses appropriate credentials, education, and experience for the supervised practice area.
- Required affiliation agreements must be fully executed before the rotation begins.
- Any site-specific onboarding requirements, such as immunizations, tuberculosis testing, criminal background checks, or drug screening, must be completed.
The Program Director or Practicum Instructor provides preceptor orientation materials and is available to meet with preceptors as needed to review program expectations, competencies, evaluation procedures, and supervised practice requirements.
**Acceptable Preceptors** *(Required Element 5.2.a)*
Acceptable preceptors may include:
- Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDNs)
- Licensed Dietitians (LDs)
- Certified Dietitian Nutritionists (CDNs)
- Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs)
- Physician Assistants (PAs)
- Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCESs)
- Food Service Directors
- Certified Dietary Managers (CDMs)
- Long-Term Care Administrators
- Other qualified professionals approved by the Program Director or Practicum Instructor
**General Criteria for Preceptors** *(Required Elements 5.2.a, 5.2.a.1, 5.2.a.2)*
Preceptors must:
- Possess education and professional experience appropriate for the supervised practice area.
- Hold any licenses, certifications, or credentials required by federal, state, or facility regulations.
- Be capable of providing learning experiences that allow students to achieve required competencies.
- Be available throughout the supervised practice experience.
- Demonstrate a willingness to mentor, teach, supervise, and evaluate students.
- Communicate effectively with program faculty.
- Demonstrate professionalism and effective interpersonal skills.
- Support the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
- Participate in program orientation and evaluation activities as required.
- Utilize the Typhon management system for required evaluations and documentation.
**Area-Specific Requirements** *(Required Elements 5.2.a, 6.1.c)*
Clinical Nutrition Rotations
- Primary preceptors must be Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDNs).
- Exceptions may be approved by the Program Director when a qualified healthcare professional is providing specialized nutrition-related services and required competencies can be achieved.
Community Nutrition Rotations
- May be supervised by RD/RDNs or other qualified professionals working in nutrition, public health, health promotion, or community-based programs.
Food Service Management Rotations
- May be supervised by RD/RDNs, Food Service Directors, Certified Dietary Managers (CDMs), Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs), or other qualified foodservice professionals approved by the Program Director or Practicum Instructor.
**Rotation Site Guidelines** *(Required Elements 1.6.a-b, 6.1.c, 8.1.g)*
Students complete a minimum of:
- 360 hours in Food Service Management
- 180 hours in Community Nutrition
- 540 hours in Clinical Nutrition
All rotations are generally completed in person. Telehealth experiences or alternative supervised practice activities may be considered on an individual basis and must comply with ACEND and program requirements.
Sites must provide sufficient experiences to allow students to achieve all required competencies.
Examples of Food Service Management Sites
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- School nutrition programs
- University dining services
Examples of Community Nutrition Sites
- WIC Programs
- SNAP-Ed Programs
- School nutrition programs
- Summer Food Service Programs
- Child and Adult Care Food Programs
- Food banks
- Commodity Supplemental Food Programs
- Congregate meal programs
- Home-delivered meal programs
- Grocery stores employing RD/RDNs
Examples of Clinical Nutrition Sites
- Large hospitals
- Community hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Outpatient clinics
- Dialysis centers
Other sites may be approved by the Program Director or Practicum Instructor when sufficient opportunities exist to achieve required competencies. Students should receive exposure to a variety of disease states, healthcare settings, and patient populations throughout supervised practice experiences.
**Insurance Requirements** *(Required element 8.1.g.3)*
Prior to beginning supervised practice experiences, students must provide documentation of the following:
- Health insurance
- Automobile insurance
- Professional liability insurance
Students are responsible for obtaining and maintaining professional liability insurance throughout the supervised practice component of the program. Professional liability coverage must provide:
- $1,000,000 per occurrence
- $3,000,000 aggregate coverage
Failure to maintain required insurance may result in inability to participate in supervised practice experiences.
**Travel to Supervised Practice Sites** *(Required element 8.1.g.4)*
While the program makes reasonable efforts to assist students in identifying appropriate supervised practice experiences, placement at a specific site or geographic location cannot be guaranteed. Students should anticipate that travel may be required to complete supervised practice experiences. The availability of qualified sites and preceptors varies by geographic location. In some cases, students may need to travel, temporarily relocate, or complete rotations outside their local area to meet program requirements and required competencies. Students are responsible for transportation, travel-related expenses, and liability associated with travel to and from supervised practice sites. Travel time does not count toward supervised practice hours.
**Injury or Illness During Supervised Practice** *(Required element 8.1.g.5)*
Students who become ill or sustain an injury during a supervised practice experience may be referred to an emergency department, urgent care facility, or private healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment. Students are responsible for all costs associated with medical care and must maintain health insurance coverage throughout enrollment in the program. Arkansas State University and supervised practice facilities are not responsible for medical expenses incurred as a result of illness or injury during supervised practice experiences.
**Criminal Background Checks and Drug Testing** *(Required element 8.1.g.6)*
All students admitted to the Coordinated Program must successfully complete a criminal background check prior to beginning the program. The criminal background check must have been completed within six months of the first day of classes. Some supervised practice facilities may require additional criminal background checks, drug testing, fingerprinting, or other screening procedures as a condition of placement. Students are responsible for all costs associated with required screening procedures. Failure to satisfy program or supervised practice facility requirements may prevent participation in supervised practice experiences and may delay progression or completion of the program.
**Student Replacement of Employees and Compensation** *(Required elements 8.1.g.7, 8.1.k.3)*
Students completing supervised practice experiences will not be used to replace employees or perform routine staffing functions. Planned staff-relief experiences may occur when educationally appropriate and necessary to achieve program competencies. Such experiences are designed to enhance learning and are supervised in accordance with program requirements. Students are not compensated for supervised practice hours completed as part of program requirements.
**Supervised Practice Attendance** *(Required elements 8.1.g.1, 8.1.g.2)*
Students are responsible for coordinating supervised practice schedules directly with their assigned preceptors and complying with site-specific attendance expectations. If illness, emergency situations, severe weather, or other circumstances prevent attendance at a supervised practice experience, students are expected to notify the preceptor as soon as possible and communicate significant attendance concerns to program faculty in a timely manner. Students are expected to demonstrate professional communication and accountability regarding attendance, schedule changes, and missed supervised practice experiences. Students are required to complete all supervised practice hours and competency requirements for graduation. The program provides approximately 1,080 supervised practice hours.
Failure to meet attendance expectations, complete required hours, or demonstrate professional conduct during supervised practice experiences may result in remediation, delayed progression, or other actions as outlined in program policies.
**Typhon Group** *(Required element 8.1.g.2)*
Typhon is the management system used to:
- Track supervised practice hours
- Maintain student documentation
- Complete evaluations
- Monitor progression through supervised practice experiences
Students access Typhon using secure login credentials. Students are responsible for maintaining accurate and current records in Typhon, including supervised practice hours and required documentation. Program faculty review records to monitor student progression and completion of program requirements.
**Professional Dress Code** *(Required Element 8.1.g.1)*
Students are expected to maintain a professional appearance during supervised practice experiences. Failure to comply with dress requirements may result in dismissal from the site until appropriate attire is obtained. Time missed is counted as an absence.
Students must wear:
- Program name badge
- Arkansas State University identification badge
**Clinical Rotations**
Students are expected to wear professional attire appropriate to the practice setting.
Acceptable attire includes:
- White lab coat
- Scrubs
- Business-casual professional attire approved by the facility
Attire must be clean, neat, in good repair, and appropriate for patient care and professional interactions.
Not permitted:
- Jeans unless specifically approved by the site
- Shorts
- T-shirts unless specifically approved by the site
- Exercise clothing
- Clothing that is excessively tight, revealing, torn, or otherwise inappropriate for a professional healthcare environment
**Shoes**
- Closed-toe
- Closed-heel
- Low-heeled when appropriate for the setting
- Clean and in good condition
Tennis shoes or athletic shoes may be worn only when approved by the supervised practice site.
**Hair**
- Hair net must be worn in foodservice areas
- Facial hair must be neat and trimmed
**Food Service Rotations**
Requirements include:
- Slip-resistant shoes
- Minimal jewelry
- No gum chewing
- No candy while working
**Community Rotations**
Dress requirements vary by site.
When approved, students may wear:
- A-State T-shirt
- Plain red, black, or white T-shirt
- Jeans without holes
- Knee-length shorts
- Closed-toe shoes
**Additional Appearance Standards**
- Name badge visible at all times
- Nails kept trimmed
- Nail enhancements may be prohibited
- Excessive makeup is discouraged
- Strong perfumes, lotions, or colognes should not be worn
- Students should maintain good personal hygiene
Students must comply with appearance standards established by supervised practice facilities, including requirements regarding tattoos, facial piercings, jewelry, hair, nails, fragrances, and other grooming practices. Students must comply with any additional appearance, dress, grooming, safety, and identification requirements established by supervised practice facilities. Facility requirements supersede program dress code requirements.
**Orientation Days for Supervised Practice**
Attendance at all practicum orientation sessions is mandatory. Students must complete orientation requirements before beginning supervised practice experiences.