Clinical Experiences through Supervised Practice

Clinical experiences through supervised practice

The Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics + Dietetic Internship includes 1,016 hours of supervised practice at various hospitals, clinics, and community-based organizations. Additionally, students go through 32 hours of orientation to learn more about the program requirements and engage with faculty and staff.

The program will follow the Indiana University Indianapolis school calendar for scheduling courses and supervised practice rotations. The exceptions include orientation that will begin on the Tuesday prior to the start of fall classes and students' self-selected capstone. 

Clinical Nutrition Rotations and Sites

Clinical Nutrition I (128 hours) Students practice the basics of patient nutrition assessment, interview, and education skills, charting, and provide medical nutrition therapy to patients including those requiring enteral feeding. Examples include:     

  • Community Hospital South, Indianapolis
  • Community Hospital East, Indianapolis
  • Hancock Regional Hospital, Greenfield
  • Hendricks Regional Health, Danville
  • IU Health Bloomington Hospital, Bloomington
  • IU Health North Medical Center, Carmel
  • Neuro Diagnostic Institute, Indianapolis
  • Riverview Hospital, Noblesville

Clinical Nutrition II (128 hours) Students provide medical nutrition therapy to more complex patients including those requiring parenteral feeding. Examples include:

  • Franciscan Health, Indianapolis
  • IU Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis
  • IU Health Outpatient Clinics, Indianapolis
  • IU Health University Hospital, Indianapolis
  • Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, Indianapolis

Outpatient Diabetes Clinic Rotation (64 hours) Students experience diabetes both as a caregiver and as a “patient.” Each student develops a personal eating plan, monitors blood glucose levels, and self-treats with saline (representing insulin) during this rotation. Examples include:

  • Franciscan Physician Network Diabetes Education Program, Indianapolis
  • IU Health University Hospital, Indianapolis

Pediatric Rotation (64 hours) Students will be introduced to the unique nutritional requirements of hospitalized children in a tertiary care setting.

  • Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, Indianapolis

Food Systems, Foodservice, and Management Rotations and Sites

Food Systems Core Rotation (256 hours) Students work with nutrition and food service professionals in food production, purchasing, management, marketing, and finance as applied to health care food systems management. Samples include:

  • Franciscan Health, Indianapolis
  • Hendricks Regional Health, Danville
  • IU Health Bloomington Hospital, Bloomington
  • IU Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis
  • IU Health North Medical Center, Carmel
  • Richard L. Roudebush Veterans’ Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis
  • Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, Indianapolis
  • Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital, Indianapolis

Extended Care Rotation (32 hours) Students work in nursing homes, assisted living and rehabilitation programs. This is a blended rotation that includes a mix of food service and the provision of medical nutrition therapy to patients. This rotation includes special attention to patient hydration, drug side effects, and interactions. Samples include:

  • Beaumont Rehab Center, Anderson
  • Beech Grove Meadows, Beech Grove
  • Bridgewater Healthcare Center, Carmel
  • Countryside Meadows, Avon
  • Greenwood Meadows Senior Living, Greenwood
  • Majestic Care, Avon
  • Otterbein Senior Care Franklin Community, Franklin
  • Rosegate Village, Indianapolis
  • Rosewalk Village, Lafayette
  • Westminster Village North, Indianapolis
  • Willow Springs Living Center, Indianapolis

School Food Service and Nutrition Education (64 hours) Students participate in the management of school feeding and in nutrition education activities in township schools in Marion, Hamilton, and Johnson counties. Samples include:

  • Carmel Clay Schools, Carmel
  • Center Grove Community School Corporation, Greenwood
  • Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation, Whiteland
  • Decatur Township Schools, Indianapolis
  • Franklin Township Schools, Indianapolis
  • Hamilton Southeastern Schools, Fishers
  • Noblesville Schools, Noblesville
  • Pike Township Schools, Indianapolis

Community Nutrition Rotations and Sites

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program (32 hours) Students assess, interview, and educate low-income mothers and their children on essentials of nutrition for themselves and their children. Partnership examples are:

  • Marion County WIC Clinics, Indianapolis
  • Johnson County WIC Clinics, Franklin
  • Shelby County WIC Clinics, Shelbyville

Community Services Experience (96 hours) Students will be involved in short-term experiences. Partnership examples are:

  • American Dairy Association 
  • Cathedral Kitchen (a soup kitchen and food pantry), Indianapolis
  • Central Indiana Coalition on Aging, Indianapolis
  • Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis
  • Marion County Public Health Department, Indianapolis
  • IU Indianapolis Health Fair

Internship Area of Specialization

Clinical and Customer Service Capstone Rotation (120 hours) Each student develops an individualized experience developing their own learning goals and activities. Final capstone rotation plans may include any area of dietetics, must require entry-level competency, and must be approved by the faculty.

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