2024-2025 Program
The primary objective of our program is to train qualified individuals to become competent dietitians. Our program will give you options to continue your education and begin a promising career.
You will experience supervised practice rotations in over 10 different sites including acute care, LTC, dialysis, foodservice management, community, pediatrics, and sports medicine. Our team of over 30 preceptors and program faculty focus on you being prepared and confident as you start your career. Over the past 5 years, 100 % of our graduates have passed the RD exam within one year and over 300 graduates have completed our program since 1982.
2024-2025 Program
For the 2024-25 class, six dietetic interns will be selected for the program. For the six interns matched in the spring of 2024, the combined DI/MPS program will be a 12-15-month internship program beginning in early June 2024 and ending the following summer in August 2025.
Curriculum, Schedule, and Program Completion
The program currently provides approximately 1050 supervised practice hours (from mid-August to mid-May) as follows:
Orientation Mid-August (2 weeks)
Dietetic intern classes Mondays, once a month
Alvin C. York VA Medical Center 5 weeks (160 hours)
Horizon Medical Center (clinical) 4 weeks (128 hours)
Fresenius Kidney Care 3 weeks (96 hours)
Lebanon Special Schools 1 week (32 hours)
NHC (clinical) 4 weeks (128 hours)
NHC (food services) 4 weeks (128 hours)
Pediatric (LeBonheur, Boling CDD) 1 week (32 hours)
Skyline Medical Center (clinical) 5 weeks (160 hours)
TwelveStone (nutrition support/wellness) 1 week (32 hours)
Wellness and Fitness 1 weeks (32 hours)
NHC (staff relief) 3 weeks (120 hours)
The 15-month, fully online MPS degree (June 2024-August 2025) that is completed in conjunction with the supervised practice portion of the program was completed from early June 2023 through August 2024.
Summer 2023 (9 credit hours, does not have to be completed in middle TN)
PRST 6600 – Statistical Analysis
PRST 6100 – Professional Environment: Issues and Ethics July Session
3 credit hours from a list of several courses in the MPS or NFS program
Fall 2023 (6 credit hours)
PRST 6300 – Research Methods
HSC 6530 – Effective Program Management
Spring 2024 (6 credit hours)
PRST 6000 – Leading Organization Transformation
NFS 6300 – Entrepreneurial Skills for Nutrition Professionals
Summer 2024 (9 credit hours)
PRST 6998 – Professional Project
Final 6 credit hours are awarded after completing the program, at no cost
The NHC Dietetic Internship is completed on a full-time schedule beginning in early June and extending into mid-August of the following year. Most weeks consist of at least 40 hours per week of classes and supervised practice experiences, with completion of written assignments on rotations and in graduate classes. A two-week orientation is mandatory for all interns held at NHC corporate office in Murfreesboro, TN in mid-August.
Before starting the program, interns must have proof of medical insurance, have professional liability insurance (paid for by NHC), drug screen (paid up to $50 by NHC), background check (reimbursed by NHC), and health form requirement. Currently, the supervised practice hours are completed Tuesdays through Fridays except for approximately two weekends when interns would possibly travel.
If a leave of absence is requested and approved by the director, the program requirements must be completed within 150% of the program length or 23 months. Information regarding leave of absences will be discussed further in the policy and procedure manual upon acceptance into the dietetic internship. A master rotation schedule is given to each student at the beginning of the program and monthly Monday class schedules are given to interns at least two weeks ahead of time.
Planned learning experiences shall be offered in logical progression from introductory to the expected degree of competence in program graduates. RD Exam practice tests will be administered throughout the year. In addition, once rotations and coursework is completed, the interns will complete procedures for eligibility to take the RD examination. The RDE misuse form will be explained by the director and signed by students to be kept in their student files.
Upon graduation, students are expected to have met core competencies and all graduate courses with the required grades. Successful completion of all didactic training, 1000+ supervised practice hours, rotation assignments and graduate coursework, will ensure that the core competencies for entry-level dietetics have been met and that a verification statement will be issued to graduates. Grading expectations are listed in the policy and procedure manual.
Memphis Training
One week of pediatric training will be scheduled in the spring in Memphis, Tennessee. When traveling to Memphis, housing is by NHC. Some meals and gas are reimbursed by NHC. The projected cost to the intern for the Memphis rotation is approximately $100.
Staff Relief
Staff relief is scheduled at an approved NHC facility in a convenient location for minimal lodging and/or travel costs to the intern.
Complaint Policy
Any grievances or complaints about the dietetic internship should first be presented to the director. If the intern is dissatisfied with the results of the conference with the director, then the intern should make a request, in writing, for a conference with the grievance committee. The Grievance Committee will be composed of at least two (2) dietitians of NHC, the director, and a staff member of the home office of NHC. If the intern is still dissatisfied, then a written request should be made for a conference with the senior vice president of patient services. All grievances will be documented and signed by the director and the intern. The original will be filed in the intern’s folder and kept on file in the office of the director.
If the intern has a grievance or complaint related to their graduate courses at MTSU, they will be encouraged to discuss it with their MTSU professor first, then their MTSU advisor. If that does not resolve the issue, they will be encouraged to discuss it with the DI Director who will help direct them to the proper MTSU contact.
If an individual other than an intern such as faculty, preceptor, dietetics practitioner and/or member of the public has a complaint, they may submit a complaint against the program. If the complaint can be addressed with the program director, that is the first course of action. If it is believed that it can’t be resolved through the program director, the complaint can be brought to the senior vice-president of patient services.
The procedure to file complaints against accredited programs to ACEND is discussed in the policy and procedure manual. Please submit complaints directly to ACEND only after all other options with the program and the institution have been exhausted. All grievances will be handled in a manner that prevents retaliation.
Classes
Interns will meet approximately once a month on Mondays for dietetic internship classes on various topics throughout the entire program. Interns will complete their online MPS graduate coursework on evenings, weekends and Mondays.