Community Health

I had the opportunity to shadow a nutritionist and a high risk RD during my two weeks rotations at three different WIC clinics.  I tremendously enjoyed counseling the clients of different ages and parents. This rotation provided me an opportunity to interact with clients from different backgrounds and social situations. At a few occasions I was requested by the preceptors to use my bilingual skills with Southeast Asian clients.

At WIC I had the opportunity to work with RDs and nutritionists who truly enjoy their work. This is one of the work ethic features that I highly value. In future, walking on the footsteps of these counselors, I want to be a part of such organization where I am able to provide community service while enjoying it.

 Following are some highlights of my experiences:

·          Performed anthropometrics for infants, children and pregnant clients.

·         Performed lab assessments and documented  results.

·         Independently assessed health history, performed nutrition and breastfeeding counseling, provided educational material for multiple clients.

·         Independently documented in the VENA documentation tool focusing on the goals and progress made on previous goals.

·         Documented nutritional risk codes based on priority level with PES statements for high risk clients.

·         Familiarized with Medical Request Special Formula prescription and  issued and documented food and formula packages and NE codes.

·         Attended the monthly staff meeting and learned about new risk codes, income calculations, breastfeeding updates, graphing techniques,etc.

·         Produced and presented a nutrition education session for WIC staff during the monthly meeting.

·         Planned and performed a nutrition education class and gave handouts to 11 clients. 

 Staff Relief

During the WIC rotation I truly enjoyed the high risk counselling and interaction with the clients, so I decided to go back to WIC for my staff relief. During this period, I resumed the responsibility of an RD and performed high risk counselling and nutrition education sessions. 

 I performed family counselling to mothers of FTT and obese children. I also developed lesson plans for obesity prevention grant and wrote grant proposal including the budget. I also had an opportunity to assist the team during a quarterly WIC food delivery audit of a clinic. In addition, I assisted with a WIC store eligibility audit at a Super Target store.  

Following are some highlights of my experience at WIC:

•      Assisted with anthropometric and biochemical measures and documented results for WIC clients.

•      Performed mid-certs and re-certs, and issued and documented food packages.

•      Assessed health history, performed diet recalls, nutrition education and counseling and provided educational material for a variety of WIC clients.

•      Assigned and documented nutritional risk codes based on priority level.

•      Documented in the VENA documentation tool focusing on the goals and progress made on previous goals.

•      Planned and performed five nutrition education classes, delivered handouts and answered questions.

•      Utilized principles of behavior change for high risk counseling.

•      Performed a store audit to measure compliance for WIC food provision.

•      Assisted the dietitian with a quarterly food delivery audit of a WIC clinic.

•      Developed a lesson plan for health promotion in accordance with the Obesity Prevention Mini Grant. Designed pre and post surveys, a handout and a healthful recipe for the lesson plan.

•       Developed a mini Obesity Prevention Grant on the topic of “Going Skinny on Fats”, that included a budget, staffing needs, equipment and supplies.

•      Provided staff relief at different clinics during staff shortages.