Field Placement: Veteran's Administration (VA) Hospitals -- Sepulveda VA and West Los Angeles VA
Preceptor: Carrie Johnsen, MPH, RD
Student Name: Jill DeJager
Year: 2002


Who
The target population of my internship varied weekly, but always involved a group of people or individuals that would benefit from nutritional intervention. My primary target population were veterans at both the Sepulveda VA and the West LA VA Medical Center. The veterans were primarily male and middle aged to elderly with serious health problems including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, morbid obesity, and hypercholesterolemia. The secondary populations I interacted with included children with Type I diabetes, low-income mothers and children involved in the WIC program, and new breastfeeding mothers seeking lactation support in the Santa Monica community.

What
Each population I worked with had special needs determined in part by the varying health challenges, ages, socioeconomic status, gender and various learning styles presented. My experiences with the veterans were most often one on one nutritional counseling sessions that involved empowering veterans through awareness and education to be able to make smarter dietary choices that would positively impact their health outcomes. After raising awareness and educating, a key component was to create a plan of action with each patient. Each patient was responsible to determine what changes would be feasible for them to make. The dietitian then teaches and helps to facilitate dietary changes that can improve health status and quality of life.

When & Where
My internship took place from June of 2002 to September of 2002. I worked 40 or more hours per week typically from 7:30 to 4:30. I worked at the Sepulveda VA and West Los Angeles VA primarily counseling patients. I was also able to spend 8 days at a children's diabetes camp in the San Bernardino Mountains teaching kids how to better control their blood sugar and how to count carbohydrates. Additionally, I had the privilege of assisting with lactation support groups at The Pump Station in Santa Monica. I was also involved in the Receda WIC program for two weeks.

How
Nutritional education was carried out through the utilization of food models to show portion sizes and aid in counting carbohydrates, through instructional nutritional videos, though classroom education and question/answer sessions, through educational handouts and worksheets to be completed by patients, and even through educational games and discussion.

Why
I chose this internship because I know how powerful the impact of positive nutritional choices can be on the community and the individual and I want to be advocate of nutrition by helping to empower and educate others.

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