Long Distance Internship

Invest In Your Future

Long distance interns for the Larkin Community Hospital dietetic internship program must find facilities and preceptors to complete their rotations.

Please submit the following forms with your application. If you require further assistance please contact Su-Nui Escobar at sescobar@larkinhospital.com.

Potential Preceptor Form Facility Form

How to Find Preceptors

  • Find a preceptor using the “Preceptors and Mentors” page on the Academy of Dietetic of Nutrition website.
  • Contact local hospitals
  • Contact your local community sites
  • Contact your local Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Preceptors and Mentors

Strategies and Tips for preceptor selection:

  • Work as diet aide or similar position at a hospital. This will allow the dietitians the opportunity to get to know you well.
  • Start looking for your preceptors and facilities EARLY! This process may take some time, give yourself the flexibility to find your desired facility and preceptors.
  • Consider any dietitians you may have met throughout your educational, volunteering or work-related experiences.
  • Dietitians are often guest speakers from your dietetics classes or any meeting you may be involved in, contact and network with them.
  • Network with members of your local chapter of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, even if those contacts cannot/do not desire to precept you, they may be able to refer you to colleagues who may be interested and available.

Facility Requirements for Larkin Dietetic Internship Rotations Clinical Rotation

Time Allowed

  • Acute Care – (184 hours)
  • Intensive Care Unit – (80 hours)
  • Staff Relief – (80 hours)

Approved Facilities

  • Medical Center/Health System with an intensive care unit.
  • Community Hospital with intensive care unit.
  • Up to 80 hours can be done in outpatient facilities, long term care facilities, eating disorder clinics or dialysis centers.

Facilities Not Allowed

  • Commercial Weight Loss Center
  • Doctor’s office

Hospitals with more than 80 beds will be able to provide a better-rounded experience in critical care, nutrition support, and other high-risk patients than those with fewer beds. A facility with fewer than 80 beds must be approved by the Larkin Dietetic Internship Director.

Note that didactics hours will complete the hours not counted in the rotation. You must complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience.

Time Required

  • Elective – (80 hours)

Approved Facilities

  • Any facility with a full time Registered Dietitian

Facilities Not Allowed

  • Facilities without a full time Registered Dietitian

Management Rotation

Time Allowed

  • 248 hours

Approved Facilities

  • Public School District
  • Medical Center
  • Community Hospital

Facilities Not Allowed

  • Catering company
  • No private or charter schools unless they follow USDA School Lunch Guidelines
  • Restaurants or Spas

*Primary preceptor does not have to be an RDN, however, must have at least one year experience in a management position and be credentialed as appropriate for the position.

Community Rotation

Time Allowed

  • 344 hours

Approved Facilities

  • WIC
  • Department of Health
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Food Bank
  • Eating Disorder Clinic
  • Cooking Matters Program
  • YMCA outpatient education programs
  • Public School District – nutrition education

Facilities Not Allowed

  • Outpatient facilities such as diabetes or weight loss centers and/or renal centers.
  • You can decide how many facilities you would like to intern at to complete the community rotation.
  • Two or more facilities may be beneficial and necessary to meet CDR objectives for the community rotation.
  • Community preceptors must be  a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.