XNB444 Clinical Practice in Nutrition and Dietetics - Medical Nutrition Therapy 1
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | XNB444 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Completion of 288 credit points of XN45 units including XNH350, XNB346, XNB347, XNH348 and XNH356. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Understanding of human anatomy and physiology, nutrition across the lifecycle and medical nutrition therapy is assumed knowledge |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $5,784 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | XNB444 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | XNH448-1 and Completion of 288 credit points of XN45 units including XNH350, XNB346, XNB347, XNH348 and XNH356. XNH448-1 can be taught in the same teaching period as XNB444 |
| Coordinator: | Rebecca Knight | r.downes@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Dietitians work across a broad range of practice areas using professional knowledge in both clinical and non-clinical relationships with patients or clients, communities and populations to improve food and nutrition outcomes. This is the first of two five-week (full-time) work integrated learning placements you will undertake in a dynamic clinical health care setting, to enact clinically advanced, culturally responsive, person-centered dietetic care through the delivery of medical nutrition as a reflective practitioner.
The placement is designed to give you exposure to a range of cases to apply the nutrition care process. The purpose of this work integrated learning unit is to demonstrate your progression towards competence in this context and safety to practice as a dietitian in Australia.
This five-week placement is completed alongside XNH448-1 or XNH448-2, with 36 hours contributing to the volume of learning in XNH448-1 or XNH448-2.
This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Exercise professional autonomous judgement and responsibility to plan, implement and evaluate individualised client-centred nutrition across a variety of contexts.
- Execute safe, ethical and professional conduct to nutrition and dietetic practice.
- Critically reflect on the unpredictable complexities of practice and the role of quality management and organisational processes.
- Interpret and communicate technical food and nutrition information and skills to specialist and non specialist audiences.
- Collaborate within and across teams effectively in a culturally safe and responsive way to deliver inclusive, equitable and sustainable individualised nutrition and dietetic services.
Content
In this unit, you will be working in a health service setting delivering person centred, individualised medical therapy. You will demonstrate professional competencies in interviewing, data collection, dietary assessment, diagnosis, determination of goals and strategies, counselling and collaboration, workload management and professionalism.
Satisfactory demonstration of all competencies is required for entry to practice as a dietitian.
You may be required to attend placement outside the Brisbane metropolitan area.
Prior to proceeding to placement, you will be required to demonstrate evidence of active participation (including reflection) on specified cultural competency learning activities in earlier units of your course. These learning activities will specifically address working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and staff as well persons from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Specific skills and graduate capabilities you will develop include:
- knowledge and skills relevant to medical nutrition therapy;
- critical, creative and analytical thinking, and effective problem-solving;
- effective communication in a variety of contexts and modes;
- the capacity for life-long learning;
- the ability to work independently and collaboratively;
- social and ethical responsibility and an understanding of indigenous and international perspectives;
- characteristics of self-reliance and leadership.
Learning Approaches
This unit engages you in a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experience where you will apply your knowledge and skills in Medical Nutrition Therapy. Either individually or in pairs, you will be placed with supervisors based in the clinical setting. You are expected to demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills during your placement. You will receive support and direction from your supervisors during your placement. Tutorial assistance will be provided by QUT staff members.
The unit will be available in internal mode only. Your placement sites are negotiated by Nutrition and Dietetic staff on your behalf and communicated to you at the end of your third year. These will be subject to change and you will need to be flexible in order to accommodate any alterations. You may be required to attend placement across a number of geographical locations that are within and outside the metropolitan area. Assistance will be provided in accessing scholarships to assist with travel and accommodation costs, however, students will be responsible for covering these costs.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback regularly throughout your placement from your site clinical educator and supervisor. You are required to reflect on your performance in relation to the National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia and discuss this reflection with your clinical educator or supervisor. You will use QUT assessment tools as a template for this reflection and feedback. This feedback will inform your weekly learning goals and will assist your progression toward competence. You will also receive formative feedback from your unit coordinator at various intervals throughout your placement, which will be based on your reflections and supervisor feedback on the QUT assessment forms.
You will reflect on your learning with your peer throughout your placement (if placed without a peer, this will be facilitated with another student at another site doing their placement in the same block). In your final presentation you will engage and respond to peer feedback.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment information included on Canvas provides details of tasks for completion and the criteria to ensure all aspects are completed. You are encouraged to contact the unit co-ordinator with any questions or concerns about the assessment items.
For each context you are required to engage in reflexive practice and submit artefacts as part of your overarching portfolio that provide evidence of your competence. These artefacts have been developed so that they are authentic to the context. Different contexts will showcase different competencies and you will be moving through novice, advanced beginner and competent within these contexts. Being competent in one context does not necessarily imply you are competent in all contexts.
Assessment will be spaced throughout your placement to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be assessed formatively by your onsite clinical educator and supervisor using QUT assessment tools. Your unit coordinator will be responsible for summative assessment at the end of your placement, with assessment being graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
A thorough description of all assessment items will be provided during orientation to final year, and also at orientation to your placement held the week before placement commences each year.
Unit Grading Scheme
S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Placement Performance
You must complete the required time at your allocated placement site and demonstrate progressing towards satisfactory achievement of the National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia in this context. Demonstrating your achievement of competence includes the domains of Professional, Expert and Collaborative Practice. Satisfactory performance in this unit also includes professional conduct, as outlined in the Dietitians Australia Code of Conduct for Dietitians and Nutritionists, complying with the QUT Student Code of Conduct and being culturally safe.
The QUT Nutrition and Dietetic Placement Performance Assessment forms must be completed by you and confirmed by your supervisor/clinical educator. Placement performance will be assessed by your placement supervisor and/or clinical educator and unit coordinator.
QUT Nutrition and Dietetic Placement Performance Assessment forms are used across all your WIL units, and are explained at the beginning of year orientation, orientation prior to each placement, in your mid-placement tutorial, and materials on Canvas.
On your placement you will have access to sensitive information and will be subject to the health service standards and codes of conduct which include ensuring the maintenance of confidentiality, which at present restrict the use of tools such as GenAI.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited in this assessment.
Assessment: Portfolio
You collate a portfolio of evidence of your delivery of safe, individualised client centred nutrition care across a range of contexts. Your portfolio will include a description of cases, supervisor feedback, learning goals and evidence of progressing towards competence in this context.
This assessment task is authentic as you will be working in the role as a dietitian (under supervision) performing evidenced based practice tasks, delivering individualised dietetic nutrition care with clients in a health setting. Your portfolio is the compilation of evidence of your performance of this care, and comprises (de-identified) artifacts that show this work, and consistent with the records dietitians keep in practice in delivering this care, and undergoing professional supervision. Your supervisor will authenticate all work in your portfolio to verify it is your own. Your portfolio will support evidence of your progression towards competence in nutrition and dietetics including those in a medical nutrition therapy context.
On your placement and in preparing your portfolio you will have access to sensitive information and will be subject to the health service standards and codes of conduct which include ensuring the maintenance of confidentiality, which at present restrict the use of tools such as GenAI.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited in this assessment.
Assessment: Presentation
You will present a clinical case study based on one case experienced during your time on placement to your peers, QUT staff members and invited guests. You will use this case study to demonstrate your clinical reasoning and effective collaboration within and across teams in delivering inclusive client centred dietetic care. In your presentation, you will also be required to provide clarification to questions asked by audience members related to your case. You will also reflect on your placement experience and contribute critically to the discussion of your peers.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
This a Work Integrated Learning unit and you will need to meet mandatory requirements for vaccinations and criminal history screening.
Blue Card
A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.
Costs
This a Work Integrated Learning and you will be responsible for your own travel arrangements, including accommodation. You will also be expected to wear professional clothing (including safe footware) for your placement, with some sites also requiring your QUT Nutrition and Dietetic polo shirt.
Resources
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Escott-Stump (2022) Nutrition and Diagnosis-related Care (9th edition) Chicago IL, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Holli, B., and Beto, J. (2023). Communication and education skills for dietetics professionals (8th edition) Jones and Bartlett
Raymond, J. and Morrow, K. (Editors). (2022). Krause and Mahan's food and the nutrition care process (16th edition) St Louis, MO Elsevier/Saunders.
Stewart, R. (Editor). (2022). Handbook of clinical nutrition and dietetics. (7th edition). Newstead, Brisbane, Australian Dietitian
Other
Learning materials from other units are also expected to contribute to the theoretical background to this unit. Students are also expected to use key literature including published guidelines]
Risk Assessment Statement
Assessment for this unit will involve a workplace-based assignment. You should be aware of and abide by the health and safety requirements of the workplace. You are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate. You will be required to meet mandatory requirements including those for vaccination and suitability for working with special groups, please see the Workplace Integrated Learning website for further details.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.XN45 Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours)
- Apply advanced theoretical, technical and cultural knowledge and skills in food, nutrition and dietetics, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, tailored to respond to a diverse range of contexts and audiences.
Relates to: Placement Performance, Portfolio, Presentation - Critically analyse and apply evidence-based research and practice to generate informed, client-centred and sustainable solutions to complex current and emerging food, nutrition and dietetic problems.
Relates to: Placement Performance, Portfolio, Presentation - Communicate and translate complex food and nutrition information effectively, safely and inclusively using a range of oral, written and digital technologies and formats, responsive to the diverse cultural, social and cognitive needs of clients, interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders and the broader community.
Relates to: Placement Performance, Portfolio, Presentation - Enact inclusive, clinically adept and culturally responsive client-centred practice as a reflective, accountable and ethical professional, working autonomously and collaboratively to manage and lead innovative and entrepreneurial advances in food, nutrition and dietetics.
Relates to: Placement Performance, Portfolio, Presentation
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | XNB444 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | XNH448-1 and Completion of 288 credit points of XN45 units including XNH350, XNB346, XNB347, XNH348 and XNH356. XNH448-1 can be taught in the same teaching period as XNB444 |
Overview
Dietitians work across a broad range of practice areas using professional knowledge in both clinical and non-clinical relationships with patients or clients, communities and populations to improve food and nutrition outcomes. This is the first of two five-week (full-time) work integrated learning placements you will undertake in a dynamic clinical health care setting, to enact clinically advanced, culturally responsive, person-centered dietetic care through the delivery of medical nutrition as a reflective practitioner.
The placement is designed to give you exposure to a range of cases to apply the nutrition care process. The purpose of this work integrated learning unit is to demonstrate your progression towards competence in this context and safety to practice as a dietitian in Australia.
This five-week placement is completed alongside XNH448-1 or XNH448-2, with 36 hours contributing to the volume of learning in XNH448-1 or XNH448-2.
This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Exercise professional autonomous judgement and responsibility to plan, implement and evaluate individualised client-centred nutrition across a variety of contexts.
- Execute safe, ethical and professional conduct to nutrition and dietetic practice.
- Critically reflect on the unpredictable complexities of practice and the role of quality management and organisational processes.
- Interpret and communicate technical food and nutrition information and skills to specialist and non specialist audiences.
- Collaborate within and across teams effectively in a culturally safe and responsive way to deliver inclusive, equitable and sustainable individualised nutrition and dietetic services.
Content
In this unit, you will be working in a health service setting delivering person centred, individualised medical therapy. You will demonstrate professional competencies in interviewing, data collection, dietary assessment, diagnosis, determination of goals and strategies, counselling and collaboration, workload management and professionalism.
Satisfactory demonstration of all competencies is required for entry to practice as a dietitian.
You may be required to attend placement outside the Brisbane metropolitan area.
Prior to proceeding to placement, you will be required to demonstrate evidence of active participation (including reflection) on specified cultural competency learning activities in earlier units of your course. These learning activities will specifically address working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and staff as well persons from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Specific skills and graduate capabilities you will develop include:
- knowledge and skills relevant to medical nutrition therapy;
- critical, creative and analytical thinking, and effective problem-solving;
- effective communication in a variety of contexts and modes;
- the capacity for life-long learning;
- the ability to work independently and collaboratively;
- social and ethical responsibility and an understanding of indigenous and international perspectives;
- characteristics of self-reliance and leadership.
Learning Approaches
This unit engages you in a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experience where you will apply your knowledge and skills in Medical Nutrition Therapy. Either individually or in pairs, you will be placed with supervisors based in the clinical setting. You are expected to demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills during your placement. You will receive support and direction from your supervisors during your placement. Tutorial assistance will be provided by QUT staff members.
The unit will be available in internal mode only. Your placement sites are negotiated by Nutrition and Dietetic staff on your behalf and communicated to you at the end of your third year. These will be subject to change and you will need to be flexible in order to accommodate any alterations. You may be required to attend placement across a number of geographical locations that are within and outside the metropolitan area. Assistance will be provided in accessing scholarships to assist with travel and accommodation costs, however, students will be responsible for covering these costs.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback regularly throughout your placement from your site clinical educator and supervisor. You are required to reflect on your performance in relation to the National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia and discuss this reflection with your clinical educator or supervisor. You will use QUT assessment tools as a template for this reflection and feedback. This feedback will inform your weekly learning goals and will assist your progression toward competence. You will also receive formative feedback from your unit coordinator at various intervals throughout your placement, which will be based on your reflections and supervisor feedback on the QUT assessment forms.
You will reflect on your learning with your peer throughout your placement (if placed without a peer, this will be facilitated with another student at another site doing their placement in the same block). In your final presentation you will engage and respond to peer feedback.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment information included on Canvas provides details of tasks for completion and the criteria to ensure all aspects are completed. You are encouraged to contact the unit co-ordinator with any questions or concerns about the assessment items.
For each context you are required to engage in reflexive practice and submit artefacts as part of your overarching portfolio that provide evidence of your competence. These artefacts have been developed so that they are authentic to the context. Different contexts will showcase different competencies and you will be moving through novice, advanced beginner and competent within these contexts. Being competent in one context does not necessarily imply you are competent in all contexts.
Assessment will be spaced throughout your placement to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be assessed formatively by your onsite clinical educator and supervisor using QUT assessment tools. Your unit coordinator will be responsible for summative assessment at the end of your placement, with assessment being graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
A thorough description of all assessment items will be provided during orientation to final year, and also at orientation to your placement held the week before placement commences each year.
Unit Grading Scheme
S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Placement Performance
You must complete the required time at your allocated placement site and demonstrate progressing towards satisfactory achievement of the National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia in this context. Demonstrating your achievement of competence includes the domains of Professional, Expert and Collaborative Practice. Satisfactory performance in this unit also includes professional conduct, as outlined in the Dietitians Australia Code of Conduct for Dietitians and Nutritionists, complying with the QUT Student Code of Conduct and being culturally safe.
The QUT Nutrition and Dietetic Placement Performance Assessment forms must be completed by you and confirmed by your supervisor/clinical educator. Placement performance will be assessed by your placement supervisor and/or clinical educator and unit coordinator.
QUT Nutrition and Dietetic Placement Performance Assessment forms are used across all your WIL units, and are explained at the beginning of year orientation, orientation prior to each placement, in your mid-placement tutorial, and materials on Canvas.
On your placement you will have access to sensitive information and will be subject to the health service standards and codes of conduct which include ensuring the maintenance of confidentiality, which at present restrict the use of tools such as GenAI.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited in this assessment.
Assessment: Portfolio
You collate a portfolio of evidence of your delivery of safe, individualised client centred nutrition care across a range of contexts. Your portfolio will include a description of cases, supervisor feedback, learning goals and evidence of progressing towards competence in this context.
This assessment task is authentic as you will be working in the role as a dietitian (under supervision) performing evidenced based practice tasks, delivering individualised dietetic nutrition care with clients in a health setting. Your portfolio is the compilation of evidence of your performance of this care, and comprises (de-identified) artifacts that show this work, and consistent with the records dietitians keep in practice in delivering this care, and undergoing professional supervision. Your supervisor will authenticate all work in your portfolio to verify it is your own. Your portfolio will support evidence of your progression towards competence in nutrition and dietetics including those in a medical nutrition therapy context.
On your placement and in preparing your portfolio you will have access to sensitive information and will be subject to the health service standards and codes of conduct which include ensuring the maintenance of confidentiality, which at present restrict the use of tools such as GenAI.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited in this assessment.
Assessment: Presentation
You will present a clinical case study based on one case experienced during your time on placement to your peers, QUT staff members and invited guests. You will use this case study to demonstrate your clinical reasoning and effective collaboration within and across teams in delivering inclusive client centred dietetic care. In your presentation, you will also be required to provide clarification to questions asked by audience members related to your case. You will also reflect on your placement experience and contribute critically to the discussion of your peers.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
This a Work Integrated Learning unit and you will need to meet mandatory requirements for vaccinations and criminal history screening.
Blue Card
A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.
Costs
This a Work Integrated Learning and you will be responsible for your own travel arrangements, including accommodation. You will also be expected to wear professional clothing (including safe footware) for your placement, with some sites also requiring your QUT Nutrition and Dietetic polo shirt.
Resources
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Escott-Stump (2022) Nutrition and Diagnosis-related Care (9th edition) Chicago IL, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Holli, B., and Beto, J. (2023). Communication and education skills for dietetics professionals (8th edition) Jones and Bartlett
Raymond, J. and Morrow, K. (Editors). (2022). Krause and Mahan's food and the nutrition care process (16th edition) St Louis, MO Elsevier/Saunders.
Stewart, R. (Editor). (2022). Handbook of clinical nutrition and dietetics. (7th edition). Newstead, Brisbane, Australian Dietitian
Other
Learning materials from other units are also expected to contribute to the theoretical background to this unit. Students are also expected to use key literature including published guidelines]
Risk Assessment Statement
Assessment for this unit will involve a workplace-based assignment. You should be aware of and abide by the health and safety requirements of the workplace. You are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate. You will be required to meet mandatory requirements including those for vaccination and suitability for working with special groups, please see the Workplace Integrated Learning website for further details.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.XN45 Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours)
- Apply advanced theoretical, technical and cultural knowledge and skills in food, nutrition and dietetics, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, tailored to respond to a diverse range of contexts and audiences.
Relates to: Placement Performance, Portfolio, Presentation - Critically analyse and apply evidence-based research and practice to generate informed, client-centred and sustainable solutions to complex current and emerging food, nutrition and dietetic problems.
Relates to: Placement Performance, Portfolio, Presentation - Communicate and translate complex food and nutrition information effectively, safely and inclusively using a range of oral, written and digital technologies and formats, responsive to the diverse cultural, social and cognitive needs of clients, interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders and the broader community.
Relates to: Placement Performance, Portfolio, Presentation - Enact inclusive, clinically adept and culturally responsive client-centred practice as a reflective, accountable and ethical professional, working autonomously and collaboratively to manage and lead innovative and entrepreneurial advances in food, nutrition and dietetics.
Relates to: Placement Performance, Portfolio, Presentation