F&N 415: Practicum in Nutrition, Fitness, and Health

 

Fall 2004                                                                                                                                                        Instructor:  Rachel A. Geik, MS, RD

Monday 10:30 – 11:20, LILY 3418*                                                                                                                 Office phone: 496-2711                    

Friday 10:30 – 1:20, LILY G424*                                                                                                                     Email:  geikr@purdue.edu

*Location may vary throughout the semester*                                                                                                                                                           Office:  Stone Hall, G-1

Office hours:  by appointment                

 

                       

Course Overview

 

This course is a “capstone” course; that is, one that brings together the theory, knowledge, and skills that you’ve gained throughout the Nutrition, Fitness, and Health (NFH) program so that you may apply them in a “live” setting.  This semester, you will be matched with a client (not another student) with whom you will meet on a weekly basis with the goal of helping the client improve his/her nutrition, fitness, and overall health status.  This experience will allow you the opportunity to sharpen your nutrition and fitness assessment skills, interpret assessment data, set goals and objectives with clients, design and implement individualized nutrition and fitness programs, counsel clients on a regular basis, incorporate behavioral strategies, follow clients’ progress, evaluate the effectiveness of the nutrition and fitness programs you designed and implemented, document all interactions with clients, and discuss with your classmates the successes and barriers you’ve experienced with your client.  This is an opportunity to gain field experience in nutrition, fitness, and health.

 

 

 

Course Objectives

 

1)      Collect, analyze, and interpret nutrition and fitness assessment data.

2)      Organize all aspects of interaction with the client (logistics, educational materials, short- and long-term planning, etc).

3)      Use critical thinking skills to elicit pertinent client information, evaluate client information, and guide the client toward positive changes.

4)      Accurately and concisely document interactions with client.

5)      Creatively apply nutrition and fitness knowledge.

6)      Communicate effectively with the client. 

7)      Evaluate effectiveness of intervention; make necessary changes.

8)      Recognize the ‘gray’ areas of one-on-one nutrition and fitness counseling, and develop professional judgment and critical thinking skills.

9)      Utilize information technology and other methods of inquiry to accomplish all of the above.

 

 

 

Required

 

ü      ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 6th edition, 2000

 

ü      Food Medication Interactions, 13th edition by Zaneta Pronsky, MS, RD, FADA

 

ü      CPR certification prior to client interaction.  If you are already certified, I must have a photocopy of your CPR card (front and back) by September 17.  If you are not certified, you must become certified by September 19.

 

ü      Professional liability insurance.  Please make a check (no cash) for $8.81 payable to Purdue University.  Payment due by Friday, September 3.

 

 

Recommended

 

ü      Advanced Fitness Assessment & Exercise Prescription, 4th edition, by Vivian H. Heyward, 2002

 

 

Attendance

 

Attendance at all class meetings is vital and mandatory.  In the event of an illness, accident, or emergency, when circumstances permit, the student should make direct contact with his/her instructor or teaching assistant, preferably before a class or meeting takes place.  If the instructor or TA cannot be reached in person or by telephone, the student should leave a message in the instructor's department mailbox (Stone G-1) or with the instructor's secretary (Mary or Marilyn 49-48791) or in the instructor’s voice mailbox (49-62711) or via email (geikr@purdue.edu).  Absences may be excused with prior notification of the instructor.  An unexcused absence will result in a 30-point deduction from your total points.    (An unexcused absence constitutes anything less than full attendance to a class without prior notification given to the instructor)

 

 

Client Interaction Guidelines

 

ü      It will be useful to your understanding of the course requirements if you view client sessions as being of different types:

·         Assessment meetings … These are the first 2 meetings with your client – one to assess nutrition status and one to assess fitness status.  Sometimes, the fitness assessment takes 2 sessions to complete – that is not unusual, and there is no penalty.  For documentation, use the “Nutrition Assessment” or “Exercise Assessment” form, and also the “Nutrition Rx” or “Fitness Rx” form.  Credit possible per meeting is 30 points for the meeting and 30 points for the documentation.

·         Follow-up (F/U) meetings … In these meetings, you present new nutrition, exercise and/or general health info to the client in a one-on-one consultation format.  This also includes any exercise session at which you are setting the client up on new elements.  The first exercise session with your client falls into this category, as would an exercise session at which you change the exercise prescription/routine and/or introduce new elements.  Most nutrition-oriented meetings fall into this category.  For documentation, use the “Follow-up” form.  Also, complete the “Nutrition Rx” or “Fitness Rx” form if you update the client’s nutrition or fitness prescription.  Credit possible per meeting is 30 points for the meeting and 30 points for the documentation.

·         Exercise-only meetings … These meetings are ones in which the client is exercising.  You may or may not be exercising along with them, but no new information or elements are being introduced; that is, everything done in this type of meetings has been approved/witnessed by the instructor at a previous meeting.  These are the only meetings that do not require instructor supervision.  You must, however, inform the instructor that the meeting is occurring at least 1 day prior.  For documentation, use the “Exercise Only” form.  Credit possible per meeting is 10 points for the meeting and documentation.

·         Nutrition Re-Assessment meeting … Since you have been closely following the client’s nutrition status over the past several weeks, there is not often a need to devote an entire session to nutrition re-assessment.  Providing a 3-day food record form and explanation on how to correctly complete it is often sufficient.  The remainder of the meeting can be spent covering other topic(s).  This is typically the third-to-last meeting.  For documentation, use the “Follow-Up” form.  Credit possible per session is 30 points for the meeting and 30 points for the documentation.

·         Fitness Re-Assessment meeting … This meeting is the one in which you re-assess the client’s fitness status.  This is typically the second-to-last meeting.  For documentation, use the “Fitness Re-Assessment” form.  Credit possible per session is 30 points for the meeting and 30 points for the documentation.

·         Wrap-up meeting … This is the final meeting with your client.  For documentation, use the “Wrap-Up” form.  Credit possible per session is 30 points for the meeting and 30 points for the documentation.

 

 

ü      Be on time for all client appointments.

 

ü      Not appearing for a scheduled client appointment is completely unacceptable.

 

ü      Dress appropriately. 

 

ü      ALL counseling sessions must be attended by the instructor.  The only exception is an exercise-only session where the exercise routine is one that has been done before and there are no new elements being introduced.

 

ü      You are responsible for scheduling appointments with your clients.  You must coordinate several schedules: yours, your client’s, the instructor’s, and that of the consultation/assessment room.

 

ü      One day prior to every meeting, you must email or telephone a “reminder” to the client and the instructor stating the day, date, time, location, and any special instructions.  Failure to do so will result in a 5-point deduction.

 

ü      The first meeting with your client must be done by Friday, September 24.

 

ü      Strive for 1 client meeting per week.

 

ü      A minimum of 9 client meetings is required.  These 9 include assessments, re-assessments, follow-up, and wrap-up meetings. 

 

ü      You may conduct more than 9 client meetings if you and the client wish to.  Documentation is required for these meetings as well. 

 

ü      You must conduct at least 3 exercise-only meetings.  These exercise meetings can be before or after a follow-up meeting or completely separate from a follow-up meeting.  These meetings do not count toward the 9 required client sessions, though you will receive points for them (see ‘Exercise-only meetings’ in the Evaluation section of syllabus).  Credit for conducting a 4th exercise meeting will be extra credit.  You may conduct additional (5 or more) exercise-only meetings, but will not receive extra credit for them.  You must continue to follow the course guidelines with any “extra” meetings.

 

ü      Documentation is required following EVERY meeting with your client.  It is due 3 weekdays after every client meeting.  For every weekday late, 3 points will be deducted.

 

Week   1          Preparation; no client meetings during this time

            2          Preparation; no client meetings during this time

            3          Preparation; no client meetings during this time

            4          Preparation; no client meetings during this time

            5          Assessment meeting (nutrition or fitness)

            6          Assessment meeting (nutrition or fitness)

            7          Follow-up meeting

Minimum of 9 meetings required

 

Also conduct 3 exercise-only sessions after fitness assessment is completed and client has been oriented to his/her fitness program

 
            8          Follow-up meeting (October break)

            9          Follow-up meeting

10        Follow-up meeting

11        Follow-up meeting

12        Follow-up meeting

13        Follow-up meeting

14        Follow-up / Nutrition Re-Assessment meeting (give 3-d food record to re-assess nutrition) (Thanksgiving)

15        Fitness re-assessment meeting (also collect 3-day food record)

16        Final wrap-up meeting

Roundtable Discussion Requirements

 

(once weekly, beginning Monday, September 27)

 

ü      Bring your client file.

 

ü      Give a brief description/update of your most recent client meeting.

 

ü      What are your priorities/goals for your client and/or your current focus?

 

ü      Discuss a tool, technique, assessment, and/or counseling method that you have used/plan to use with your client.  Also, for what purpose is the tool, technique, assessment, counseling method being used?  What does it help to achieve?  What obstacle(s) does it help to overcome?  What is the advantage in using it? 

 

ü      Pose at least one question/issue to your classmates.  For example, “I am concerned that my client is overnourished: she takes a multivitamin, an antioxidant supplement, Total cereal (2 svgs/day), and usually one or two other fortified foods every day.  Is this a problem?  If so, how do I approach the client about it?”

 

ü      Each student’s discussion of their client should be approximately 5-10 minutes.  This is given as a guideline only, not as a basis for grading.  Time-related points will be deducted only if the previous points are not discussed adequately by the student and/or the student is not concise in discussing the previous points.

 

 

Client Summary Presentation

 

(Friday, December 10)

 

This presentation is not required to be on powerpoint or overheads, although these may be helpful.  Each of you is required to have a typed outline of your presentation to turn in to me at the beginning of the class, Friday, December 10.  You should take us from the beginning to the end of your client experience.  Include:

 

1)      Your first impressions of the client and his/her nutrition and exercise shortcomings (from the client packet information)

2)      How those first impressions were correct and/or incorrect

3)      A list of your goals for your client

4)      If/how those goals differed from the client’s goals

5)      A brief overview of what happened during your time with the client (topics covered, exercise schedule, nutrition modifications)

6)      What were the client’s most significant barriers?

7)      How those barriers were/were not overcome (what tools or methods or techniques were useful or not)

8)      What aspects of your client’s mindset/behaviors/habits/misinformation were most problematic?

9)      The nutrition and exercise prescriptions (what were they, why were these chosen over other options (rationale), if/how they changed)

10)  If/how the client changed in relation to nutrition and fitness

11)  During your time with the client, what (if anything) occurred that was unexpected?

12)  What topics/aspects did you feel unprepared to deal with?

13)  What were the one or two or three main things that you learned from this experience?

14)  What was the most difficult issue or barrier, etc. that you had to deal with?

15)  Do you feel that your prior coursework could have better prepared you for this experience?  If so, how?  What do you feel that your coursework has not provided you with?

 

Each of you will discuss #1-5 in reference to your client.  Then we will discuss each of the remaining questions one by one.  For example, after everyone gives a brief overview of their client by answering #1-5, each of you will respond to #6.  Then we'll start again with everyone's response to #7, then everyone's response to #8, and so on...

 

 

Evaluation

 

                                                                                                Points each      Total points

Assessment demo (1)                                       10                     10

Food record (FR)  analysis (1)                          30                     30

FR evaluation/assessment (1)                           30                      30

Time in TIC (3 hours)                                       10/hr                 30

Action plan meeting (1)                                    50                     50

Client sessions (assessments & F/U’s) (9)          30                    270

Documentation (1 per session = 9)                    30                    270

Exercise-only sessions + documentation (3)      10                     30

Roundtable participation (9)                             10                      90

Client evaluation of student (1)                         50                     50

Client summary presentation (1)                       50                     50

 

 

Late Deductions

 

Any assignment that is late will have 10% of its total point value deducted for each weekday that it is late.

 

Grading Scale

 

A: >90%          B: 80-89%       C: 70-79%       D: 65-69%       F: <65%

 

Ethics & Academic Integrity

 

Purdue University and the Department of Foods & Nutrition value intellectual integrity and the highest standards of academic conduct.  Dishonesty is not an acceptable avenue to success and will not be tolerated.  Cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the University are examples of dishonesty.  Please refer to http://www.purdue.edu/odos/administration/integrity.htm  and/or http://www.purdue.edu/odos/administration/brochures.htm and/or your student handbook. Also, please keep in mind that you will be dealing with a real person with real problems and real health risks – do not take lightly the recommendations that you provide to this person. 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTE

 

In this class, clients are not fictional or case studies on paper, but real people.  Therefore, student provision of recommendations must be closely monitored and evaluated by the instructor.  This is simply quality control to ensure correct information is imparted that really can benefit the clients.  I will provide you with direction throughout your sessions with your client, but if I feel that you are not providing the client with adequate and/or appropriate advice, you may be required to take on extra assignments to help you provide the care that your client requires and deserves.  If it is necessary to actually interrupt the session, please consider it is in the spirit of the "teaching moment" and for both your benefit as well as the client's.



Wk

Day

Date

Location

Topic

Read for next class

Assignment(s) given

Assignment(s) Due

1

 

Mon

Aug 23

LILY 3418

 

Introduction

Syllabus

ACSM Ch. 2, 3 & 4

Informed consent

TIC handbook

 

Assessment demo

 

 

 

 

Fri

Aug 27

Ismail Center (TIC)

 

Fitness Assessment

ACSM position stand

   (2001: Intervention

   for weight loss…)

Food record analysis

Spend time in TIC

 

Assessment demo

 

  

2

 

Mon

Aug 30

LILY 3418

 

Nutrition Management: Plans & Standards

 

Review nutrition

    assessment  

 

Make appt with

  instructor to

  present Action Plan.

 

 

 

Fri

Sep 3

LILY G424

Nutrition Assessment

Abbreviations

“The Tub”

ACSM Ch. 7 & 10

 

Food record

   eval/assessment

 

Food record

   analysis Professional

   liability

   insurance

 

 

3

 

 

Mon

 

Sep 6

 

LABOR

 

DAY …  NO CLASS

 

Present Action Plan to

   instructor this week.

 

 

 

Fri

Sep 10

TIC

Resistance Training methods and equipment

ACSM position stands (1998, 2002, 2004)

 

 

Action Plan appt

   by Sept 10

 

4

Mon

Sep 13

LILY 3418

 

Resistance Training theory

ACSM Ch. 12

Action Plan revisions

   due this week.

Contact client to set

   up 1st meeting.

 

 

Food record

   eval/assessment

 

Wk

Day

Date

Location

Topic

Read for next class

Assignment(s) given