A Registered Dietitian, or RD, is someone who has completed a bachelor's degree in nutrition science, completed an internship approved by the ACEND, and taken a registration exam. Dietitians help people learn to eat a more healthy diet, either to help improve their health, keep them healthy, or prevent future disease.
The classroom portion of the dietitian's education includes courses in human biology and chemistry; food science classes including food labs; instruction on how to counsel people for behavior change; and nutrition courses from basic through advanced, such as principles of nutrition, clinical nutrition, and medical nutritional therapy.
Then the student must complete a 9-month internship program, where they get the chance to work side by side with their preceptor in sites that may include a nursing home, hospital, school foodservice environment, dialysis unit or oncology outpatient setting.
Once the education portion is complete, the RD candidate takes a national registry exam. After passing the exam, the initials "RD" for Registered Dietitian can be used to demonstrate that this person is indeed the nutrition expert!
Job openings at the time of this post include positions for: dietitians in hemodialysis clinics; out-patient oncology dietitians; pediatric nutrition specialist; clinical dietitian I and II through hospitals with Sodexo foodservice contracts; food service managers at assisted living facilities and nursing homes; contract RDs for nursing home resident assessments and menu development and approval; part-time positions at Kindred long-term acute care facilities; and enteral sales positions for Lincare and Abbott Laboratories.
Dietitians work wherever there are individuals or groups with specialized nutritional needs. They can work in spas and health clubs, jails, hospitals, nursing homes and schools.
Each dietitian has an affinity for what clientele they enjoy working with. Some feel fulfilled working with people who are ill and striving to improve their nutrition and health status. Others prefer clients who are healthy, and motivated to stay well by eating the best diet they can. And certain RDs enjoy a management role where they can lead a staff of food-service workers and other dietitians and run an efficient department in a hospital, school, nursing home, or assisted living facility.
Dietitians work in corporate health settings, reducing insurance costs of large companies by maintaining the health of employees.
Dietitians work as speakers, authors, coaches and teachers.
Once a person has the "RD" after their name, there are a wealth of options to choose from for a lifetime of employment. There is certainly job security is this field. As long as people eat, live in group settings, want to improve or maintain their health, and have questions about diets... we will have jobs!
Would you like to join the ranks and become a Registered Dietitian? Find out more about beginning your education at KeiserUniversity.edu .
I didn't realize how extensive the education was for dietitians. Or that they worked in so many places besides hospitals.
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