Often times you hear about doctors, nurses, and even dentists. However, in the medical field, there is a profession that is hardly mentioned but can be crucial to someone’s life. Dietitians/Nutritionists study the effects food can have on our physical health and play a big key factor in treating some fatal diseases. From working in hospitals and even in sports medicine, dietitians have a unique profession. The expected set of responsibilities for a Registered Dietitian (RD) fluctuates depends on the setting where the RD works (How to Become a Dietitian). For the most part, RDs counsel others on nourishment and food. They may discuss diet issues to the patient, evaluate the dietary and wellbeing needs of the patient, create dinner plans for the patient, measure the impacts of these dieting plans, encourage healthy eating to the community through public speaking and projects, and stay informed with the most recent research in food and nutrition sciences.
Dietitians can work in several different settings and have different duties and responsibilities. From working as a clinical dietitian where they meet with patients to work on dieting plans that could be strict and structured to help with weight loss or to help battle health conditions like diabetes or heart disease. Another working environment for dietitians could be food management in cafeterias of schools, hospitals, and even prisons. In every work environment, dietitians and nutritionists give modified information to specific people. For instance, a dietitian or nutritionist may show a person with diabetes how to design meals to adjust the patient’s glucose (Dietitians and Nutritionists : Occupational Outlook Handbook). Others work with gatherings of individuals who have comparable requirements. For instance, a dietitian or nutritionist may design an eating routine with good fat and constrained sugar to help patients who are in danger of coronary illness like heart disease. They may also work with other medical professionals to arrange the care of the patient.
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Professional skills required to be a dietician include good decision making and judgment capabilities to decide the best course of action regarding a patient or client’s health (Dietitians and Nutritionists). The ability to instruct others and effectively communicate these instructions is also required. Dieticians need the ability to identify and solve complex problems and be socially perceptive (Dietitians and Nutritionists). They also must have effective logic, reasoning and critical thinking skills as well as active listening skills (Dietitians and Nutritionists). The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) specifically requires that students complete an upper level educational program in dietetics and/or nutrition that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) (Registered Dietitian Career Overview). Educational programs may be in a Coordinated Program in Dietetics or a Didactic Program plus Dietetic Internship (How to Become a Dietitian).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor in May of 2012, the mean annual salary for Registered Dietitians nationally was $56,170. The top paying industry involving dietitians and nutritionists in 2012 was the animal food manufacturing industry. Dieticians and nutritionists working in this field made about $88,100. As the help of dieticians is needed everywhere in the world, the demand for people to fill these positions will likely continue to grow. Approximately 58,240 people were employed as dietitians and/or nutritionists in the United States in 2012 (Dietitians and Nutritionists). Employment opportunities for Registered Dietitians are expected to increase at a faster than average rate of 20 to 28 percent. There are an estimated 35,400 job openings predicted for dietitians and nutritionists in the next decade (Dietitians and Nutritionists). Trends that could influence these numbers are health/diet crazes, awareness of health, and rising concern about obesity rates. Top professional organizations associated with this career field include the National Association for Nutrition Professionals, the American Nutrition Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and the American Council on Science and Health (5 Great Professional Organizations for Nutritionists).
To begin the process of entering the career field, many internships are available for students and graduates of nutrition and dietetics programs. These opportunities allow people to be exposed to the career field and learn the ropes of jobs potentially available to them. From here, those that want to pursue a career in dietetics must complete 6-12 months of work for specific programs and pass certification tests. Once this is complete, candidates may then start a career as a dietician. If they decide to advance further in the career field, a dietician may work towards other credentials and eventually open their own practice (How to Become a Dietitian).
A bachelors in nutrition is required to become an RD with any employer; however, some employers greatly prefer a master’s degree. I both work and go to school full-time, meaning at least 35 hours of work a week and at least 12 credit hours of school in a semester. If I maintain this schedule, I will earn my Associate’s Degree in Life Science by the end of 2020 and will likely obtain a Bachelor’s Degree by the end of 2022 (How to Become a Dietitian). Other requirements to work as an RD are completing 6-12 months working in a Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education accredited practice program and passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration (Registered Dietitian Career Overview). I then plan to simultaneously work as an RD and pursue a Master’s Degree, which I could potentially finish in another two years. The cost of my education so far has been covered by Veterans’ Assistance. I will continue to receive these benefits for another 6 years, which will likely be long enough for me to finish all degrees and certifications required for the career I want to pursue. If for any reason this is not enough to cover the full cost of my education, I will apply for both grants and scholarships as well as work more hours to pay for the rest of the costs of my education on my own.
I have contact with a neonatal registered dietitian that works with my mother. She has shared the details of many aspects of her job with me, including what her day-to-day work life looks like. I believe I could easily be successful in this career field, especially with a work life like hers. I have had previous education on nutrition from extracurriculars in high school and I grew very fond of the subject of nutrition. I believe I am a compassionate person and that is an important aspect of being a dietitian in that many people are in a very vulnerable state when seeing a dietician and need someone who will work to understand them and communicate in a kind way. I also have good listening and communication skills, which are very important in this career field as you have to take into account every piece of information a client or patient gives you, interpret it, and effectively communicate to them what needs to be done going forward. I believe I will enjoy a career in dietetics because I already know I enjoy the subject matter. I will also be helping others, possibly even infants, which has always been something I have been passionate about. This would provide me with a lifestyle that I could maintain. As I intend to get a master’s degree and specialize in sports medicine, my average salary will likely be closer to $75,000-$90,000 (Collora). With this amount of income, I could maintain a basic lifestyle and with a secondary source of income from a partner, could provide for a family.
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