Dietetics and Nutrition

Dietetic Technician

Work Activities and Career Specialties
Dietetic Technicians may specialize in a particular area of competency, such as nutritional care or food service management. Activities of Nutritional Care Technicians may include:

• Interviewing patients to obtain and evaluate their diet histories
• Reporting patient's progress or dietary problems to the dietitian
• Assisting patients to plan meals that are within their food budgets and prescribed diets
• Translating the calculated diets into daily menus
• Assisting hospitalized patients in choosing menus that meet their diet requirements
• Counseling individuals or groups who are at low risk for poor nutrition

Dietetic Technicians who are competent in food service management may assist with the food service operation of geriatric, child care, or other programs. Their activities may include:

• Planning menus
• Developing and/or testing products
• Procuring and storing food, supplies, and equipment
• Supervising food production and service
• Maintaining quality control, sanitation, and safety standards
• Selecting, training, and scheduling employees
• Implementing new food service systems
• Providing diet counseling and education
• Using computer systems to calculate payroll, record laboratory data, and verify diet orders

Work Settings
Dietetic Technicians usually work as members of a health care team and may supervise food preparation workers, diet clerks, and dietetic assistants. Supervision of Dietetic Technicians may vary. Those in nutritional care are supervised by a registered dietitian, while those in food service management are supervised by an administrator or a registered dietitian consultant.

Dietetic Technicians may be employed by hospitals, public health nutrition programs, long-term care facilities, school lunch programs, nutritional programs for the elderly, or food service systems management firms. They may also be in private practice as consultants.

Special Requirements
Most employers prefer applicants who are graduates of a two-year associate degree program that is approved by the American Dietetic Association. To become a Dietetic Technician, Registered, graduates must pass an examination given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Registered Dietitian

Work Activities and Career Specialties
Registered Dietitians can practice in many different settings. Some of their specialties include education, pediatrics, business, and sports dietetics. Others are listed below.

Management Dietitians organize, plan, and direct food service programs and nutritional care for establishments that require large-scale meal planning and preparation. Their activities may include:

• Supervising the planning, preparation, and service of meals
• Selecting, training, and directing food service supervisors and others who prepare and serve meals
• Coordinating diet counseling services
• Teaching current trends in diet therapy
• Directing purchasing, establishing sanitation and safety practices, and managing personnel
• Preparing records, reports, and budgets
• Coordinating dietary services with those of other departments to increase effectiveness
• Acting as a consultant to the food service directors and other health care professionals on matters related to dietetics

Clinical Dietitians assess the nutritional status of inpatients and/or outpatients in hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and research facilities; formulate and implement their nutritional care plans; and communicate this information to other members of the health care team. Their activities may include:

• Assessing patient nutritional requirements and making nutritional support recommendations
• Developing guidelines for therapeutic diets with recommendations for appropriate patient management aimed at their specialized nutritional requirements
• Instructing patients and their families about nutritional guidelines, emphasizing the importance of good nutrition, and offering individualized suggestions for following a balanced diet
• Educating medical, nursing, and dietetic staff and students about nutritional aspects of disease

Research Dietitians conduct, evaluate, and interpret research in various fields, such as nutrition science and education, food management, and food service systems.

Community Dietitians plan, develop, administer, and coordinate nutritional programs as part of the health care plan for public health agencies, day care centers, and governmental nutrition programs.

Education Dietitians work in colleges, universities, and community or technical schools instructing students or other health professionals.

Consultant Dietitians advise food and pharmaceutical industries, prepare nutritional programs for groups, such as athletes or nursing home patients, speak at professional seminars, write books and articles on weight control and nutrition, and counsel individuals or groups in health and recreation clubs or in their own private practices.

Work Settings
Management Dietitians supervise others. Community Dietitians work as part of a health team. Clinical, Research, and Consultant Dietitians may work alone or as part of a team.

Work settings of Registered Dietitians vary according to their specialty and the type and size of the organization that employs them. Some of their duties may be performed at office desks, patients' bedsides, small clinic rooms, or outpatient clinics. Other tasks may be performed in modern, well-equipped kitchens or research laboratories.

Special Requirements
Many employers prefer to hire Dietitians who are members of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and who are registered through the ADA's Commission on Dietetic Registration. A bachelor degree from an ADA-approved institution is required for membership. Also required is completion of an approved/accredited supervised practice experience, such as a pre-professional practice program or dietetic internship. Members become registered after passing the ADA examination. To maintain registration, Registered Dietitians must complete continuing education hours as specified by the ADA.