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Career Options for Dietitians
The department's foods and nutrition concentration trains students for careers in the field of dietetics and nutrition, dietetics being the applied aspect of nutrition. The program provides the students with the necessary training to meet the requirements for the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The curriculum satisfies part of the requirement to enable students to become Registered Dietitians (R.D.). Dietitians work in health care facilities, community programs, industry, private practice, and research settings. Dietitians are responsible for providing instruction on nutritional therapy for people with acute and chronic disease, health promotion training, and translating research findings into dietary recommendations. The following career options are available to both DPD graduates and Registered Dietitians:Clinical Nutrition: Clinical dietitians provide nutritional care for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient settings. They assess patients' nutritional needs, develop, implement and evaluate nutrition care plans, and document results. Participation in nutrition related research is also possible at many medical or academic settings.
Food Service: Food service directors are responsible for food production in institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, restaurants, and nutrition intervention programs such as Head Start, Meals on Wheels, God's Love We Deliver, and senior centers.
Community Nutrition: Community nutritionists counsel individuals and groups on sound nutrition practices to prevent disease and to promote good health. They are employed in Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's), human service agencies including Women, Infants and Children's Program (WIC), Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP), and Community Health Clinics.
Private Practice: Wellness is a popular concern in the United States today and the American public is seeking the advice of nutrition experts. Nutritionists in private practice offer nutrition counseling in areas such as fitness and weight control, disease prevention, and nutritional therapeutics.
Nutrition Consultants: Consulting nutritionists disseminate information to the public through various channels such as speaking at seminars, writing articles, and appearing on radio and television. Nutrition consultants also take on various projects: product consulting, evaluation of existing food and nutrition programs, health and fitness programs, public relations, and part time counseling.
Dietetics Research: Researchers determine the nutritional status and requirements for healthy people and those with acute or chronic diseases. They evaluate the efficacy of nutritional intervention in the prevention of specific diseases and develop and test effective methods to change dietary behavior in the community.
For additional information on career opportunities in dietetics, write to ADA for the booklet entitled: "Dietitians: The Professionals In Nutrition Care" (430 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill 60611).
NUTRITION AND DIETETICS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The Bachelor of Science Degree with a concentration in Foods and Nutrition prepares you for entry-level positions such as foods writer for a magazine or newspaper or a consumer relations specialist in the food industry. If, after graduation, you go onto complete clinical training requirements and are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians, you expand your career choices considerably. Once you are a registered dietitian, you have a wider range of opportunities and are qualified for higher positions in therapeutic or management dietetics in hospitals, nursing homes, community nutrition programs, businesses, and other types of agencies.
As a registered dietitian, you may
1. Counsel adults to reduce disease risk factors
2. Help expectant mothers to improve their diets and to have healthy babies
3. Organize home-delivery meals for senior citizens
4. Help accident victims to recover from critical injuries
5. Develop menus and recipes for food companies or national publications
6. Counsel professional athletes on eating habits that help them to maintain a competitive edge
7. Teach preschool children about healthful eating habits
Jobs obtained by graduates include the following:
1. Nutrition teachers in schools
2. Nutrition educators in community agencies
3. Clinical dietitians or managers of nutrition programs in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other agencies
4. Counselors of patients with chronic conditions
5. Members of clinical specialty teams in pediatrics, family medicine, surgery, critical care medicine, and other services6. Staff members of private sector agencies such as the American Heart Association
7. Staff members of local and state health departments
8. Staff members of federal agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
9. Project officers for private foundations
10. Food writers, editors, and media consultants
11. Product development staff in food companies
12. Owners and managers of restaurants and catering firms
13. Clinical Nutrition Manager
14. Clinical Dietitians HIV Specialists
15. School Food Service Manager
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