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Dietetics and Nutrition
Dietetic Technician
Dietitian
 Nutrition is the science of food and its effects on the
body. Food contains nutrients and other substances that become part of the
body’s chemistry and physiology. These components of food have a direct
effect on the maintenance and restoration of health. Dietitians are food and nutrition experts
who promote optimal health and the nutritional status of the public. They often
counsel individuals and groups about nutrient deficiencies that can cause
disorders and diseases, and about diet modifications that can correct health
problems. Dietitians may analyze food for its nutritional content or study
the way the body uses nutrients. They may be working in food service
management, business, or private practice.
Because the general public increasingly is becoming interested in
nutrition, the roles of dietitians and dietetic technicians are expanding.
Consumers want more information about foods and their nutritional values on
product labels, so employment opportunities in marketing and food
manufacturing have increased. More
colleges are offering nutrition courses, so employment for dietitians as
educators has risen. This expansion in the field of dietetics and nutrition
will continue as long as the public continues to seek better health and
longer life by developing and improving nutritional habits.
Dietetic Technician
Dietetic Technicians assist in the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of
either nutritional care services or food service management for organizations,
such as hospitals, schools, and
businesses.
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 patients’
progress or dietary problems to the dietician
* 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 high 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 dietician,
while those in food service management are supervised by an administrator or a
registered dietician 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. Graduates must pass an
examination given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Educational Institutions
Dietetic Technician: BRTC (A)
Dietetic Assistant: BRTC , SEAC (C)
For more information,
contact:
Arkansas Dietetic
Association
P.O. Box 55234
Little Rock, AR 72215-5234
(501) 374-3300
www.arkansaseatright.org
American Dietetic
Association
120 South
Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
(800) 877-1600
www.eatright.org
Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board
PO Box 1016
North Little Rock, AR 72115
(501) 221-0566
www.ardieteticslicbrd.net
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Dietician
Dieticians
apply the principles of food and nutrition to plan and supervise the preparation
and serving of meals in hospitals, schools, restaurants, or other public and
private institutions. They may teach basic nutrition and diet modifications
related to various diseases. They apply the principles of food service,
nutrition, biochemistry, and physiology to make recommendations for the
nutritional management and support of patients.
Work Activities and Career
Specialties
Dieticians
can practice in many different settings. Some of their specialties include
education, pediatrics, business, and sports dietetics. Others are listed below.
Management Dieticians
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
food service directors and other health care professionals on matters related
to dietetics
Clinical Dieticians 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 Dieticians conduct, evaluate, and interpret research in various fields, such as
nutrition science and education, food management, and food service systems.
Community Dieticians 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 Dieticians work in colleges, universities, and community or technical schools
instructing students or other health professionals.
Consultant Dieticians
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 Dieticians
supervise others. Community Dieticians work as part of a health team. Clinical,
Research, and Consultant Dieticians may work alone or as part of a team. Work
settings of Dieticians 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 dieticians who are members of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and
who are registered through the ADA’s Commission on Dietetic Registration. A
bachelor’s 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, dieticians must complete continuing education hours as specified
by the ADA.
Educational Institutions
HU, OBU, UAF (B); UAMS (Adv
C); UAMS (M & D)
For more information,
contact:
Arkansas
Dietetic Association
P.O. Box 55234
Little Rock, AR 72215-5234
(501) 374-3300
www.arkansaseatright.org
Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board
PO Box 1016
North Little Rock, AR 72115
(501) 221-0566
www.ardieteticslicbrd.net
American Dietetic Association
120 South
Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
(800) 877-1600
www.eatright.org
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