Reading and Writing in Dietetics

Reading and Writing in Dietetics : 

Reading and Writing in Dietetics Michele Hamrick Technical Report Writing Ms. Seawright

What is Dietetics? : 

What is Dietetics? Dietetics is the study of diet and nutrition in relation to health and disease. With this study area students can move on to become Registered Dietitians (RD), nutritionists, work with food companies such as Kraft™, or work with organizations such as WIC. Working with companies and organizations such as WIC or Kraft™ allow for a person to help with nutrition efforts made by each group. While working as a RD or a nutritionist allows to work one on one with patients in establishing nutrition goals.

Education for Dietetics : 

Education for Dietetics Each student wishing to become Registered Dietitian (RD) is required to attend an undergraduate didactic program that is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE). After completing and attaining their bachelor’s degree from their didactic program each student must then attend a CADE accredited Dietetic Internship that can last from 8 to 12 months. Then they will sit for the Registered Dietitian Exam and pass (with an 85 percent) so that they are registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Education for Dietetics (Cont.) : 

Education for Dietetics (Cont.) If the student chooses to enter into a Master’s Program, either after or accompanying their internship, they will then attain their M.S., which allows them to teach in nutrition and dietetics. For writing most will move onto a Doctorial Program and attain their Ph.D.. With a Ph.D. many educators are required to write and research to maintain their tenure. Many of those who go into the education workforce will work with those who are more clinically based to produce research for the field to help with advancements and education in nutrition and health.

Duties of a Dietitian : 

Duties of a Dietitian Dietitians are responsible for helping to promote good health through proper eating. They supervise the preparation and service of food, develop modified diets, participate in research, and educate individuals and groups on good nutritional habits. In a medical setting, a dietitian may provide specific artificial nutritional needs to patients unable to consume food normally. Dietary modification to address medical issues involving dietary intake is also a major part of dietetics. The goals of the dietary department are to provide medical nutritional intervention, obtain, prepare, and serve flavorsome, attractive, and nutritious food to patients, family members, and health care providers.

Types of Dietitians : 

Types of Dietitians Clinical Dietitian-works in hospitals and other health care facilities to provide nutrition therapy to patients according to the disease processes, provide individual dietary consultations to patients and their family members and also conduct group educations for other health workers, patients and the public. Community Dietitian-works with wellness programs and international health organizations Foodservice Dietitian- are responsible for large-scale food planning and service Gerontological Dietitian- are specialist in nutrition and aging. Pediatric Dietitian- provides health care to those under 18.

Types of Dietitians (cont.) : 

Types of Dietitians (cont.) Research Dietitian-are mostly involved with dietary related research in the clinical aspect of nutrition in disease states, public aspect on primary, secondary and sometimes tertiary health prevention and foodservice aspect in issues involving the food prepared for patients. Administrative Dietitian-is a manager or Director of Dietetics Department or Nutrition Services. Business Dietitian- serves as a resource person for the media. Consultant Dietitian-works under a private practice.

Continuing Professional Education : 

Continuing Professional Education Each dietitian is required to complete 75 hours of continuing Professional education credits every five years. With continuing education registered dietitians can attend local, state and national conventions for nutrition updates for the care process and changes in nutrition; such as NWADDA seminars, Arkansas Dietetics Association annual meetings, and FNCE (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo) for the American Dietetic Association. These dietitians are also required to read journals, handouts, booklets and other materials from these workshops, conferences, and seminars.

Research in Dietetics : 

Research in Dietetics Many Dietitians can get their credit hours from reading research done by fellow dietitians, such as research done locally in Arkansas about childhood obesity. At the local Northwest Arkansas District Dietetics Association (NWADDA) fall seminar local dietitians learned about research done with childhood obesity and a new program being designed to prevent future instances in the state. By attending this meeting and gaining some knowledge on the subject matter, the dietitians in attendance received 5 hours toward their 75 hours. This is just one way in which many dietitians are gaining information about the research and other readings in dietetics and nutrition. These are also events students should be attending to gain knowledge about their future career field.

What Professionals are Reading: : 

What Professionals are Reading: All of the registered dietitians interviewed stated that they read the Journal of the American Dietetics Association, students’ assignments, emails, work related reports, text books, and each keeps up with local news reports and websites with information on nutrition, medicine and health issues. “You come across really interesting subject matters just looking around on the ADA website. Like I have been reading over research done on comparing distance internships versus traditional internships, I feel like that is something directors of programs should know about as well as students.” (Carpenter) What other professionals should be reading on daily and weekly basis are articles done on research, peer-reviewed journals and studies along with further reading on subject matters that are most important to their field work.

What Students Need to Read: : 

What Students Need to Read: “Students should focus more on reading books and notes for their studies, but that they also should be look at internship information on eatright.org.” (Carpenter) “ I think students should be reading journals in the field of nutrition, medicine and health.” (Moore) “Students need to be reading professional journals, text books and looking at information on professional sites such as eatright.org and similar websites.” (Fitch-Hilgenberg)

What Professionals are Writing: : 

What Professionals are Writing: On a daily and weekly basis each dietitian usually responds to emails, letters, works on lesson plans, write meal plans, care plans and work with the care team for a patient. Most dietitians that work on the education side of the field, that are also on a ten year track work on designing research proposals and reports for the school and other professionals. However, those professionals in education that are not working on a ten year track will mainly focus more on writing course work and lesson plans rather than writing reports and research proposals.

What Students Need to Write: : 

What Students Need to Write: “Students should be working on their writing skills and learning to write clearly and concisely.” (Moore and Fitch-Hilgenberg) They will also be working on writings for classes, thesis papers for senior level course work, reports, charting in medical records, letters of application, letters of recommendation, fact sheets, and PES (Problem, Etiology, Signs/Symptoms) statements.

The Journal of the American Dietetics Association (JADA) : 

The Journal of the American Dietetics Association (JADA) The Journal of the American Dietetics Association is the “premier source for the practice and science of food, nutrition and dietetics.” (eatright.org) This journal provides information about research done in specific areas of dietetics and nutrition that helps professionals with those specialties. These specialties include diabetes, sports nutrition, pediatrics, renal nutrition, etc. The JADA also offers information about new products and other items in nutrition. Copyright: adajournal.org

Journal of Nutrition : 

Journal of Nutrition Published since 1928, The Journal of Nutrition (JN) was the first scientific journal created solely for publishing nutrition research. Contents include peer-reviewed research reports on all aspects of experimental nutrition, critical reviews, commentaries, and symposia and workshop proceedings. Copyright: jn.nutrition.org

Journal of Clinical Nutrition : 

Journal of Clinical Nutrition The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has been published since September 1952. This journal has contents based on research done in clinical nutrition on matters such as obesity and eating disorders, energy and protein metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes, gene-nutrient interactions, etc. Copyright: ajcn.com

Website for the American Dietetic Association : 

Website for the American Dietetic Association Copyright: eatright.org www.eatright.org was established by the American Dietetic Association to allow members to easily access information about upcoming events such as the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE), workshops, research, education, careers, professional development, etc. The website also offers materials for Registered Dietitians to use at work such as exchange lists, the nutrition care manual, and featured books of the month.

Bibliography : 

Bibliography Carpenter, Shannon, MS. RD. Interview by Michele Hamrick. 20 Nov. 2009. Fitch-Hilgenberg, Marjorie, PhD. MS. RD. LD. Interview by Michele Hamrick. 19 Nov. 2009. "fruit." microsoft office. Web. 4 Nov 2009. Moore, Cindy, PhD. MS. RD. Interview by Michele Hamrick. 20 Nov. 2009. “vegetables.” microsoft office. Web. 4 Nov 2009. www.adajournal.org www.ajcn.com www.eatright.org www.jn.nutrition.org