What are the 6 roles of clinical dietitians?
- Identify nutrition problems and assess nutritional status of patients
- Develop nutrition plans and provide education to patients/clients
- Monitor effectiveness of nutrition interventions
- Counsel patients on making special modifications to their diets
- Design and recommend follow-up schedules
- Collect and maintain data for service indicators, progress reports, and evaluations, and maintain clinical records of nutrition care programs
What are the settings of practice?
Anywhere: long term care, PCNS, hospitals, private practice, universities, health maintenance organizations
What is the main targeted population for private practice?
Healthy individuals
What different health conditions (5) are target populations for clinical care?
- Diabetes (1 and 2)
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Chronic Kidney disease
- Obesity
- Celiac disease and other gastrointestinal diseases
What are the different care units within hospitals?
- Intensive/Critical
- Cardiology
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Surgery
- Perinatal
- General
- Gastroenterology
How is universities related to clinical nutrition (3 areas)?
- Teaching clinical nutrition to dietetic trainees
- Research: as Research coordinator or as PI in all practice settings. There are many RDs who work as academic clinicians where practice encompasses both hospital settings and universities
- Course curriculum development on line delivery of courses
How is clinical nutrition care usually administered?
One on one (or two if family interaction)
How is clinical nutrition care usually administered in pediatrics?
Not one on one, typically includes family
What are the three ways dietetics practice has changed with the pandemic?
- Virtual practices using mediums like Zoom
- Group education for diet counselling
- Follow up clinic appointments in ambulatory/outpatient setting
What are the pros of virtual dietetics practice?
- Can reach patients in remote communities
- Efficient in terms of wait times
- More patients can be seen
- Can engage clients in home environment
What are the cons of virtual dietetics practice?
- Lose the face to face interactions
- Physical assessment is limited
What is a short-term nutrition intervention/plan? (example)
to ensure that proper nutrition is delivered to
an accident victim until full healing has occurred
What is a long-term nutrition intervention/plan? (example)
For patients with diabetes, kidney disease, or old age conditions that affect proper nutrition
What is a preventive nutrition intervention/plan? (example)
For heart disease or obesity
What is a therapuetic nutrition intervention/plan? (example)
To help a patient with heart disease maintain a baseline health and nutrition state
5 Factors to consider in nutrition intervention/plan
- Patient’s income (food insecurity)
- Level of education/ability to comprehend plan
- Language
- Psychological and physical state
- Living conditions, family assistance, and ability to follow the plan
What types of teams can clinical dietitians work with?
All! Multi, inter, and trans disciplinary
9 Skills required for a clinical dietitian
- Organized and time management
- Critical thinking skills
- Interest in science and foods
- Good communication skills
- Innovative and flexible
- Patient focused and able to integrate patient feedback
- Honest, ethical, caring, and empathetic
- Self-assured, sincere, and diplomatic
- Practical and results oriented
What are the restricted activities that are related to advanced clinical practice?
Schedule 1 drugs (vitamin infusions)
Insulin dose adjustment
3 Realities of the job
- Typical 8-4, 9-5 work
- Often casual work before an actual position
- Most will work with AHS
