Nutrition

Nutrition Career Overview

Nutritionists develop nutrition programs and diets, and may also supervise meal preparation and serving, depending on the needs of their clients. Nutritionists may work in hospitals or community clinics, or may work freelance on a consultancy basis for individual clients. Their primary role lies in teaching people how to eat for health and nutrition, and how to adapt their diet to any special circumstances such as diabetes management.

Nutritionists should have a strong interest in both nutrition and in the welfare of their clients, and should have patience and compassion, as well as excellent general interpersonal skills. They should have good communication skills, and be flexible, adaptive workers whether working alone or in a team.

Nutrition Training & Education

Nutritionists use their specialized knowledge about food and heath to help people make healthy choices about food, and have a particularly important role in dietary-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

They are most often found working in hospitals, community clinics and schools. Nutritionist careers require highly specialized education and training, as well as excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills, and organization skills.

Nutrition Career & Salary

People working in Nutritionist careers may earn between $27,000 and $65,000 depending on their geographical location, experience and level of education. In general, people in public health-related careers, such as in hospitals and community clinics, tend to have lower salary expectations than those in research, education and consultation-oriented careers.

The outlook for Nutritionist careers is good, as the country continues to increase its focus on preventative healthcare and helping people to make healthy food choices. The US Department of Labor predicts that Nutritionist career opportunities will grow at a faster-than-average rate through to the year 2014. Nutritionists who have specialist knowledge in diabetes and renal dietary management should find that their services are in even higher demand.

Career Fields/Specializations

Nutritionist Career Information

Nutritionists use their specialized knowledge about food and heath to help people make healthy choices about food, and have a particularly important role in dietary-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

They are most often found working in hospitals, community clinics and schools. Nutritionist careers require highly specialized education and training, as well as excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills, and organization skills.

Dietary Assistant Career

Dietary Assistants are most often employed in large health care facilities, and provide assistance to dietary and nutrition staff in providing healthy and nutritious food for patients. They typically play a very practical role in their work, and duties often include preparing and serving meals as well as planning menus. Dietary Assistants also have administrative duties, including keeping inventory and distributing supplies where needed.

Dietary Assistants should have comprehensive knowledge of food preparation, particularly the ability to prepare food in large quantities, as well as knowledge of how to prepare food that is both nutritious and visually appealing. They should also have good communication skills and organizational abilities.

Community Dieticians Career

Community Dieticians provide counseling and nutrition services for individuals and groups, with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention. They may work in facilities such as public health clinics, health maintenance organizations, and home health agencies. The Community Dietician provides patients with advice on meeting daily nutritional requirements, as well as nutritional care plans for patients with more specific dietary needs.

Community Dieticians are likely to work with a wide range of people from a variety of cultural and social backgrounds. They should have good interpersonal and communication skills, as well as strong organizational skills and the ability to manage the needs of a large number of patients.

Clinical Dietician Career

Clinical Dieticians typically work in hospitals and nursing homes and other health-related facilities, where they are responsible for assessing the nutritional needs of their patients, and then developing nutrition programs and diets to meet those needs. Within the course of their work they will closely monitor patients to evaluate the results of the programs they develop, and adapt them when necessary.

Clinical Dieticians work closely with other health care professionals as well as with their patients, so that nutritional needs and medical needs can be coordinated to give the best results for patients. Clinical Dietitians may specialize in particular areas of nutrition such as for diabetes management, critically ill patients, or children’s nutrition. In nursing homes and smaller hospitals, Clinical Dieticians may also be responsible for managing food services, including menu development and long term nutrition needs.

Clinical Dieticians should have good communication skills and interpersonal skills, combined with a focus on the welfare of their patients. They should be highly flexible workers with the ability to prioritize their work efficiently, and be able to manage the needs of a large number of patients.

Dietetic Technician Career

Dietetic Technicians work under the supervision of a registered dietician, assisting them in planning nutritional programs in hospitals or schools. They may specialize in areas such as food service management or nutritional care.

Dietetic Technicians working in food service management have a more administrative role. They may be involved in planning meals and menus, ordering food, supervising the preparation of meals, and ensuring that safety and quality standards are observed. In nutritional care, the Dietetic Technician works with patients to determine their nutritional needs and develop meals and menu plans that fit their dietary requirements.

Dietetic Technicians must have good communication and interpersonal skills, as well as organizational skills, and be able to work well alone as well as in a team.