What is a Dietician?

[IMGONNABE40!]

Can anyone tell me what exactly a dietician is/does? What type of training is involved? What about certification? I would imagine that would vary by state.

How does a dietician differ from a nutritionist? My impression is that a nutritionist has different/more extensive training.

Thanks for any information.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I had a friend who is a dietician, she worked with the hospital system to set people up on diets (lifestyle changes) that were due to medical necessity. As far as I know, she only had a bachelors degree. I had to go to a dietician when I had gestational diabetes, and she set me up on a diet, monitored my sugar levels, and counseled me. It seems like it could be a very satisfying career. And I remember that my friend didn't make a LOT of money, but she made more than I did when I worked at the bank...

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thank you for your reply. I am considering starting a small business and am wondering if a dietician or nutritionist degree would be helpful or feasible.

 

[missypie]

I worked a couple of summers in a hospital kitchen (talk about a glamour job-dig that black hair net). The dietician was the "boss" of the hospital kitchen. She inspected every tray, breakfast, lunch and dinner, in HER black hair net. Didn't seem like a great job to me.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

You're welcome to my limited knowledge on the subject. I also had a friend who may have been a nutritionist (It's been years since I talked to her) who counseled people with eating disorders..Hers was more of a psychological counseling, but she worked out of her house with bulimics and anorexics. That would take a special kind of person to work in that field. But I am not 100% sure she was classified as a nutritionist..sorry..

Good luck in your quest for a new career..

 

[piratesmate]

My DIL is getting ready to take the test to become a registered dietician here in PA. Her undergrad degree is in nutrition. She then had to do a year's internship before she was eligible to take the test. The internship varied from school to school. Hers involved full-time work in various settings (community, clinical & food service) as well as class work. At the end of her internship she was halfway done her master's. For the internship she was unpaid for her time & had to pay $8000 to the school.

She has been interviewing for a position at a clinic which serves patients with eating disorders. Obtaining the job will be contingent upon her passing the test to become registered.

I'm not sure any of this really helps, though.

 

[missypie]

I've always thought that being a dietician was a lot like being a pharmacist. You have to be very smart and get a lot of training, but what most of them do day to day is pretty dull. (Of course, that could describe lots of our jobs!)

 

[CEDmom]

My grandmother was a dietician. She did go to school for training and certification. However she just had a HS diploma not college.

She worked for a company that ran the dining rooms at several private school in NY and CT. She had to plan all meals and ensure they were nutritionally sound. She was a wiz in the kitchen and could take a bunch of mismatched ingrediants and turn them into something delicious. We learned quickly not to ask what was in things she served .

Her claim to fame was planning Caroline Kennedy's communion luncheon.