Careers Dietetics

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Careers Dietetics

• Information Provided By
• Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Center
  (AHEC)
• http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index
• PowerPoint Presentation By
• Juliane Monko Dr. Frank Flanders
• CTAE Resource Network, June 2009
• Based On PowerPoint Ideas From
• Penny Howard, RN, Healthcare Science Instructor

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AHEC

• There are six centers in the Georgia AHEC
  Network, and each serves a multi-county region. 
• The AHEC mission is to meet the health needs of
  Georgia by improving the supply, distribution and
  quality of healthcare providers.
• AHECs offer enrichment programs, camps, learning
  tools, student counseling, volunteer and
  mentoring activity coordination, and access to
  other educational resources.
• Contact your regional AHEC for more information. 

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Objectives

• Students will be able to describe health careers
  in the field of Dietetics.
• Students will be able to plan a healthcare career
  path in Dietetics.

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Careers in Dietetics

• Dietetic Technician
• Dietician

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Dietetic Technician
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Dietetic Technician

• Usually under the direction of a registered
  dietitian, a dietetic technician assists in
  managing food service and providing nutritional
  care.
• Dietetic technicians may screen patients to
  identify nutritional problems. These patients
  often need help in planning meals within their
  budgets and diets.
• Dietetic technicians educate and train patients,
  develop menus, supervise food service personnel,
  and purchase and control inventory.

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Dietetic Technician

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Community health programs
• Correctional facilities
• Day care centers
• Food service industry
• Health maintenance organizations
• Home health agencies
• Hospice
• Hospitals
• Long-term care facilities
• Public health nutrition programs
• Restaurants
• Schools

• Average Starting Salary 19,417
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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Dietetic TechnicianAcademic Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required. 
  Completion of a dietetic technician program
  approved by the Commission on Accreditation
  for Dietetics Education is required. Two-year
  associate degree programs combine classroom and
  supervised practical experiences.  Many graduates
  of a four-year dietetic program choose to work as
  a dietetic technician before entering a Dietetic
  Internship Program.

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Dietician
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Dietician

• Dieticians are experts on how food and nutrition
  apply to health. 
• They are involved wherever nutrition can help to
  improve quality of life.  Their actual job
  responsibilities depend upon their practice
  settings.
• Dieticians educate people about good nutrition.
• They supervise dietary personnel, plan
  institutional menus, and manage budgets.

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Dietician

• They may work with individuals who are most at
  risk of poor health including pregnant women,
  children, elderly, and citizens with very limited
  resources. 
• They develop the most nutritious food plans
  possible for patients who can eat traditional
  foods for patients who cannot tolerate
  traditional foods, they provide other diets. 

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Dietician

• Areas of Specialty
• Business Dietetics
• Clinical Dietetics
• Community Dietetics
• Diabetes Education
• Education and Research Management
• Nutrition Support
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Renal Nutrition 

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Dietician

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Business and industry
• Clinics
• Colleges and universities
• Food service
• Government agencies
• Hospitals
• Health clubs
• Nursing homes
• Private practice (consultant)
• Public health departments
• Public schools

• Average Starting Salary 36,428
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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DieticianAcademic Requirements

• This career requires two components
• The first component is academic (didactic)
  preparation. Dieticians must complete a program
  of study approved by the American Dietetic
  Association.  Most of these programs of study are
  at the undergraduate level, although it may be
  possible to complete the required course work
  while enrolled in a graduate program. 
• The second component of education is an approved
  supervised practice component.  This component
  can be satisfied along with the didactic
  preparation in a coordinated program or can be
  satisfied after didactic preparation in a
  Dietetic Internship Program. 

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Summary

• There is a demand for individuals to choose a
  career in dietetics, because of increased public
  interest in good health by improving nutrition.
  Educational requirements vary by career. Students
  interested in these careers should use the
  information provided here as a basis for a career
  plan. The student should also research the career
  further to complete a career plan.
• Careers available in Dietetics
• Dietetic Technician
• Dietician