Picking Brains
Through the last five months of my dietetics experience I’ve interacted with an array of contrastive preceptors, communities, settings and varying jobs in the dietetics world. If you didn’t know already, dietetics holds a mind-boggling number of areas and with so many sectors it often seems like I’m lost in a nutrition-filled galaxy. Each time I step into a new rotation I’m exposed to a new planet, trying to understand the unique aspects of how we as Dietetic Professionals can play a transformative role in each unique environment.
The internship classes have allowed me to have access to picking the brains of Registered Dietitians who are experts in specialties ranging from pediatrics, renal, disabilities and beyond. Knowing the opportunities our field has often leaves me feeling excited and a tad dizzy wanting to explore them all! I’ve found that throughout it all there are several lessons I’ve learned about following in the path of the successful Dietitians before me.
First, never stop learning. The best Dietitians I’ve met are constantly researching and looking to the experts for advice on anything they aren’t familiar with. While at my Food Bank rotation my preceptor asked me to attend an event on classroom management. Although this isn’t your typical nutrition talk gathering, it allowed me to learn about maintaining attention of young children when presenting. I found out that closing space between you and a child often gets him to quiet down and that it is important to deliver clear instructions to prevent chaos from ensuing. I promise you that getting children to behave is no easy task and it came in handy when working with preschoolers during a fruit and vegetable activity! So make sure to compile resources, attend presentations and listen to nutrition podcasts on anything you can get your hands on as it may be useful in the future and in your field!
Second, look to improve. Not only are the greatest Dietitians out there researching what would allow the best quality of care to their patients, but they are also working on themselves to run a smoother facility! My preceptor at Marian Regional Medical Center attends meetings revolving around patient satisfaction almost daily. When a patient complains about meals or service on a survey she works with other Food Service Managers and Directors to see if they encounter similar issues and together they work on how to resolve it. During the new menu change the Directors all decided to do away with bananas as it was difficult to get them delivered at a prime ripening. Even the smallest changes can make the world of a difference in patient satisfaction!
Lastly, be the backbone. Often, Dietitians are responsible for several employees. A successful Dietitian is the backbone of a company, lending his or her time and experience to all employees and making sure he or she steps into any position whenever it is needed. During my food service rotation the Food and Nutrition Services Director would consistently play all roles of the facility, from cashiering to dishwashing… it’s all a team effort. Making sure you are an effective, team-oriented boss allows your facility to flourish because making your employees happy serves as a ripple effect and allows them to deliver exceptional care to patients.
Although there is a never-ending amount of great qualities Dietitians possess, I hope these insights allow you to see the main inner workings of the vast multitude of Dietetics Professionals and what they do to be successful. Let me know in the comments below if you have any other brain picking tips to share!
Warmly,
Lys