7 Characteristics Every Successful Dietetic Professional Possesses

Wow, it’s hard to believe that I am halfway done with my dietetic internship! I’ve had the opportunity to have rotations at a public health department (PHD), school district, an acute care hospital for food service and currently I am at an eating disorder clinic. In the internship, you get to see dietitians in action and learn what being a dietetics professional is really all about! Having been to several different sites already means I’ve had the pleasure of working with several different dietitians! So far, I’ve learned that although these dietitians are in different settings, they all possess similar qualities that make them successful professionals. Here is my list of the seven skills a successful dietetic professional has:

1. Effective Communicator - The ability to convey what you want to say both verbally and in written language is critical in the dietetic profession. Being at French hospital for my food service management rotation, I would constantly see Sandy, the food service director, communicating with just about everyone in the hospital, not just her own team, in person and via email! This essential skill enables Sandy to collaborate with the team and as the old saying goes: “teamwork makes the dream work!”

2. Flexible - In the internship (and life in general), things don’t always go as planned! It’s important as a dietetic professional to be flexible and roll with the punches while keeping cool. During my time at the PHD, an RD went on vacation. She normally runs the health care center (HCC) in Santa Maria by herself. It was awesome to see other RDs step in to help fill in the schedule gaps. One dietitian hadn’t worked in the HCC in 5 years but was willing to relearn the ropes! Now that’s being flexible.

3. Passionate - I can honestly say that all of the dietitians I have worked with love what they do. They all go the extra mile, whether that means coming in early to do a counseling session for a client who can only come in at 6:30 a.m, searching endlessly to find the perfect handouts for clients, or taking a client at closing time. They don’t do these things because they have to, it’s because they want to!

4. Ethical - The fundamental principles of the Code of Ethics that dietetics practitioners agree to abide by consist of conducting themselves with honesty, integrity and fairness. At the eating disorder clinic, clients divulge private information at every session. The dietitian, Athena, practices ethically by keeping all information confidential and when necessary shares information that must be reported, such as self-harm.

5. Knowledgeable - Being a dietitian means everywhere you go, people will ask you questions and your opinions about food and anything nutrition related! Although as a food service manager you are primarily working to operate the preparation of food served in the hospital, you must still be knowledgeable with other aspects of nutrition as well! In one day Sandy was asked about: the keto diet from a café customer, insulin levels after breakfast from a nurse and food safety from a food service worker! (Also, the best dietitians don’t always know all the answers, but they do how to find them through evidence-based research!)

6. Empathetic - Having the ability to understand and show compassion for people is essential in the dietetic profession. Successful dietetic professionals have the capacity to recognize emotions and relate to people. The dietitians at WIC often hear stories from clients that are heartbreaking. Watching and listening to the dietitians in practice has helped me pick up on better techniques when these types of situations arise.

7. Organized - Effective dietetic professionals are always organized. It is an important quality that is pertinent to practice. The nutritionist at the school district must keep careful records of all children who have allergies, stay on top of routine administrative tasks and periodic visits from government agencies/ environmental health, and manage her time wisely on a day-to-day basis. Her incredible organizational skills allow her to focus on stuff that matters like getting healthier foods on the menu instead of wasting time worrying and wondering where her paperwork is.

This internship has exposed me to real life experiences and has shown me how successful dietetic professionals conduct themselves. During the second half of my internship I hope to meet more amazing RD’s who continue to exemplify true professionalism. I cannot wait for the day that I can showcase these skills as a practicing dietitian! (But first let’s finish the internship and pass the R.D exam!)