Life in the Field as a Dietitian
Nostalgia is a weird thing. Writing this blog post reminds me of the time when I was a dietetic intern. Not so long ago - it's just been 10 months since I graduated and started working as an RDN. This social distancing gig has really made me reminisce on all the times I was with people I love and took that time for granted. So, if you are a current intern reading this, savor it all in (safely at home while social distancing) and if you are a future intern, I cannot tell you enough of how great this program is and make sure to enjoy the ride while it lasts. Because real life is waiting right at the corner and trust me, we are never really ready for it, are we?
When I was an intern, just having the “RD” at the end of my name was all I could think of. It’s funny to think back on it now but I wish I took it slowly and spent more time with my fellow interns who have been an amazing support system throughout the internship and after.
It’s been such a whirlwind since. Crazily enough, I started my first job when I was registration eligible the next day post graduation. I was grateful to have secured a job before the internship ended and took my registration exam a month later. I am still at the same job - I work as a consultant dietitian for Nutricopia, Inc, a dietetic consultant firm. While college and the internship prepare you for practice and professional performance, I learn so many things on the job - on a daily basis, even today.
Currently, I work at one hospital and three long-term care facilities. I have worn many hats in the past 10 months, in the same job, as an outpatient dietitian at a diabetes center, inpatient dietitian at a hospital, and a long-term care (LTC) dietitian. Add some dietary kitchen manager experience in the mix too. Nowadays I find myself rummaging through resources about how to manage patients with COVID and also learning to work remotely for two of my LTC facilities (which is harder than I thought). Being a dietitian in a pandemic can be very interesting. You never know what is going to come at you. One day I am working on tube feeding a COVID patient and the next I'm coordinating with a nurse on the phone from home. I am so grateful to have had the chance to experience so many roles in such a short time and even more grateful to have a job at a time where there is so much uncertainty in other sectors.
My message to current interns: Hang in there! You probably did not think that a pandemic would pop up in the middle of your internship. But, I am certain that there is light at the end of this tunnel. Maybe next year you will write a blog post for the Cal Poly SLO DI page, as an RD, of how you survived it all, and that, I look forward to!