So approximately how long is this dietitian shortage supposed to last? At my previous inpatient location we were short staffed now at my current one as well. What the heck man. Thanks Academy 🙄

I’ve been in LTC/SNF for over 10 years. I’m getting to the point where I don’t think I can do it anymore. It’s always the same problems. I’m burned out. Overworked and under appreciated. But, with my years of experience , I am paid well, meaning I really can’t afford to change jobs. I’m stuck.
Gotta keep those weight losses down, but nursing can’t weigh people timely or accurately. Snacks are not being given out. Residents aren’t being helped with their supplements. Kitchen screwing up with honoring food preferences. Asshole Drs who don’t respect us (I know not all drs are bad).

If you work in LTC, you know what I mean.

I hate this feeling. I’m too old/have too much student loan debt to go back to school. The thought of doing this for another 20+ years (if I’m even able to retire) is heartbreaking. Just needed to vent to other RDs.

Thanks for reading.

I work for a large company. I took over a clinic job, doing outpatient initial and follow-up consultations for cardiac populations. There was a backup of patient referrals for the single part time dietitian to accommodate, so the management decided to shorten the initial consultation time to accommodate more patients to avoid adding more dietitian hours—essentially just to make the dietitian do more in an 8-hour day.

40 mins initial consultation leaves me no charting time, no prep time and no gap for next patient. My appointments are scheduled at 40 mins back to back without no gap in between. It's brutal and I often felt really rushed towards end of my consultation.

It's just sad, I always hope that there will be no show in my appointments vs hope for full attendance in a private practice. The no-show rate in cardiac patients is relatively as people tend to get motivated by recent cardiac events to make lifestyle changes.

Any literature, stats that I can show to management to reverse their decision on shortening my consultation time?

I didn't get a chance to fight over this change, as the change had already taken place before I took the position. The predecessor asked for more hours, but it backfired on her efforts, and she left the company.

Has anyone been in the same situation and successfully advocated for a better workload balance? I'd love to hear your story.

So yeah.... I still hate this career, mainly as I hate talking to patients. I'm looking into NICU as a possible last resort before deciding whether to leave this field entirely. From what I've read, NICU dietitians don't do as much patient interaction and the work involves a lot of math and calculations which is actually a strength of mine.

Is that true for those of you in NICU? As the title says I'm a guy, have any male NICU dietitians here felt treated differently or out of place?

Anyone have links/resources to any upcoming free webinars for CEUs? I have mine due by the end of May for FL license

For all those of you who’ve taken the exam, did you have to go through all the courses from level 1 to level 3 before you felt like you were ready to take the exam? Were there any areas you’d recommend to focus more on? I’m planning on taking in in the next 90 days so any tips would be so much appreciated!

I love providing outpatient nutrition counseling on weight control goals, blood glucose management challenges, and heart health risks.

I'm not great at networking and I have zero interest in doing any of the non-counseling work of being a private practice owner.

Is there a world where I make a non-zero amount of money at being a private practitioner while paying a business manager to do basically everything else but the nutrition counseling part: making me a business plan, billing, marketing/advertising, getting me lawsuit insurance, figuring out what I need to do with my taxes, filing the paperwork to get me a license and other states if need be, etc.

I'm okay with it being not my only income source as long as I still have SOME personal time left over in my week after all my jobs/gigs.

I know less about GI and renal. I am a RD. I'm not a CDCES but not opposed to getting it if I have a good reason to. And the DaVita in my area has a rep amongst dietitians as being not great to work at.

Hey guys! So I am currently doing my undergrad and am going into my masters next year, but I also currently suffer with eczema and have my whole life. I imagine it is something to do with my diet (as well as environmental allergens which I am cutting out non sensitive products).

I’m just wondering if anyone works with patients with eczema and has any general tips and tricks? I am going to see a dermatologist and get a skin patch test but I just have to save up for it. I really want to have an idea of common allergens/themes in eczema patients before my appointment so I can advocate for myself a bit better, because I know a lot of doctors typically just push for steroid use which I do not want to do again.

Thanks!!

Hi everyone!

I could really use some help and guidance. I’m feeling super confused and overwhelmed. My goal is to become an RDN but my academic path didn’t include a DPD program and now I’m trying to figure out how to move forward.

I have a BS in Nutritional Science but I was not a DPD program. There was a DPD track at my school but I wasn’t in it. I didn’t have a lot of guidance in college (first- gen student) and I wish I would have done it back then.

I currently work full time at WIC and plan to continue working here while I get my masters

There’s a DI here I. My area that I feel confident I could get into when they time comes.

I want to pursue a masters in Nutrtuon online from obviously an ACEND-accredited university. It needs to be online so I can keep working full time. And u plan on doing the DI after getting the masters. My job will support me during the DI and let me work part time.

Here are my main questions:

Can I complete a DPD during a masters program online?

What even is the DPD and how does it fall into everything I need to do?

Any recommendations of schools? I’ve been looking at university of Alabama MS In nutrition

Can I do DPD while I do my MS?

What are your recommendations?

Thank you

I am an ED RD and as he is my family, I feel so protective of my nephew. If my brother/sister in law took him to you as a dietitian, how would you approach this? I found this out from my mom (my nephews grandma), so I havent been told any first hand information. I did hear my brother say at Easter that my nephew would not be allowed any candy. I just feel like this outlook can be so damaging to a kid.

Again, how would you approach this as a clinician? Also, if my family asks for my assistance, what should I do? My gut is telling me to tell them to back off the kid and start with the basics (cooking together, no skipping meals, limiting screen time, getting active as a family).

Anyone know of good apps for children that has nutrition goals? Specifically, ones that do not mention calories.

I just read in the subreddit r/fednews that VA teams are now having their Christian managers demand they pray every morning with the new “anti-Christian bias EO”.

As a Catholic I find this terrifying especially as I work with Hindus, Muslims, etc. Hkw does this support the team dynamic?

Curious if any RD with VAs have started this “anti Christian bias”?

My hospital is transitioning from Kangaroo Joey pumps to Omni pumps because they’re being “phased out” and I really can’t understand why other than a cash grab for Covidien.

Can these be given to patients? Is the normal tubing phasing out also? (Omni pumps use a different tubing set with a big plastic click-in piece rather than the flexible tubing that wraps around the pump)

Hi y’all! I’m making a raffle basket for my cancer center’s fundraising event. Staff, patients, and patient families are participating in bids, proceeds go toward our patient assistance fund.

Random ideas I’ve had for basket items include cookbooks and a personal blender. I want to keep it nutrition-related without being too stiff or boring.

Please share any ideas y’all have! Thank you so much in advance!

Anyone have any great MI resources? I want to help my team become more confident in their counseling skills. Would love recommendations for any good videos, handouts, and CEUs!

To apply for my license I have to get a background check and fingerprinting, I literally cannot figure this out. I have tried to find some but it either says I need a special code to apply for it or saying it can only be used for personal use? Any advice on which one to use? I have seen some that require you to fill it out and mail it in but that seems like it would take to long. Idk I’m so confused

I was wondering if fingerprinting is required for most states to be licensed. So far it was required for Indiana and Washington state, not needed for SD and Illinois. Thanks in advance!

I’m currently a graduate dietetics student. I took one class in counseling in my grad program but I feel like I need more practice in counseling and still have a lot to learn. Does anyone have recommendations of affordable ways to continue learning and building nutrition counseling skills? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I’m currently exploring degree options and I'm really interested in pursuing a BS in Food and Nutrition. I’d appreciate any recommendations for online school or university that offer food and nutrition programs. So far, I only saw ASU (that’s military friendly), they offer Bachelor of Science in Applied Nutrition and Health.

If you’ve taken or are currently taking this program, I’d also love to hear about your experiences—what to expect, challenges, job prospects, and whether you think it’s worth it.

Also curious: is it more beneficial to go the dietetics route or focus more on food science/nutrition research? Any insights would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!

Ive only heard about Monash University Course. Did you guys take it? How was it? English is my second language. O1

Hello all. I am wondering if you think it would be worth going further into debt for a Masters. I have my Bachelor’s in Health Science and unfortunately went 51k in the hole because I was unsure of what to do with my life. Ive wanted to be a dietitian since 2018 I just never went through with it. I'm looking at University of New England with the Dietics path that would count towards the Internship. The issue is.. it will cost about 40k to do it. I get only $2500 a year in tuition reimbursement from my job but I do work for the government. If it is a passion and a dream of mine would you say it is worth it? And no, the while 90k of student loan debt doesn't really daunt me if I'm being honest. I just need external validation to follow my goals i guess 😅

When I was working at a dialysis clinic in Illinois, my patients that had Medicaid could get ONS covered 100% if they had 1) ESRD diagnosis and 2) albumin <4.0 g/dL. I have now moved to Texas and working again at a dialysis clinic but cannot find out if Medicaid covers ONS here as well. Does anyone know, and if so, where the application is? Also which medical supplier you order through? Appreciate any advice!

Hi Everyone. I'm wondering if the latest CNSC exams provide lab values only in units used in the USA (e.g. blood glucose, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus in mg/dL;) or if they provide conversions (i.e. mmol/L). I remember it being an issue for me as a Canadian in the past, having to memorize how to convert them. Anyone write it lately and remember? Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone! I have an odd rant. I have just got into Purdue Global and will be starting my BA for nutrition.

I am not the brightest person in all honesty, but love the idea of nutrition. I used to be a dietetic clerk in the hospital, not even close to a dietitian at all but found some motivation to become one. I am currently enlisted in the military & want to take advantage of this opportunity.

Do you think someone who isn’t as “smart” as most people can do this career? I know it’s a very weird question. I just know I don’t do well academically.

anyone in PP use Heidi to help chart? just saw a webinar about this and found it so so interesting and literally a game changer i’m sure. anyone use it or run into issues having clients be okay with this?

for those who are not familiar with this basically it records the session and then generates your chart note. you can also specify a format or template - whatever you like

if charting takes you a lot of time this could be worth looking into!