DIETITIANS AND DIETETIC TECHNICIANS Number 98 Interest Area 13 1998
THE JOB
DIETITIANS and DIETETIC TECHNICIANS use nutritional science to promote healthy eating habits. Menu planning, supervision of food preparation, sales, diet therapy, nutrition research, counseling, and education are all within the realm of the dietetic professional. Dietitians tend to specialize in five main areas.
Clinical Dietitians work in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. They plan and supervise the preparation of meals for patients, and confer with physicians and other medical professionals about each patient's nutritional needs and preferences. They may coordinate diet therapy and nutritional education programs, including teaching patients and their families about specific diets to be followed. They may also instruct groups or individuals about the nutritional care of conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and pregnancy. Some Dietitians make nutritional presentations to medical professionals.
Management Dietitians plan, coordinate and supervise the planning, purchase, and preparation of food for institutions such as hospitals, schools, and cafeterias and restaurants. They select, train, and supervise staff members, including paraprofessional Dietetic Technicians, enforce safety and sanitation standards, and prepare budgets and status reports. In smaller facilities, one person may serve as both Management and Clinical Dietitian.
Research Dietitians study nutrition, foods, and food service. They seek to answer critical nutrition questions and research alternative foods. They may also help develop dietary recommendations.
Community Dietitians mainly work in government or for health agencies. They teach the basic rules of good nutrition and help at-risk groups such as senior citizens, pregnant women, children, the disabled, and the poor improve their eating behavior. They may work in senior citizen feeding programs, school lunch programs, health departments, and day-care centers.
Consultant Dietitians work under contract with health-care facilities or in private practice. They may counsel patients, advise commercial and food enterprises, test new food products and equipment, and develop new recipes and menus for independent food service operations. Dietitians in private practice perform nutritional screening and assessments on their own patients or those referred by a physician. Other clients may include athletes, company employees, and nursing home residents.
Dietetic Technicians are trained food and nutrition practitioners who work closely with Dietitians. Their primary task is to assist the Dietitian in developing nutritional care plans, assess dietary needs, and supervise food productions in institutions such as prisons, daycare centers, and schools.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians work primarily in medical centers, ambulatory care clinics, colleges and universities, schools, public health centers, business and industry. Work surroundings are usually pleasant; kitchens are clean (though sometimes hot and steamy) and offices are pleasant and comfortable. The work is not physically demanding, but Dietitians walk, stand, stoop, and work while teaching or directing food preparation. Dietitians must be able to deal with a variety of people, meet emergencies calmly, have good health and stamina, be flexible, and communicate well. Supervisors of multi-unit operations will spend time traveling between facilities. Dietitians generally wear street clothes topped with a lab coat. Many Dietitians join the American Dietetic Association.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. The figures represent the broad occupational group Dietitians and Nutritionists.
Estimated number of workers in 1993 3,580 Estimated number of workers in 2005 4,440 Projected Growth 1993-2005 24% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 1,340
The following figures are for Dietetic Technicians:
Estimated number of workers in 1993 1,860 Estimated number of workers in 2005 2440 Projected Growth 1993-2005 31% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 720
(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.)
Employment in the dietetic field will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Factors that underlie the steady expansion of the health services industry include population growth and aging, emphasis on health education, and the widespread ability to pay for care through public and private insurance.
The number of Dietitians employed by hospitals will probably remain stable or decrease slightly, while those employed in non-hospital clinical care, consulting, private practice, and business and manufacturing will increase. There is a surplus of Dietitians in some urban areas of the State. Competition for jobs has been on the upswing in the past decade, as employers seek to control costs in the health-care industry. During economic downturns and cost-cutting, the job of Dietitian is seldom considered indispensable.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Entry-level Dietitians can earn approximately $1,700 to $2,700 per month. Journey level workers can earn approximately $2,400 to $4,000 each month. Dietetic Technicians with one to five years of experience earn monthly salaries between $1,500 and $3,000. Federal Civil Service wages vary from $1664 (GS-5) to $4754 (GS-12) per month.
Most Dietitians work a 40-hour week. However, in hospitals, Dietitians must expect to work some weekends and those employed in commercial food service often have irregular hours. Employers usually offer fringe benefits including paid vacations, holidays, sick leave, health insurance and retirement benefits.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Some employers will hire non-registered Dietitians who possess a bachelor's degree in food service management, nutrition, or dietetics from an institution accredited by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Most employers, however, prefer to hire registered Dietitians. There are two ways to become registered. Enrollment in the Coordinated Program, a bachelor's or master's degree program that combines classroom and practical experience, and is accredited by the ADA, is one way. The other way is to complete a Didactic Program in Dietetics, an ADA-accredited academic-only program that leads to at least a bachelor's degree, and then complete either a post graduate Preprofessional Practice Program or a Dietetic Internship. In either case, graduates are then eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
The paraprofessional career in dietetics is the Dietetic Technician. Dietetic Technicians training usually requires two years of college, practical experience, and an associate of arts degree
Those interested in a career in dietetics should have a high scientific aptitude as well as organizational and administrative abilities. College studies should include courses in writing, mathematics, chemistry, economics, statistics, bacteriology, physiology, home economics, management theory, business administration, sociology and data processing.
High school students interested in a career in dietetics should study home economics, business, biology, health, mathematics, and chemistry. Experience gained during part-time or summer employment in hospital kitchens, health care nutrition services, or restaurants can be helpful in getting into a program.
ADVANCEMENT
Experienced Dietitians may advance to assistant, associate director, or director of a dietetics department of a hospital, school, or other institution. Graduate studies in institutional or business administration are helpful for promotion in nonacademic fields. Advancement to higher levels in teaching or research usually requires a master's degree or doctorate.
Some Dietetic Technicians advance by completing the qualifications required to become registered Dietitians.
FINDING THE JOB
Dietitians and technicians should apply directly to hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, the Veterans Administration, schools, colleges, universities, public health agencies, research foundations, and private companies with food service operations, including airlines. Jobs for Dietitians are listed in newspapers, magazines, and with employment agencies. Some Dietitians are officers in the Armed Forces.
Applicants should register with college placement offices, the Employment Development Department's Job Service division, and make contact with the California Dietetic Association.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The American Dietetic Association 216 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60606-6995 (312) 899-0040 www.eatright.org
California Dietetic Association 7740 Manchester Avenue, Suite 102 Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 (310) 822-0177 www.dietitian.org
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., 1991)
Dietitian, Research 077.061-010 Dietitian, Chief 077.117-010 Community Dietitian 077.127-010 Dietitian, Clinical 077.127-014 Dietitian, Consultant 077.127-018
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Dietitians and Nutritionists 325210 Dietetic Technicians 325230
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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