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Nutrition Department
Clinical Registered Dietitian as a Career Choice
The clinical registered dietitian, provider of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) nutrition services in health care settings, is a vital part of the medical team in hospitals, nursing homes,
outpatient clinics, physician offices, and research laboratories. The responsibilities generally include:
- Patient screening and assessment of nutrition status
- Nutrition care planning and implementation using state-of-the-art techniques
- Client/family and staff nutrition education/counseling on ways nutrition can therapeutically alter disease risk and effects (medical nutrition therapy)
- Client/family and staff nutrition education/counseling on general healthier ways of eating
- Being an integral part of a health care team. The clinical dietitian may elect to specialize. Specialty areas include nutrition for gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, surgery,
organ transplants, coronary diseases, renal diseases, oncology, rehabilitation, eating disorders, pediatrics, maternity, and enteral and parenteral nutrition support.
As years of experience accumulate, the clinical dietitian may assume greater responsibilities in the management arena, such as that of a chief clinical dietitian who plans, organizes, implements, and maintains optimal clinical nutrition care services, and supervises other clinical dietitians and dietetic technicians. Other dietitians become regional supervisors.
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