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Dietitians apply principles of nutrition to plan and supervise the preparation and serving of meals in hospitals, schools, restaurants, and other public and private institutions. They may also teach basic nutrition and diet modification related to various diseases.

JOB DUTIES 

Dietitians may:

Supervise the planning, preparation, and serving of meals

Select, train, and direct other employees who prepare and serve meals

Coordinate diet counseling services

Teach current trends in diet therapy

Provide direction for purchasing, sanitation standards, safety practices, and assignments of personnel

Prepare records, reports, and budgets

Coordinate services with other departments to improve programs

Act as a consultant to management and health-care professionals

Advise medical, nursing, and social service staffs about patients' food habits and needs

Plan menus for special diets to meet the nutritional needs of patients

Inspect meals that are served

Instruct patients and their families on requirements and importance of diets and suggest how to stay on a special diet

Click here to see Dietitians at work!

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Dietitians may specialize in these areas:

077.117-010 CHIEF DIETITIANS organize, plan, and direct food service programs and nutritional care for establishments which require large-scale meal planning and preparation.

077.127-014 CLINICAL DIETITIANS plan and direct the preparation and service of diets prescribed by a physician.

077.061-010 RESEARCH DIETITIANS conduct, evaluate, and interpret research in nutrition science and education, food management, or food service systems and equipment to improve the nutrition of both healthy and sick people.

077.127-010 COMMUNITY DIETITIANS plan, develop, administer, and coordinate nutrition programs and services as part of the health care services for social service organizations or food processing companies.

077.127-018 CONSULTING DIETITIANS advise and assist public and private establishments, such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and child care centers, on food service management and nutritional education programs.

077.127-022 TEACHING DIETITIANS plan and conduct courses in dietetics, nutrition, and institutional management for dietetic interns, nursing students, and other medical staff members.

Some Dietitians (known as industry Dietitians) work for businesses that develop, market, and sell products or equipment, such as dietary foods, educational materials, and computer software to other dietary professionals.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Administrative Dietitians supervise other Dietitians. Community Dietitians work with a health team. Clinical, research, and consulting Dietitians may work alone, or as part of a health team.

Working conditions of Dietitians may vary according to specialty and the type and size of the organization which employs them. Some of their duties may be performed at desks in comfortable, well ventilated, well lighted offices. Others may be performed at patients' bedsides or in small, crowded rooms in clinics. Still other tasks may be performed in modern, well-equipped kitchens or research laboratories.

Dietitians generally work 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. However, shift, weekend, and holiday work may be required in some hospitals, institutions, and restaurants. In some cases, Dietitians rotate shifts.

            Those who are consultants might find out-of-town travel necessary.

Dietitians may join professional associations such as The American Dietetic Association of The American Society for Healthcare Food Service Administrators. Union members must pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

       Activities of a scientific and technical nature

Activities concerned with people and communicating ideas

Activities that result in helping people  

You Should Be Able To:

      Perform a variety of duties which may change often

Plan, direct, & control an entire activity or activities of others

Use logical step-by-step procedures to complete tasks

Work and communicate well, beyond giving and receiving instructions

Work well with dietary staff members and medical personnel patients

Work well with patients and their families

Use mathematics to calculate nutritional values of foods

Work with dietetic chemical formulas

Estimate food purchasing requirements and costs

Rate information using personal judgment or measurable standards

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

A food containing 20 grams of fat would have a caloric value of ______.

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Carbohydrates are classified as complex starches or simple sugars, normally serving as the body's chief source of energy and utilized by the cells as glucose.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a daily menu for an 60 year old man with diabetes.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Must possess analytical skills and be detail oriented when dealing with the various nutritional needs of clients.

Many employers prefer to hire Dietitians who are registered members of The American Dietetic Association. Requirements for membership include a bachelor's degree in an acceptable program and completion of an approved professional work experience with a bachelor's degree, or completion of an advanced degree plus work experience. Members become registered after passing the American Dietetic Association Examination. To maintain registration, they must complete continuing education hours specified by the association.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: An Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) or a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond high school) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1500 FOODS & NUTRITION , 1800 HEALTH & HEALTH CAREERS , 2200 MATH , 2700 PHYSICAL EDUCATION ,  SCIENCE , 3000 SOCIAL STUDIES

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

117 NUTRITION

Programs in Nutrition provide opportunities to gain knowledge concerning the relation of foods to physical and psychological health. They provide an understanding of food supply and distribution, technical development, and consumer behavior. Individuals who teach Nutrition at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration Script.

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check Military web site at http://www.myfuture.com.

DIETITIANS

Dietitians are part of the military's health care staff. They are experts in the nutritional needs of hospital patients and outpatients. Dietitians manage medical food service facilities and plan meals for hospital patients and outpatients who need special diets.

What They Do

      Dietitians in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

      Set policies for hospital food service operations

      Inspect hospital food service and preparation areas to be sure they meet sanitation and safety                        

      standards

      Plan and organize training programs for medical food service personnel

      Develop special diets for patients based on instructions from doctors

      Plan and organize training programs for medical food service personnel

      Develop special diets for patients based on instructions from doctors

      Plan menus for hospital meals

      Interview patients to determine whether they are satisfied with their diet

      Develop hospital food service budgets

      Provide information on nutrition to the military community

Special Requirements

A 4-year college degree in food and nutrition or institutional management is required to enter this occupation. Some specialties require completion of general dietetic internship.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

Desire to help others

Interest in nutrition and food preparation

Interest in interpreting scientific and medical data

Work Environment

      Dietitians work in hospitals, clinics, and aboard ships.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian dietitians work in hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities. They perform duties similar to those performed by military dietitians. Dietitians also work for college food services, restaurants, industrial food services, and research institutions. Civilian dietitians may specialize in specific areas of dietetics, such as consultation, clinical dietetics, and community health.

Training Provided

No initial job training is provided to officers in this occupation. However, the Air Force and Army offer internship programs in dietetics that are approved by the American Dietetic Association.

Opportunities

Each year, the military services need new dietitians due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. Newly commissioned dietitians are assigned to military hospitals, clinics, or ships, where they plan and direct the work of food service personnel. Positions for dietitians in the Coast Guard are filled by U.S. Public Health Service Officers. They may advance to senior management positions in hospital food service programs.

E-Learning Courses and Programs   

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

You may explore this field through part-time work and jobs at summer camps or resorts. Postsecondary education programs in nutrition may offer co-op or internship opportunities. College graduates with appropriate course work may receive training and experience as a Dietitian by enlisting in the U.S. Army. After a training period, candidates become commissioned officers and must complete a specific amount of time in military service.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Dietitian employer

internships

volunteer work with a Dietitian employer

community service work with an agency

Entry to jobs as Dietitians may apply directly to employers or civil service offices. Assistance may be available from college placement bureaus or The American Dietetic Association, or by consulting professional journals or newspaper want ads. In addition you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Dietitians depend on the employers, the individual's education and work experience, and the type of position held.

Nationally, the average annual salary earned by hospital Dietitians was $46,800 in mid 2009.  In the federal government, Dietitians with a bachelor's degree and no experience started at an annual salary of $27,026 in 2009. Dietitians with a bachelor's degree who had completed an approved internship started at $33,477 a year. Dietitians with a master's degree who had completed an approved internship started at $40,949 a year. The salaries of these Federal Government workers may be higher in some urban areas.    The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $37,544 in 2008.

Annual earnings in Michigan for hospital Dietitians in mid 2009 were:

Earnings for Dietitians who are not members of the American Dietetic Associationmight average 15-20% less than wages of Dietitians who are members.

Annual salaries for Dietitians and supervising Dietitians employed by Michigan governmental agencies were (early 2009):

Dietitians usually receive paid vacations and holidays, sick leave, insurance, and retirement benefits. Some employers also offer free meals and/or laundry service. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.

Through experience, seniority, further training, or a civil service examination, a Dietitian may advance to Chief Dietitian or department director. Promotions in teaching or research positions require further education.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, about 57,100 Dietitians were employed in 2006.  Employment of Dietitians is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2016. About 7.9% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for Dietitians looked like this:

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Growth will occur because of an increasing demand for expertise in nutrition and food management. There will be good opportunities for those with at least a bachelor's degree in foods and nutrition or in institutional management. Dietitians will be needed to meet the nutrition and food management needs of hospitals, community health programs, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and extended care facilities; employer-sponsored wellness and fitness programs; and restaurants. Dietitians will be needed also to conduct research in food and nutrition.

Approximately 2,100 Dietitians are employed in Michigan. The majority worked in hospitals, convalescent homes, other health facilities, elementary or secondary schools, colleges, and universities.

Employment of Dietitians in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016. An average of 60 openings is expected annually, with 10 due to growth and 50 to replacement of Dietitians who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as Dietitians transfer to other jobs or occupations.

The Healthcare Industry is experiencing tremendous growth in employment opportunities and job stability that will continue throughout the next several years.  Individuals who are seeking employment opportunities as Dietitians and Nutritionists should find gainful employment. Part-time opportunities are expected to be good. Many employers prefer to hire members of the American Dietetic Association.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2016

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  Copyright © 2009 Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth