registered dietitian nutritionist

  • Dietitian Career Advice, Student Life

    4 Helpful Tips on How to Build Your Tribe in Dietetics

    Being a dietetics student or intern can be lonely if you are having a difficult time finding your tribe. Read this blog for 4 helpful tips!

    Being a dietetics student or dietetic intern is an exciting time.  There is so much to learn and discover on your personal journey. It can also be a lonely time if you are having difficult time finding your tribe. This means looking for likeminded people that can identify with your wins, challenges, and dreams. You are looking for a tribe you can laugh and cry with. You want to find those that believe in your dreams. This task doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. Plus, these connections can help you further down the line with resume construction, preceptor recommendations, and networking that can lead you to the role of your dreams.  Want to learn how to find your tribe? Keep reading.

    Here are 4 tips that will help you locate your dietetics “village”:

     

     

    #1- Join your school’s student dietetic association.

    If your school has a nutrition or dietetics program, it will likely have a student dietetics group, club, or association.  Here, you will find likeminded students that will understand your journey and have similar dreams as you. You can also join an association connected to your specific field of interest. Check out this list of dietetic practice groups (that also have student members!) to learn more. Relationships that start in college can span your collegiate career and beyond.  You can even be connected to alumni of your student dietetic association that may have a similar interest and are farther along in their career than you. With your current classmates, these same people you spend hours with studying the Krebs Cycle may be some of the same people that may be at your life celebrations, grand openings of your business and having coffee dates in the future.  They say your network determines your net worth.  So, build that network!

     

    #2- Get a mentor.

    As a Dietetic Intern, I have benefitted from having several mentors.  Mentors can offer tips on elective courses to take that can enrich your college experience and they can offer advice and give input on the challenges you encounter and how to navigate them. They can share what has worked for them and missteps that they made so that you can avoid them. Mentors are a golden ticket to knowledge as you decide what road you want to take in your career. I have been matched with an amazing mentor through Diversify Dietetics, as well as individuals I’ve met at conferences and even networking events. Attending your first nutrition and dietetics conference is an important and exciting step in becoming a Registered Dietitian. Mentors are for every part of your career. All Access Dietetics has an Alumni group for their clients, where you can apply to join a Mastermind group, which is essentially a group of mentors! Learn more about the alumni group here.

    #3- Look at online communities.

    Even if you happen to be physically alone, technology ensures you are never alone! This is the digital age; connections can be made as you sit at your laptop and in your most comfy pajamas. There are many communities just waiting for you to introduce yourself and be a part of Facebook groups like Registered Dietitians and Future RD’s Community, RD & RD2BE Community, The Unconventional RD Community” and many more. Advice is shared in these groups from resume building to places to consider getting volunteer experience that will assist with your DICAS application.

     

    #4- Create your own mastermind group.

    If you aren’t in the All Access Dietetics Alumni group, you can create your very own mastermind group. Take the reins and assemble a cohort of classmates, fellow dietetic interns and agree to meet up in-person or virtually once month to discuss plans and ideas.  You can encourage each other while taking steps to meet your own goals with a supportive group of your own creation. This is an excellent place to brain dump and strategize.  Who knows?  Your mastermind group could create its own product or business.  The sky is the limit. 

    P.S. If you are worried about your clinical rotation keeping you from living your best life, sign up for these FREE samples of our Real World Clinical Toolkit.

    P.P.S. Special thank you to Danielle Smiley, distance dietetic intern at Komplete Business Dietetic Internship for contributing to this blog! You can reach her on her website or on IG!

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  • Productivity

    5 Tips to Be an Awesome Dietetic Intern and Still Live Your Best Life

    Life as a dietetic intern can be challenging. However, you can still live your best life while being excellent in your rotations.

    If you’re starting a dietetic internship, your first thought might be, “I will not have time for a single thing!”. You might think that the dietetic internship is going to consume every second of your life or think, “there is no way I can be an awesome dietetic intern AND still live my best life.”

    As a dietetic intern, let me be the first to tell you that I can still do the things I enjoy. I go out on Saturday nights with my friends, sleep in on Sundays if I choose to, and have time for my workouts. I did not expect to live my best life while being a dietetic intern. Living my best life does not mean neglecting my work or being anything less than an awesome dietetic intern. I am just allowing myself to live my best life throughout this process to start each week happy and refreshed.

    I want to share the 5 tips that will help you be an awesome dietetic intern while still living your best life:

    1. Choose Progress Over Perfection

    Our preceptors have been in our shoes; they do not expect us to have all the answers. As a dietetic intern, you are there to make mistakes and learn from them. To live your best life, stop aiming for perfection and focus more on the little successes you make each day. Get things done to the best of your ability, and do not be afraid to ask questions. The less pressure you apply on yourself, the happier you will be in your rotations, and the more work you will get done during the week instead of the weekends. 

    2. Set a Daily Top 3

    Every day write down three minor “to-do’s” and commit to them! If you are stressing over an assignment, add that to your to-do list. Set aside an hour or two during or after your rotation time to get it done. It is such a satisfying feeling when you can check something off your list. Before you know it, you check off curriculum assignments left and right, and the extra time you have will be for yourself.

    3. Prioritize Your Health to Be an Awesome Dietetic Intern

    On the first day of orientation, my director said, “I want you to focus on your health, your family, and the internship in that order.” If we don’t do something for our mental or physical health each day, we are more likely to feel stressed or overwhelmed. Add exercise, mediation, or journaling to your nonnegotiable to-do list. An awesome dietetic intern takes care of themselves first and brings that positive energy with them to their rotations.

    Check out these five tips to stay sane during your dietetic internship!

    4. Communicate Your Needs with Your Preceptor

    If you are working part-time, have a family to take care of, or want to spend the time outside of your rotation on yourself, let your preceptor know. First, politely ask your preceptor what days or hours you can sit in a quiet office during the week. Next, use this time to work on your curriculum assignments or study some topics you feel uncomfortable with.

    Setting this time during your rotation hours to do curriculum work will give you the time to live your best life in the evenings or on the weekends while still fulfilling your responsibilities as a dietetic intern.

    5. Take Advantage of Opportunities Your Preceptor Offers

    If your preceptor needs you to join an intern panel or help with an open-house event and you have the hour or two to spare, take the opportunity. Take advantage of opportunities and show your preceptor how awesome and committed you are to helping the dietetic internship succeed.

    It would be best not to think the dietetic internship will be 9-12 months of no fun and adventures. It will be. You need to set boundaries with yourself early on and commit to making this process the most fulfilling and exciting part of your dietetics journey.

    Here are some great examples of ways you can survive the dietetic internship!

    P.S. If you are worried about your clinical rotation keeping you from living your best life, sign up for these FREE samples of our Real World Clinical Toolkit.

    P.P.S. Special thank you to Samantha Maldonado, distance dietetic intern at Komplete Business Dietetic Internship and former Get Matched Coaching client, for contributing to this blog!

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  • Dietetics Programs

    Choosing Between the Get Matched Course and Coaching

    Determine the best solution to complete dietetic internship applications, so that you feel 100% confident in getting a dietetic internship.

    Applying to dietetic internship programs can be overwhelming, stressful, and altogether new. At All Access Dietetics, we’ve designed programs to help you land the dietetic internship of your dream! You’re not in this process alone, and with a little extra help, you can gain the confidence and clarity in yourself to succeed.

    The Get Matched Course is like a tool kit, in that it has every tool I’ve learned about how to stand out in the DICAS application.

    It teaches you how to take every step of the process seriously, and how to approach each step wisely. Many students find the personal statement the hardest area of the application to navigate, and as we know, it is one of the most important pieces. Our course’s biggest module focuses on the personal statement, and we literally guide you through how to answer each of the standard DICAS questions. 

    To me, EVERY area of the application is important. Choosing where to apply is absolutely going to affect your chances of getting matched. Other underrated areas of the application, like director communication and references, are equally important, too. The Get Matched Course teaches you how to increase your chances of getting matched by using our strategies in every aspect of the application process. 

    Get Matched Coaching is going to provide you with support and guidance, so you don’t feel like you are doing this alone.

    Our clients say they are less stressed, since they know they are on their journey with an expert coach. Plus, they feel more confident in themselves and their hard work. Our clients know they are representing themselves well and truly selling themselves as future dietitians- and doing it better than their competition. I always say that, if matched head to head against another applicant with a similar GPA and work experience, I would feel confident our client would get ranked higher because of the quality of their application, their director communication, and their interview skills. 

    The Get Matched Course is a great option if you want to apply the techniques your own way. But, coaching is a great option if you want more personalized advice and support along the way.  

    You’ve never applied to a dietetic internship before, so it is normal to feel overwhelmed and confused. My clients often ask 100 or more questions regarding the process and their applications, and I am sure you will have 100 or more questions, too. You’ve never been taught how to effectively put together an application for this purpose.  

    Because of that, my final advice is to use all the resources you can to inform yourself about the process. The more you understand, the better. Go all in on your application process, and start early, too. If you are in school, the best thing you can do is start your application during your summer break. It is night and day to wait and start your application in the fall, when you are then bogged down by classes. And if you wait until winter break, you are way too late!

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  • How to Become a Dietitian

    How to Become a Registered Dietitian

    • Comments Off on How to Become a Registered Dietitian
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    What is the Difference Between a “Registered Dietitian” and a “Nutritionist”

    A common question for anyone interested in studying dietetics is: “What is the difference between a “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist” (RDN) and a “Nutritionist.” Many people mistakenly use the terms “Dietitian” and “Nutritionist” interchangeably. These professions are related, but maintain distinctive qualities.

    The nutritionist profession is much less regulated and protected under the law. Some states require nutritionists to obtain an occupational license and others allow nutritionists to practice without education or training. Unlike all nutritionists, all RDNs are required to complete formal education that is at least a baccalaureate degree. This program must include coursework covering:

    • Food service systems management
    • Food and nutrition science
    • Computer science
    • Chemistry
    • Business
    • Microbiology
    • Sociology
    • Biochemistry
    • Physiology
    • Economics

    To maximize the depth, scope, length, and formal education and training, we recommend choosing the path of becoming an RDN.

    How to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

    The first step is to enroll in an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics academic program. This is the most common path in which an individual is granted at least a bachelor’s degree. Another option is to enroll in an ACEND accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP),  Future Education Model Graduate Degree Program (FG), or International Dietitian Education Program (IDE). Graduates of the listed programs are eligible to take the CDR’s Registration exam to become credentialed as an RDN. When you’re ready, click here to learn about our exam prep support.

    Note: Starting in January of 2024, a graduate degree will be required to sit for the RD exam.

    After completing a bachelor’s degree in addition to receiving a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program, complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice Dietetic Internship (DI) or Individual Supervised Practice (ISPP). The average match (“acceptance”) rate for dietetic internships/RD programs hovers around 60%. The supervised practice is combined with the CP, FG, and IDE listed above. This is a competitive application process with no guarantee of landing a spot, so we’re here to help!

    The next step is to pass the dietetic registration exam (“RD exam”), gain licensure in your state of practice (if applicable), and maintain your continuing education hours through CDR.

    How to Get Ahead of the Game

    To get a head start on your dietetic internship application, get the support of an expert admissions coach. Get Matched Coaching will give you the roadmap and support you need to create a stand-out application and feel more confident. Click HERE to learn more about our signature program.

    References:

    https://www.eatrightpro.org/about-us/become-an-rdn-or-dtr/high-school-students/5-steps-to-become-a-registered-dietitian-nutritionist

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  • Dietetics Programs, Dietitian Career Advice

    Advice from Dietitians to Future Dietitians

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    Becoming a Registered Dietitian certainly isn’t easy. We’ve compiled advice from dietitians for nutrition students, dietetic interns, and all future RD’s.

    We all have a clear recollection of why we wanted to get into the nutrition field and become registered dietitians.  Some of those reasons are near and dear to our hearts, and some of those reasons are very simple- we love nutrition!  When on the journey to become a registered dietitian, there are plenty of bumps along the road. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget why we are doing what we are doing.  

    “Why did I decide to volunteer again this week when I have a test tomorrow?”  Why am I taking six classes this semester?”  How is summer almost over when all I did was a volunteer and work?” These are common questions I’ve both asked and heard during my years as a student.

    Since becoming an RD (yay!) in July 2016, I often thought about what I wish I knew along the way to make things a little easier for me.  Honestly, the best advice that I could give would only begin and end with two words: networking and volunteering.  So important.  Not only do these things look amazing on your resume, but they will also help you navigate your way through dietetics with a bit of ease.  

    Networking can lead to you shadowing multiple RDs in different fields, learning about nutrition from another point of view, and making your name known in the dietetics field early.  

    Volunteering will make your resume and your DICAS application look amazing.  I asked one dietetic intern and one dietitian about what they would have liked to know before starting a nutrition career. This is what they had to say.

    “Network as much as possible, take on as many volunteer opportunities as you can, big or small.”

    “If you’re struggling in academics, then definitely seek out a tutor, your professor, or other resources that your University provides for extra help. When trying to get into an internship and meet with the director, whether it’s one-on-one or in a group setting, come prepared with questions.  Don’t forget to update your resume and LinkedIn as you go continually”. – Jess Mirkin, Dietetic Intern at the University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT.

    “Becoming a dietitian is a long road, but it will all be worth it in the end; keep going!”

    The dietetics community is tiny and close-knit. Never burn bridges; you never know who knows your potential internship director or future boss.  Volunteer as much as you can; it’s the best and sometimes the only way to get experience in nutrition as a student. Be persistent; dietitians are super busy and may not respond to questions right away but typically respond well to those who show they are ready to work, learn, and show that they have something to offer.  Being a dietitian can sometimes feel like a thankless job; remember why you started in the first place and how important what you’re doing is”.  – Hailey Beiner, RDN, C-DN.

    The consensus seems to be the same- networking, persistence, volunteering, never feeling like you can’t ask for help, and always remembering why you started this journey.  Never give up, and remember that it’s worth it!

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  • Productivity, Student Life

    Exam Study Strategies for #RD2Be’s

    Studying for exams as a nutrition major can be difficult. These study strategies can help you succeed in becoming a Registered Dietitian.

    P.N. and EN equations, Krebs cycle enzymes and intermediates, the steps in the Nutrition Care Process-  there’s a lot of information that a future dietitian must know.  Future RD’s must get good grades in classes and excel in the internship and then pass the R.D. exam. Gone are the days that you have only your textbook and pen and paper to study. Now there are so many online tools that are designed to help you get better grades. Here are five strategies that will help you be more focused and better prepared for your exams.   

    1. Use Flashcards

    You can even save yourself the money you typically spend on 3X5 cards to make flashcards using Study Stack. You can search for flashcards that other students have already made, create your flashcards, and then practice and play games with your online flashcards. Flashcards are a great way to study for any exam. 

    2. Avoid Distractions

    How many times have you clicked on Facebook when you should be studying for that next biochemistry exam? Use ways to help monitor your distractions, like StayFocusd. StayFocusd is an extension for Google Chrome that allows you to configure how much time you spend on specific pages. Once your allotted time has been used, the site will be inaccessible for the rest of the day. With nearly 5,000 reviews, this support tool has helped a lot of people stay focused. 

    3. Create Study Groups

    If you live close to your classmates, form a regular study group with study goals set at the beginning of each session. If you would like to connect and study with students virtually, you can use  StudyRoom. StudyRoom allows you to communicate with your classmates by setting up a dashboard and sharing materials or asking questions. You need your school email address, and then you click into specific classes.

    4. Plan studying into your Calendar

    Cramming for a test lowers your ability to retain information. Create a balanced study schedule to help your brain keep what you learn. GoConqr allows you to create a study schedule and manage and track tasks. It also allows you to develop other study tools to gain insight into which topics you are mastering and which ones you need to study more.

    5. Take Breaks to Eat and Move During your Study Sessions

    When you study, you are using energy, so take time to refuel. And take time to stretch and move your body. If you need a reminder, Stand Up! is a flexible work break timer that allows you to set timers within your schedule.

    Finding the right study tools and techniques may be a trial and error process but find what works for you. Have you found an online study tool that has helped you master your nutrition classes?

    P.S. The Study Smarter Method has helped hundreds of RD’s pass the exam. Learn more about Pass The Exam Prep. 

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  • How to Become a Dietitian, Student Life

    How to Mentally Recover After an MNT Exam

    Imagine this. You finish your MNT exam, with time to spare, and you hand it in to your professor with the biggest smile on your face and you turn around and walk out the door knowing that you are an exceptional student and totally aced it.  Has this ever happened to you?  The anxiety of finishing on time, the worry and second guessing of whether you did that tube feed calculation right, did you give your “patient” enough protein? AH. The mental toll that MNT exams have can last for a while. Here are five tips to help you recover from after an MNT exam:

    1. ONLY REVISIT YOUR NOTES ONCE.

    Your first instinct when you leave the room after your exam is usually to check your notes to see if you got an answer correct. This is ok, but limit this time.  Dwelling on something that you can’t fix won’t do you any good.  Be confident in your answers.  Adjust your focus to the positive.

    2. EXERCISE.

    As nutrition majors, we know that a healthy and balanced lifestyle includes exercise.  Although this may not be something that you want to do right after your test, the endorphins that are released will help with the stress you just endured. 30 minutes of moderate physical activity will do wonders.

    3. YOGA.

    Breathe in, breathe out. Yoga is the perfect de-stressor.  Whether you go to your local studio or find a great podcast that prompts you with the movements, yoga will help you declutter your mind and center yourself. Stretching out your body and letting go of the day will help you mentally recover from that MNT exam.

    4. HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS.

    DON’T talk about the exam! Out of sight, out of mind. This is easier said than done, but try focusing on other aspects of your life.

    5. TREAT YOURSELF.

    You deserve it! You studied for hours, rewrote your notes a million times, and stayed up late cramming in every last bit. Reward yourself with something that will make you feel great. Get a mani/pedi, go out for fro-yo, buy that new shirt that you’ve been obsessing over. Knowing that you’ve done your best is all that you can do at this point and treating yourself to something will give you a sense of accomplishment.

    P.S. Now that exams are over, it’s time to start preparing for Match Day! 

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