RD's are considered to be the food and nutrition experts, who translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. My job here at FCMC focuses on inpatient nutrition assessment and diet instruction, diabetes education, cardiac rehab diet instruction and also assisting in management of our food service department. The goal with each patient is to educate on ways to improve their health and treat various conditions, through the foods they eat each day. It's great to see how quickly labs change and how health conditions can improve with some simple diet changes.
RD's need to complete four years of schooling at an accredited college and then complete an internship that is typically 6 months to 1 year in length. After completion of both, the student can than sit for the national exam to become certified by the American Dietetic Association.
Dietitians in Iowa have two credentials: RD- registered dietitian by the American Dietetic Association and also LD- licensed to work in the state of Iowa. Many dietitians also have worked towards a Master's degree in areas such as public health, nutrition, or other related fields.
FAQ:
- Are dietitians and nutritionists the same thing?
- No. Dietitians need to complete the schooling as listed above and pass a national examination. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, without completing any schooling at all.
- Are there two ways to spell dietitian?
- Yes! Outside the US, many people spell dietitian as dietician (a tic in the middle) and in the United States, dietitian is spelled dietitian. Either spelling is correct.
- How can I meet with the dietitian and will my insurance cover the visit?
- Talk with your health care provider/physician and they can complete a referral for the visit.
- Each insurance covers visits with the dietitian differently, so it is best to call the insurance company ahead of time to see what your benefits might be.
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