any dietitians? Career change.

sunflwr2

I'm reposting this,
just wanted to know if anyone worked as a dietitian and if you could tell me more about what you do?  I'm looking for a career change and have always wanted to be a dietitian, but i've been putting it off for years!  I have my bachelors degree in Psychology and I am looking for a post grad degree.
I'm wondering:
1. do you find there is a growing need for dietitians?
2. average salary
3. is it okay to take classes from an accredited online course?
anything else you would like to suggest!

Koots2010

I work as an acute care clinical dietitian, seeing patients as inpatients in the hospital.  I work as an RD in Canada so I can't be certain what I am saying is echoed in the US but here are my answers:

1. There is a growing need for RD's as nutrition begins to take a larger role in the prevention & treatment of many of the chronic diseases that are on the rise ie diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease

2. My gross salary is ~65000 (32.84/hr) and I am step 3 of 9 on the salary scale (I move up a step a year per experience).  I have full benefits & 4 weeks paid holidays annually.

3. I dont think online courses are an option in Canada.  Make sure the program you are looking at is accredited by the American Dietetic Assocation & that it will allow you to write the board certified test needed to become a registered dietitian in USA.

 Hope that helps!

cs1007

I am in the same boat! Have my BA in Psych...I looked into many programs. Go onto eatright.org for a list of accredited universities-some have online programs:) After I have my next LO I may try to go back too:)

kimsy

I'm late to respond, but I just began work on a distance dietetics program. I have a bachelors in Poli Sci and a masters in Communication, and I am going back to get the credits I'd need for a bachelors in dietetics. 

I am currently working on the pre-reqs and am hoping to start Kansas State's online program (which is accredited) in the Summer. I know it varies from school to school and probably masters to bachelors, and I'm not sure how science-heavy your degree was, but I had to take Chem I and Chem II, as well as a bio class and Anatomy I & II before applying. They partner with a local community college so that you can take the pre-reqs at lower tuition. 

Again, probably varies from school to school, but at Kansas State, you do have to be a certified RD to enroll in the Master's Program. I did some research before I decided bachelor's vs. masters, and here is some info that helped me: 

https://www.he.k-state.edu/hmd/programs/distance/dt-grad.php 

Regarding your third question, I thought about that a lot, as there is a university near my house that offers a more traditional (not online) program. But with a toddler and a baby on the way, it just wasn't practical for me. The courses I've taken so far have been just as rigorous (if not more so) than those I took in a classroom in my previous degrees, but the convenience is great.

Good luck! 

mccrazy

Hi there! I'm an RD and work at a gym doing cardiac rehab, diabetes education (including GD) and general sports nutrition. I have both a BS and MS in nutrition, and I'm board certified in sports dietetics. Ok, here are your answers...

1. Slowly. It's not declining, just not growing at a tremendous rate. You'd think it would be with all the obesity and nutrition-related health problems but it's not.

2. Depends on your area. Less than a nurse, more than a social worker.

3. Yes.

And Yes. (warning: rant to follow)

Don't do it. No, I mean do it if you want, but let me be straight with you. I love nutrition. I love fitness. I love helping people get healthy. But if I could do it all over again I would do med school, PA school, or nurse practitioner. The pay sucks for the amount of education and training you have to go through (and keep going through- 75 hours every 5 years). You may not get the respect you want and deserve from co-workers. Everyone and their brother is a freaking "nutritionist" these days with bogus online certification courses and what not which means the personal trainer, health-food store clerk, and joe blow who's read all the latest nutrition fad blogs will think they know more than you. And to top it all off, well, some days you just have those patients that make you want to stab yourself in the eye with a fork. So, there you have it. Some days I find my job rewarding and I actually feel respected for what I know and what I do. Other days... well... yeah.