Dietician

A Dietician plans, organizes, conducts and supervises programs in nutrition, diet and food service. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centers, the food and beverage industry, educational institutions, sports organizations and government, or they may be self-employed.

Dieticians should not be confused with Nutritionists. Dieticians are health care professionals who have received specialised formal accredited tertiary education and training, undertook internship in hospitals, and are required to adhere to their regulatory body’s code of conduct. They are also the only non-medically trained healthcare profesional permitted to practice clinically in hospitals or healthcare facilities, On the other hand, a Nutritionist is a person who advises people on dietary matters relating to health, well-being and optimal nutrition. It should be noted that anyone (whether with or without formal specialised education) can refer to themselves as nutritionist.

Tasks

• Develop, administer and supervise nutrition and food preparation and service programs in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, company cafeterias or similar settings;
• Evaluate nutritional status of individuals and provide nutrition counselling and consulting to health professionals, dietetic interns, community groups, government, media and individuals;
• Aid in the prevention and/or treatment of inadequate nutrition;
• Plan, evaluate and conduct nutrition education programs and develop educational materials for various audiences;
• Practice on an individual basis or as a member of an interdisciplinary team to determine nutritional needs of patients and to plan normal and therapeutic menus.

Basic Educational Requirement

Dieticians require a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a related field such as food and nutritional science or biochemistry, and one to two years of supervised practical training. To be a full-pledged Dietician, one must also pass the licensure exam given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Skills and Competencies

Dieticians are often involved in identifying and treating health ailments. Therefore, knowledge of prevention at every stage of growth and development and a background in metabolism and biochemistry of nutrients and food components are critical. They should be able to plan nutrition programs and supervise the preparation and serving of meals.

Dieticians must have an interest in nutrition and the welfare of people. He/She must be non-judgemental and understanding about alternative lifestyles and must have tact and patience when persuading people to change eating habits.

Physical Attributes and Characteristics

• Dieticians should be patient, respectful and reponsive to client’s needs;
• Flexibility and ability to work on his/her own and as part of a team;
• Good organizational skills and an aptitude for and an interest in science;
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Salary/Compensation

Salaries for Dietician at the entry level ranges from P13,000 to P15,000 per month. Aside from the basic pay, they also get allowances and other incentives.

Prospects for Career Advancement

Dieticians may specialize in such areas as administrative dietetics, clinical dietetics, community dietetics, public health dietetics or research dietetics. Dieticians may progress to management positions through additional experience.

Employment Opportunities

Employment of Dieticians is expected to grow due to increased emphasis on disease prevention, a growing and aging population, and public interest in nutrition.

The number of Dietician positions in some hospitals is expected to grow at a gradual pace as hospitals continue to contract out food service operations. Also, employment is expected to grow fast in contract providers of food services, social services agencies, and physicians’ offices and clinics.

Cost of Education *

The cost of a 4-year course in nutrition or a related field such as food and nutritional science or biochemistry normally ranges from P210,000 to P290,000.

* Based on tuition fee rates for school year 2007 - 2008