This occupation is part of the Healthcare Practitioner and Technical cluster
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About the Job
Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.
It is also Called
- Administrative Dietitian
- Certified Dietary Manager
- Chief Dietitian
- Clinical Dietician
- Clinical Dietitian
- Clinical Nutritionist
- Community Dietitian
- Consultant Dietitian
- Corporate Dietitian
- Correctional Food Service Supervisor
What They Do
- Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
- Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
- Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans and diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
- Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
- Monitor food service operations to ensure conformance to nutritional, safety, sanitation and quality standards.
- Organize, develop, analyze, test, and prepare special meals such as low-fat, low-cholesterol and chemical-free meals.
- Develop curriculum and prepare manuals, visual aids, course outlines, and other materials used in teaching.
- Make recommendations regarding public policy, such as nutrition labeling, food fortification, and nutrition standards for school programs.
- Purchase food in accordance with health and safety codes.
- Plan and conduct training programs in dietetics, nutrition, and institutional management and administration for medical students, health-care personnel and the general public.
Interests
People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: IS.
This means people who work in this occupation generally have Investigative interests, but also prefer Social environments.
Work Values
People who work in this occupation generally prize Relationships, but also value Independence and Achievement in their jobs.
Things They Need to Know
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Things They Need to Be Able to Do
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Additional Resources
- California Occupational Guide - A detailed guide to this occupation provided by the California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Education Required
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Wages
In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $68,700.00 with most people making between $48,630.00 and $92,230.00
Outlook
During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 7,000 people in California. It is projected that there will be 8,400 employed in 2020.
This occupation will have about 140 openings due to growth and about 250 replacement openings for approximately 390 total annual openings.
Common College Majors
- Find Institutions Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General
- Find Institutions Human Nutrition
- Find Institutions Foodservice Systems Administration/Management
- Find Institutions Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other
- Find Institutions Nutrition Sciences
- Find Institutions Dietetics/Dietitian
- Find Institutions Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist
- Find Institutions Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other
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