There’s an expression – “you are what you eat.” And that’s certainly true when it comes to good nutrition. Dietetic technicians help patients understand the important connection between food and health. Under a dietitian’s supervision, they assist with food service and nutritional programs. They plan menus and prepare meals following nutritional standards and recipes that ensure patients’ individual needs are met. Dietetic technicians observe and gather information from a patient, so a registered dietitian or doctor can determine the patient’s needs. They also counsel people about the food choices they should make to prevent or manage disease, such as cutting back on sugar for patients with diabetes. Most work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities; or for state and local government. In all settings, dietetic technicians follow guidelines established by the government and medical experts. Most employers prefer candidates with an associate's degree from an accredited dietetics or nutrition program, though qualifications may vary. While everybody needs to eat, dietetic technicians help those with special nutritional requirements to improve their health through informed choices.
What they do:
Assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.
On the job, you would:
Observe patient food intake and report progress and dietary problems to dietician.
Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
food production
Arts and Humanities
English language
Safety and Government
public safety and security
Business
customer service
Basic Skills
keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
reading work related information
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
listen and understand what people say
communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
use rules to solve problems
notice when problems happen
People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
Dependability
Concern for Others
Cooperation
Integrity
Self Control
Attention to Detail
You might use software like this on the job:
Data base user interface and query software
DietMaster Systems Clinical Nutrition
ValuSoft MasterCook
Analytical or scientific software
Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
Gnutrition
Medical software
MEDITECH software
Patient electronic medical record EMR software
high school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED usually needed
In the military:
see titles from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, or Navy.
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