In the Air Force:
Aerospace Medical Service; Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Independent Duty Medical Technician; Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Independent Duty Medical Technician; Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Flight and Operational Medical Technician; Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Flight and Operational Medical Technician; Dental Assistant; Dental Assistant Journeyman; Diet Therapy Craftsman; Dietitian; Health Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology
In the Army:
Dietitian; Food Service Technician; Medical Specialist Corps Officer; Nutrition Care Specialist; Unit Supply Specialist
In the Coast Guard:
Health Services Technician; Medical Administration Specialty
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 and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
Business
customer service
management
Arts and Humanities
English language
Education and Training
teaching and course design
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Basic Skills
talking to others
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
looking for ways to help people
teaching people how to do something
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
use rules to solve problems
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
Attention to Detail
Adaptability/Flexibility
Concern for Others
Dependability
Stress Tolerance
Independence
You might use software like this on the job:
Data base user interface and query software
USDA Child Nutrition Database
ValuSoft MasterCook
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Analytical or scientific software
Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
NutriGenie Optimal Nutrition
associate's degree or certificate after high school usually needed
In the military:
see titles from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, or Navy.
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