About Nutritionists & Dietitians

Nature of Work

Nutritionists and Dietitians plan food and nutrition programs and supervise the preparation and serving of meals. They help to prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modifications, such as the use of less salt for those with high blood pressure or the reduction of fat and sugar intake for those who are overweight.

Dietitians manage food service systems for institutions such as hospitals and schools, promote sound eating habits through education, and conduct research. Major areas of practice include clinical, community, management, and consultant dietetics.

Work Environments

The daily activities of Registered Dietitians are based on their specific occupation. Following is an explanation of the types of work performed by Registered Dietitians in specific occupational fields.

Clinical Dietitians

Provide nutritional services for patients in institutions such as hospitals and nursing care facilities.
Assess patients' nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition programs, and evaluate and report the results.
Confer with doctors and other healthcare professionals in order to coordinate medical and nutritional needs.
Specialize in the management of overweight patients or the care of critically ill or renal (kidney) and diabetic patients.
Manage food services in nursing care facilities, small hospitals or correctional facilities.

Community Dietitians

Counsel individuals and groups on nutritional practices designed to prevent disease and promote health.
Working in public health clinics, home health agencies, and health maintenance organizations.
Evaluate individual needs, develop nutritional care plans, and instruct individuals and their families.
Provide instruction on grocery shopping and food preparation to the elderly, individuals with special needs, and children.
Increase public interest in nutrition has led to job opportunities in food manufacturing, advertising, and marketing.
Analyze foods, prepare literature for distribution, or report on issues such as the nutritional content of recipes, dietary fiber, or vitamin supplements.

Management Dietitians

Oversee large-scale meal planning and preparation in healthcare facilities, company cafeterias, prisons, and schools.
Hire, train, and direct other dietitians and food service workers; budget for and purchase food, equipment, and supplies; enforce sanitary and safety regulations; and prepare records and reports.

Consultant Dietitians

Work under contract with healthcare facilities or in their own private practice.
Perform nutrition screenings for their clients and offer advice on diet-related concerns such as weight loss or cholesterol reduction.
Work for wellness programs, sports teams, supermarkets, and other nutrition-related businesses.
Consult with food service managers, providing expertise in sanitation, safety procedures, menu development, budgeting, and planning.

Earning Potential

According to the American Dietetic Association's 2002 Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey, half of all Registered Dietitians working in the field for four years or less earn between $33,000 and $42,000 per year.

Salaries increase with years of experience. Many RDs, particularly those in management, business, and consulting, earn incomes above $50,000.

Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dietitians is expected to grow about as fast as the average (10-20 percent) for all occupations through the year 2010 because of increased emphasis on disease prevention, a growing and aging population, and public interest in nutrition.

Employment in hospitals is expected to show little change (0-9 percent) because of anticipated slow growth and reduced patients' lengths of hospital stay. Faster growth (21-35 percent), however, is anticipated in nursing homes, residential care facilities and physician clinics.

Professional Organizations

For more information about a career in Nutrition & Dietetics, contact the American Dietetic Association or the Indiana Nutrition Council.

Links to other dietetic education programs available in Indiana are available elsewhere on this site. Please contact these programs directly.