Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
Health Career Information
Dietitian
Job description
A dietitian, sometimes called a nutritionist, is professionally trained in applying the principles of nutrition to food selection and meal preparation. A dietitian promotes and maintains health, prevents or treats illness, and recommends rehabilitation through nutrition education and diet. A dietitian counsels individuals and groups, sets up and supervises food service systems for institutions (hospitals, prisons, schools), and promotes sound eating habits through education and administration. A dietitian can also work in education and research. Clinical dietitians, sometimes called therapeutic dietitians, provide nutritional services for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, or doctors' offices.
Activities may include
●
assess patients' nutritional needs
●
develop and implement nutrition programs
●
confer with medical staff to coordinate patients' nutritional intake with other treatments and medications
●
counsel individuals and groups on sound nutritional practices to prevent disease and promote good health
●
maintain quality of food at institutions
●
supervise dietary staff
●
teach basic nutrition
●
analyze food for nutritional content
●
document research findings
Salaries and benefits*
Entry level wages average between $2,200 to $2,700 per month. A Registered Clinical Dietician employed by the State of Washington earns $2,864 to $3,322 per month. A Dietitian 1 working for an institution of higher education averages $2,365 to $3,010 per month.A Nutrition Consultant I with a master's degree and two years experience earns between $3,322 and $3,852 per month. Statewide, the average range is $2,730 to $3,706 per month. In the Northwest, Registered Dieticians earn $3,163 to $3,567 per month, and Chief Clinical Dieticians with three to five years experience average $3,527 to $4, 883 per month. Nationally, recent graduates with a bachelor's degree working as Dieticians average $1,690 per month.
A full benefits package is usually available for dietitians working in hospitals, state offices, and health care facilities. Independent contracts must be self-insured.
Training and requirements
The minimum education requirement for a dietitian is a bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics, institutional food management, or food systems management. A graduate degree is usually required for teaching, research, and public or community health nutrition.
In Washington State, programs in dietitian training are available at Bastyr University, Central Washington University, Seattle Pacific University, and Washington State University. Though an internship is not available in Washington State at this time, a coordinated program offering equivalent experience is provided by the University of Washington and Washington State University.
Necessary skills
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aptitude in science with emphasis on chemistry
●
ability to interact with a variety of people
●
ability to work as a team member
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excellent communication skills, including listening, written and verbal
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ability to coordinate activities in large institutions and to manage the varying impacting forces
●
interest in nutrition and promoting good health
Licensure/Certification
Individuals who wish to take the national registration examination, administered by the American Dietetic Association, must first complete an approved course of study and receive a degree, then complete an internship in a hospital environment.
The credentials of Registered Dietitian (RD) are granted to individuals who complete the above prerequisites and successfully pass the ADA approved registration examination.
Helpful high school courses
Include home economics, physical education, health, English, speech, business, computer science, math through calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, and a second language.
Colleges/Vocational Schools in Washington State
●
Bastyr University
14500 Juanita Dr. NE
Bothell, WA 98028-4966
(425) 823-1300
●
Central Washington University
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 963-1211
●
Seattle Pacific University
3307 Third Ave. W
Seattle, WA 98119-1997
(206) 281-2000
●
University
of Washington
Interdisciplinary
Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences
University of Washington
305 Raitt Hall, Box 353410
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543-1730
●
Food Science
and Human Nutrition program
Washington State University
P.O. Box 646376
Pullman, WA 99164-6376
(509) 335-4763
Outlook*
In Washington state the job outlook for dietitians is average and is expected to increase 15 percent by 2008. Currently there are about 1,412 Registered Dieticians employed in Washington.
Professional Associations
●
American Dietetic Association
216 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
(312) 899-0040
http://www.eatright.org
●
American Society for Nutritional Sciences
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814-3990
(301) 530-7050
http://www.asns.org
* Note: General career descriptions are updated as necessary, however salary expectations and projected outlooks have not been updated since 2000. Go to Workforce Explorer Washington and search your career for the most up-to-date salary and job growth expectations. Washington Healthcare Careers and Workforce College are also good resources for job information.
For additional information, contact your school's career counselor or
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Page updated 9/15/04