The Journey to Becoming a Dietitian

Hi there! My name is Estelle and I’m a Registered Dietitian working in an acute hospital setting. I graduated from my degree in BSc Dietetics at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧?

Dietitians are qualified health professionals that treat disease-related malnutrition and dietary problems at an individual and wider public health level. Clinical dietitians provide nutrition support and dietary education to patients with various clinical conditions. Dietetic assessments involve a thorough analysis of the patient’s anthropometry, biochemistry, clinical condition, treatment plans, medications, dietary intake and environmental factors. A treatment plan is formulated and may include review assessments and the use of prescriptive oral nutritional supplements. Dietitians often devise tube feeding regimens for patients requiring enteral or parenteral (intravenous) nutrition due to barriers with meeting nutritional requirements via oral food intake.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧?

Many dietitians in the UK work for the NHS within a hospital setting. Clinical dietitians may specialise in areas of nutrition support, gastroenterology, surgery, oncology, paediatrics, stroke, renal, mental health, infectious diseases and weight management. Some dietitians may work in private practice, or other healthcare facilities. Many registered dietitians work in community settings, private practice and/or in academia and research. A growing number of dietitians work in public health, food industry and sports nutrition.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧?

In order to qualify as a registered dietitian in the UK, an individual must complete a bachelor's or master's degree in nutrition and dietetics. Student dietitians in the UK must also complete at least 1000 hours of clinical placement, which are allocated and monitored by the university as part of the structured degree programme. Dietitians are regulated by the HCPC to provide medical nutrition therapy. In the UK, dietitian is a 'protected title', meaning identifying yourself as a dietitian without appropriate education and registration is prohibited by law.