The Structure of Your Dietetics Degree
Hello, my name is Eimear Menton (Instagram: @EM_Nutrition_). I am a Registered Mental Health nurse from Ireland having graduated from Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland in 2015 and I have a postgraduate diploma in Food, Nutrition, and health from University College Dublin. I am currently in my second year of a Master's in Dietetics at Leeds Beckett University and I am so excited to become a registered dietitian this year.
Every University course is so different in relation to its structure, placements, and assessments, especially with the current pandemic so I'll just discuss my experience of the 2-year masters in Dietetics at Leeds Beckett University to date.
Modules
First year modules on this course were:
Lifestyle & Longterm conditions
Research & Practice development
Enterprise in Public health nutrition
Professional development for practice
Nutrition advances in practice
Applied nutrition support
Research methods for nutrition
Second-year is mainly placement with placement B and C.
Other modules include; Reflection and Consolidation and a research module that includes the dissertation at the end of the year.
First Year of University
In the first year, we did communication sessions. This involved practicing skills with fellow students and being offered advice by the supervising lecturer or dietitian. This is cringe-worthy at times but definitely worthwhile to get some practice in before placement. Also, we had practical cookery sessions which was a fun break from lectures and allowed us to get insight into creating different foods whether it was a multicultural food cookery session or to show us portion differences. I really enjoyed having practical learning in between lectures.
Placements
A - 3 weeks in Year 1, second semester.
This is more of an observational placement to get some insight and experience into the role of a Dietitian. I completed mine in a community setting, so luckily got to see care home visits, and clinics such as paediatric, diabetes, home enteral feeding (people being fed through a tube) and weight management. I used some communication skills that we practiced in the first semester such as meeting and greeting the service users when they arrived for their appointments. Getting involved where you can is good to embrace the whole experience.
B - 13 weeks in Year 2, first semester.
Due to the pandemic, part of this placement was virtual so working from home using IT systems to speak with patients over the phone or video call and part of it face to face interactions on the wards such as stroke, ICU and gastroenterology. It was such great experience seeing new areas of dietetics each week. This involved going through patients notes, calculating requirements, making dietetic plans and supporting them with either food or supplements or creating enteral feeding regime.
C - 12 weeks in Year 2, second semester.
I am due to commence this in March of this year but I know that I will have to build on the skills I have from B placement and to work towards the British Dietetic Association and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards and expectations so that I can register as a Dietitian. We will be expected to take on and manage our own caseload by the end of this placement. The learning outcomes set by the university will guide my learning and I will be responsible to develop my professional skills and show evidence of how I have proven to reach the high standard expected.
Dietitians are so supportive on placement and getting advice and tips from them will help me greatly throughout this placement. I think adapting to a new learning and work environment is so key right now. Making the most of getting invaluable experience will definitely provide the skills for working effectively and safely in future career positions.