Life as a Student Dietitian

Sep 16

My name’s Qanita Riaz and I’m currently a final year student at the University of Surrey, which teaches the top dietetic degree in the U.K.

In my spare time, I enjoy baking and cooking for my family, as well as exercising and writing. I’m also keen on fundraising and served as the Charity Week Representative for a society at my university. When I was younger, I earned trophies in writing competitions.

Within dietetics, I’m interested in paediatrics as I enjoy working with children and because I feel it’s more cheerful. Whether they are suffering with a food allergy, lactose intolerance, a growth problem, or even a more complicated genetic disorder, I aspire to help my patients to the best of my ability.

Dietitians offer dietetic advice and management techniques and work as part of a multidisciplinary team, in hospitals and within the community. The reason I chose to become a dietitian is that alongside all the hard work at university and scientific knowledge we gain, it’s very much a social profession, where communication skills are essential. I love interacting with others and as dietitians, it’s important to be on good terms with your patients, making them comfortable to discuss something as sensitive as their diet and eating habits with you.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DIETETIC PLACEMENT STUDENT:

Dietetics placements are key to learning about work experience required in this field. At my university, we are offered 3 clinical training placements throughout our course in order to equip us for our role as a healthcare professional.

During each placement, we are required to complete a portfolio with tasks and activities, which are assessed and signed off by the supervising dietitians. You are given a timetable, which changes every week and it’s filled with interesting activities and hospital or community-based tasks to complete. You wake up on time and prepare to leave for the hospital, ensuring you arrive at the hospital half an hour before the start of the busy day ahead. Next you will observe dietitians in different departments, during ward rounds or outpatient clinics. You’ll learn how they communicate with their patients and fill out paperwork such as dietetic record cards and medical notes.

A few examples of events you can observe in a clinical environment include a video fluoroscopy with Speech and Language Therapists (SALT), observing the gastroenterology ward with the surgical dietitian, or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Some enjoyable tasks include having the opportunity to interview the catering manager and listen to the catering team about their views on serving patients. You will also have the opportunity to try nutritional supplements and shadow the diabetes specialist nurses. Additionally, you can observe stoma patients in the stoma clinic alongside nurses.

During breaks, you usually try and finish off writing up your tasks in your portfolio because it’s important to achieve as much written work during office time, as home is for relaxation. Being a dietitian is a rewarding role and is for people who are interested in making a change in others’ lives. Your diet plays a significant role in determining not only your physique, but your physical and mental health and it’s imperative to care for your diet, and that of others too!