Tag Archives: clinical dietitian

Announcement!

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Alright, alright. This post needs to happen because I just can’t contain it any longer.

 

Of course, the natural progression would be that once I finished my internship I would get a job and be gainfully employed soon after. Well, in the abyss of being finished with my supervised practice hours but not yet passing the RD exam, this was proving to be a bit more difficult to accomplish.

Most facilities will not hire someone until they have passed their RD exam and, if the state requires it, has their licensure (which Florida requires, basically this means I just pay another X-amount of dollars to be licensed as a dietitian - which aids in protecting our credentials even more). I actually had my resume sent right back to me from a number of open-positions simply because I did not meet the minimum requirements of being a registered dietitian, so even interviews were hard to come by.

I did not let this stop me. Just as I was determined to take that exam once and only once, I was determined to get that full-time job and get it fast. Aside from studying, I also spent a lot of time perfecting my resume and submitting my information to any open positions that I could find. Most of the time I would send in my resume and just assume I wouldn’t hear anything. Of course I followed up on my applications, but a lot of that amounted to nothing, just because I hadn’t yet taken the exam.

Long story short, one of the applications I submitted was a success. I landed myself an interview for a clinical position - which was perfectly schedule just days after I passed the exam - which then turned into a second interview - and then an offer! And I accepted.

 

Before you even ask, yes I’ve been working at the eating disorder treatment center, and yes I absolutely love it.. love love love it. However, right now there is not an opportunity for me to become full-time.

SO! Right now, I’ve accepted a position as clinical dietitian at a hospital, and will remain employed at the eating disorder facility on an as-needed basis.

I know that in the end, this is probably the best situation I could ever find myself in. Diving into doing what I need to do (working clinical - looks good on your resume for-ev-er) and getting my feet wet with doing what I want to do (eating disorders).

Honestly, right now nothing has hit me yet. I hadn’t even quite come to terms with the fact that I actually passed the RD exam, and now this. It doesn’t feel real. I can’t explain it but I feel like I’m living in a dream. Like tomorrow I’m going to wake up, and none of this is going to be real.

Instead of trying to convince myself, I’m just going to roll with it and be proud of myself… whatever that even means.

 

Wake UP in anticipation something great is going to happen today ...and DO NOT let anyone steal your JOY! #quotes #inspiration

 

 

Somebody pinch me.

 

Thursday Thoughts: Clinical Rotation - Week 1

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So I’m almost done with my first week of my Clinical nutrition rotation. Uh, pinch me?

Where do I begin…

On Monday, I went in around 8:30 and met with the Clinical Coordinator, who oversees all of the clinical dietitians. In terms of the hierarchy, it goes a little something like this

Director*

Executive Chef Clinical Coordinator

Cooks Dietitians

This is a very shortened version but just so you guys understand a little better, I spent my Management rotation with the Director, and more time on the foodservice side. Now, I’m obviously on the other side of the spectrum, and am reporting to the Clinical Coordinator.

Anyway, she and I planned out my next 8 weeks at the hospital. Since there are 6 dietitians on the schedule each day, I will be spending one week with each, except for the Trauma ICU dietitian, that will be 2 weeks. And then my last week will be pretty much whatever I want to do, whether that’s going back to a specific unit, or doing random staff-relief.

Guess what I got thrown into first? Trauma ICU.

huh what

Holy (explicative). I’ve worked in hospitals so I’m fine with the clinical setting, but spending most of my day in the ICU… now that’s a different story.

This unit has the patients of, well, the worst cases. For the most part, bed-ridden and usually comatose. Oh, and mostly on nutrition support (a.k.a. tube feeding)

The first day, I was just kind of acting as a sponge, listening and looking… taking in as much as I could without running out the door screaming. Ok, it’s not that bad, but still. It’s one thing just briefly walk by, seeing the patient and all of the tubes going in and out.. but then reading their chart notes with their story, it’s kind of scary.

After the first day, I was trying to wrap my head around specific cases, getting in the mindset of being a day-to-day dietitian that has to consult the patient for X, Y and Z. I understand now how the ICU staff becomes so desensitized to everything going on… you don’t really have a choice. It’s you’re job to keep these people alive.

Luckily, since I’ve been in kind of a daze with all the new information, I have not one but two weeks with this dietitian in the ICU. She is an amazing dietitian and is really making it easier for me to grasp the key concepts of nutrition support. She doesn’t expect me to do consults or charting just yet, because seriously? These patients need someone that knows what they’re doing. But surprisingly, I’m glad that they shoved me into the deep-end first, because now I think the rest of my Clinicals will feel like a breeze.

Honestly? When I come home at the end of the day, my mind is racing and my heart hurts for patients that are struggling, but do I like it? Maybe, I don’t know. Hopefully as the weeks go by, I’ll know how I feel.

How do you do in hospitals?