What is a Registered Dietitian (RD)?

A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a health care provider and an expert in nutrition.

The minimum requirements to become an RD are to complete a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition or a related field at an accredited university, complete an internship, and pass the national registration exam.

RD’s can work in a variety of settings including clinical health care (hospitals and clinics), community health care, and food service.

My own experiences include both clinical and community health.

As a clinical provider, I specialized in nutrition support for critically ill patients.  Nutrition support is artificial nutrition for patients who are unable to consume nutrients via the normal oral route.  They are fed through a tube into the stomach or total parenteral nutrition (through a vein) in order to survive.

Nutrition is an exciting and ever expanding field.

To learn more about becoming a Registered Dietitian, visit the website of the American Dietetic Association.