Hi all! I'm considering doing the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy course (to be considered an IFNCP). It's VERY expensive (around $5k!!!) so I'm curious if anyone has done it recently, and can tell me if it's worth it and how evidenced based it is.

I'm not sold on functional medicine as a whole - I think I'm mostly curious what this entails for our profession, and how it may create avenues for different schools of thought in regards to treating clients. Feel free to tell me if it's total quackery :)

I work in mental health, which is why I'm interested in learning more.

I want to get my B.S in biology and become a dermatologist, but a family member of mine keeps insisting I do Nutrition. They at eating how many ears you could specialize in and that money isn’t everything. I do know that money isn’t everything but you will still be miserable if you do all the schooling and can’t afford to pay your bills.

What are the pros and cons of becoming a dietitian and what is the pay like and work schedule?

Hi everyone! Just wanted to get some advice/opinions on my current situation.

I recently just took a job as a dietitian at a small/local hospital with 60 beds. When interviewing, the COO discussed with me that she would like me to do inpatient consults. Additionally, she is wanting me to change the menu as this hospital has been experiencing high blood glucose levels. Then eventually start seeing outpatient possibly after being here for a while. It sounds like a lot I know, but I have to meet 56 hrs every 2 weeks for benefits purposes so I need to stay busy. However, consults come in like once or twice a week, which is very low. Per policy, the only time the RD gets a consult is for cases of potential malnutrition. No LOS, diet education, pressure injury, etc. consults… which is concerning.

I have been left with no training from the previous RD. She retired earlier in the year and no longer lives close to the hospital even if I wanted to get in contact with her.

I have been left with a computer full of files/policies and 0 guidance. The hospital is also in a rural area, and the system is very outdated. I’m not even getting consults to pop up. I have no clue how to even put in orders.

While looking through the computer, I keep seeing that the hospital uses the ADA 1800-2100 kcal diet rather than the consistent carb diet. I discussed it with the director of nursing and the dietary manager. The director of nursing is all for it. The dietary manager (who I have been warned about) pretty much just shut me down and said the doctors won’t like it (?). And I don’t want this to sound judgmental, but the dietary manager is not a dietitian nor does she have much education.

I know this post is kinda all over the place, but SOS I need advice!! I would like to see this job out as I will only be here part time with benefits… and it’s close to my house. There’s just a lot going on in my brain hahah

Update: just found out that there’s no SLP and that there is no MST or MNA screening done… I have no clue how the RD managed this place for 30 years

Hi everyone,

So I am moving from Illinois to California for my partner's job and am starting to look for RD jobs out there. I'm a new dietitian and have only worked inpatient clinical, which I do enjoy. However, most clinical RDs rotate weekends and holidays. It is important to me that I get to travel home for major holidays and basically be able to use my PTO when I want to without worrying about it getting denied. That being said, what type of RD job is best for this flexibility and being able to take a long weekend/use PTO when I need to? There are a lot of openings in our area: regular hospitals, LTAC, rehab hospital, LTC, renal, prison RD, outpatient counseling.

Everyone seems so cliquish, and off putting.

Hi! I'm looking for a better way to view and review my clients’ food logs.

For those who use a food-logging platform with clients, which tool do you use, and would you recommend it? What do you like or dislike about it, and is there anything you wish it could do that it currently can’t?

Thanks in advance!

Outpatient RDs- how do you monitor for refeeding in the outpatient setting for a patient with a newly-placed feeding tube? They are often not in the hospital for long, so you are not able to monitor labs daily. Or do you leave it to the inpatient team?

Ok so I'm super baffled and I forewarn this is a DUMB question but I have to ask. 😂

I follow some very malnourished kids in my specialty.

In some of my most malnourished kids , I see decreases in their height (actual, gradual decreased trends). I don't mean an outlier measurement that is obviously an error.

I just want to make sure - it's not possible for kids to grow short in severe malnutrition right? Lol I know they can stunt, thus crossing and decreasing %iles....but grow shorter?

I'm also wondering if should trust the MA/RNs measurements....

Thanks.