What does a Dietician do?
Dietitians are specialists in food and nutrition whose primary role includes encouraging healthy eating patterns, providing dietary instructions, and creating particular diets for individuals. They interpret the science of nourishment to daily knowledge of well-being and healthy food, as well as perform treatment and prevention among individuals or groups. Also, they evaluate the nutritional benefit of food, create an eating program, and change recipes. These experts work in various areas including public health sectors, private practice, or foodservice and industry.
Dietician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real dietician resumes:
- Lead weekly nutrition classes for weight loss, cholesterol control and diabetes education.
- Manage the anemia status of patients by reviewing necessary lab data and initiating or adjusting medication doses.
- Spearhead initiation of diabetes support groups.
- Input have CMS and facility mandate timelines.
- Complete MDS's and care plans on all residents as needed.
- Utilize EMR to both gather information and document patient assessments and medication.
- Ensure resident plan compliance and complete MDS, reviews, quarterly, and annual evaluations.
- Obtain vitals and information, enter information into an EHR, prepare and administer injections, give nebulizer treatments.
- Conduct full assessments on children recovering from orthopedic surgery.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to coordinate care plan thereby facilitating rehabilitation for residents.
- Conduct nutritional assessments, and develop care plans for optimal nutritional intake of patients.
- Streamline nutrition therapy to pressure ulcer patients with development of template tool base on current literature review.
- Certify participants to receive WIC benefits by obtaining measurements, reviewing medical and dietary histories and determining appropriate benefit packages.
- Certify participants to receive WIC benefits by obtaining measurements, reviewing medical and dietary histories and determining appropriate benefit packages.
Dietician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 36% of Dieticians are proficient in Patients, Patient Care, and Nutrition Education. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Dieticians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 36%
Streamlined nutrition therapy to pressure ulcer patients with development of template tool based on current literature review.
- Patient Care, 7%
Consulted with health care professionals regarding patient care plans and progress.
- Nutrition Education, 6%
Worked on the nutrition education team that selected education material to be used for all 10 DHD #10 counties.
- Medical Nutrition Therapy, 5%
Consulted on medical nutrition therapy and clinical interventions to interdisciplinary treatment teams.
- Rehabilitation, 4%
Provided coverage for dietitians on pediatric pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cardiology oncology, and physical rehabilitation services.
- Diet Restrictions, 4%
Educated and motivated patients navigating difficult diet restrictions.
Most dieticians use their skills in "patients," "patient care," and "nutrition education" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential dietician responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a dietician to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what dieticians do because "dietitians and nutritionists must keep up with food and nutrition research." Additionally, a dietician resume shows how dieticians use analytical skills: "communicated appropriate dietary history and nutritional care data through medical records documentation system. "
Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform dietician duties is listening skills. Dieticians responsibilities require that "dietitians and nutritionists must listen carefully to understand clients’ goals and concerns." Dieticians also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with interdisciplinary groups to develop nutritional programs and care plans. "
Problem-solving skills. dieticians are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to dietician responsibilities, because "dietitians and nutritionists must evaluate the health status of clients and determine appropriate food choices to improve overall health or manage disease." A dietician resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "calculated and made recommendations to physicians for parenteral nutrition solutions. "
Speaking skills. dietician responsibilities often require "speaking skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "dietitians and nutritionists must explain complicated topics in a way that people can understand." This resume example shows what dieticians do with speaking skills on a typical day: "addressed patients needs on timely mannered. "
The three companies that hire the most dieticians are:
- IInterim HealthCare12 dieticians jobs
- AAcadia Healthcare8 dieticians jobs
- AABM Industries7 dieticians jobs
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Compare different dieticians
Dietician vs. Food adviser
Nutrition interns are individuals who are on the job training for the tasks performed by licensed nutritionists or dieticians. The interns provide a nutrition care process that includes prescription of parenteral and enteral recommendations and analysis of laboratory values. They prepare a case study presentation that applies evidence-based guidelines and nutrition care process research. It is also part of their responsibilities to provide nutrition services, meal plans, and lesson plans.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, dietician responsibilities require skills like "patients," "patient care," "nutrition education," and "medical nutrition therapy." Meanwhile a typical food adviser has skills in areas such as "facility operations," "logistics," "food service," and "food safety." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, food advisers reach similar levels of education than dieticians. Food advisers are 0.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Dietician vs. Food and nutrition teacher
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, dietician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patient care," "nutrition education," "medical nutrition therapy," and "rehabilitation." Meanwhile, a food and nutrition teacher has duties that require skills in areas such as "dishes," "cash handling," "room service," and "nutrition services." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Food and nutrition teachers earn similar levels of education than dieticians in general. They're 4.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Dietician vs. Clinical nutritionist
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a dietician is likely to be skilled in "rehabilitation," "quality standards," "diet modifications," and "nutritional care," while a typical clinical nutritionist is skilled in "nutritional risk," "rd," "nutrition services," and "nutrition assessments."
When it comes to education, clinical nutritionists tend to earn higher degree levels compared to dieticians. In fact, they're 16.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Dietician vs. Nutrition internship
Even though a few skill sets overlap between dieticians and nutrition interns, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a dietician might have more use for skills like "patient care," "nutrition education," "rehabilitation," and "diet restrictions." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of nutrition interns require skills like "nutrition education programs," "nutrition education materials," "rd," and "food safety. "
Nutrition interns reach similar levels of education compared to dieticians, in general. The difference is that they're 1.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of dietician
Updated January 8, 2025
