Career Research Paper

Alaina Dowhaniuk
Digicom P1
Mr. Steinman
1/23/15
Career Research Paper The saying "You are what you eat" has definitely been heard by many ears, but is the meaning ever thought about? Well, it is literally true. Every single cell in the human body is replaced in about seven years, and food is what those new cells are made from. Everything that is consumed will eventually become a part of that body, and in order for that person to perform at a peak level, they need to make sure their body is being fueled with healthy and nutritious foods. Some people can find eating this way difficult for many different reasons. Dietitians, however, are the super heroes in these situations and this is the career that I have chosen to research. Dietitians can be employed by many different types of agencies and employers including hospitals, nursing care facilities, schools, restaurants, government health departments, the military, police forces and large food corporations. Dietitians can also work as educators in television and on the radio. They can work at colleges and universities too. Those who work as researchers and teachers may be employed by research clinics, pharmaceutical companies and food companies. Many are self-employed as well. The main roles of Dietitians vary depending on the position they’re in, but the just of their duties remain the same. Their main role is to raise people's awareness of how a good diet and good health go hand in hand. Their area of expertise is the effect of food on the human body. They work with a wide variety of patients ranging from people with eating disorders to people who need a little nutritional education. They also design diets for patients in hospitals whose medication is causing them to gain weight. The skills that I have that would make me good at this career are that I have good social skills. This is very important because Dietitians are constantly consulting with patients and educating them on nutritional diets and good eating habits. They have to be able to be direct and be convincing in order to get the patients to listen. I am also good at math and science which are the subjects that directly correlate to this career. The skills that I need to develop in order to be successful in this career are that I need to be more organized. Sometimes I struggle with organization and this career would require me to keep patient files orderly and neat. I also need to work on my time management skills. Time management will help me get the many tasks of my day finished without hassle. Some of the advantages of this career is that there are jobs in all sectors of the economy. There are plenty of options of jobs; from teaching nutrition classes to practicing in the hospital to designing diets for private clients. Also as the interest of nutrition goes up, so will the number of nutrition jobs. With campaigns popping up all over for heathy eating, people are getting curious, and Dietitians end the curiosity. While practicing this career, I will get to help people as well which is another advantage. A disadvantage of this career is that the working conditions vary greatly. With some of the jobs, traveling, working on weekends, and working on holidays may be required. The education requirements to become a Registered Dietitian include at least a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Dietetics or in Foods and Nutrition. Dietitians in the U.S. must take a national registered dietitian exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration in order to use the title of Registered Dietitian. There are two types of education in dietetics and nutrition—coordinated and didactic. Coordinated programs include a supervised practice element. That means graduates will be able to take their certification exam right after graduation. Didactic programs mainly stick to the coursework. To be certified as a dietitian, a supervised practice component still has to be completed after graduation

Show More