CDR Report on Trends within Registered Dietetics


The Commission on Dietetic Registration created a Workforce Demand Task Force in 2009 with the responsibility of identifying employment trends in the field of registered dietetics, and the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics published it this past March.  It was interesting to look over because the trends seen in this analysis are related to some of the topics we have discussed in class.  For instance, the report demonstrated that there is a definite trend toward clinical specialties and away from the food service focus.  From the interests of those in our group, this seems to hold true.  Another aspect of this report worth noting is that “in a trend likely related to the increase in clinical practice, RD positions are gradually losing managerial responsibility”.  The idea of protecting our scope of practice from those who are not registered or properly educated has been brought up in both class and at the Public Policy Day, and the downward trend in registered dietitians holding management positions is concerning.  If registered experts are not fulfilling these duties, this means that non-registered individuals are, and this could be dangerous for the profession and for the patients it serves.  The report also discusses other topics such as the supply and demand for RD’s, dietetic technicians, and DTRs and the gender/racial/ethnic diversity within the profession, and the trends mentioned are interesting to think about.

-Ashley

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