Job security vs Dietitian domination?

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Job security vs Dietitian domination?

Regardless if you are wrapping up your internship, or just beginning the journey we all need to stay aware of the current issues facing us as future members of management and leaders in our field.  An article by Lori Zanteson from this month's Today's Dietitian titled "RD Licensing Legislation - Is It a Matter of Public Safety or Monopoly?" presents the issue of licensure in dietetics. By now we have all heard of the many pieces of legislation that can help, or hurt, in protecting our roles as nutrition experts by preventing non-RD/LD's from providing nutrition advice to the public as a "dietitian" or "nutritionist" (Currently House Bill 259 in Ohio). 
In Zanteson's article, she presents opinions of those on both sides - that licensure protects the public (and our job security) by identifying RD/LD's as the primary nutrition educator, and also that licensure limits the public's availability to nutrition knowledge by denying other educated healthcare professionals the opportunity to purvey nutrition knowledge, and monopolizing the field. 

Whether you agree or disagree with the licensure practice, and the Academy's stance on it, it is important for us to research this issue and form our own views on it - because once we graduate and go off into the field, RD/LD or not, the beliefs of others on this issue can effect their perceptions of us. 
Especially when in a leadership role within a team of healthcare professionals, our understanding of this topic can enhance the cooperation and productivity of our group - so check out this article and comment with your thoughts!


Zanteson, L. (2012). RD Licensing Legislation — Is It a Matter of Public Safety or Monopoly?
Today’s Dietitian,14(11), 46.  Retrieved from http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/111412p46.shtml 

CR

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