Kent State Interns

Food safety is not only important in schools, but is important in all areas of food service. As dietitians or food service managers, it is important to maintain excellent food safety programs. Food service staff must be highly trained on the subject of food safety. Not only should staff be educated about food safety, but they also need to understand how to apply what they learn. Managers should find ways to incorporate real-life examples when teaching food safety. For example, one food service manager brought in a Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network member to discuss her experiences as a mother of a child with allergies and the bad experiences they have had. Stories of real-life experiences have more of an impact on staff when learning about food safety. The topic of food allergens are an especially important matter in food safety, because allergens are more and more common in the schools. Another school food service manager motivates employees to have an excellent understanding ...

Some nutrition professionals use the social media and blogging as a way to promote their business. Others use the public speaking, through conferences, education events or non-profit organizations, as a way to improve their career and boost their professional influence. This article explains some steps for RDs that helps them in their public speaking experience. ·         Set your goals “why do you want to do public speaking?” This will help to identify the audience. ·         It is recommended that RDs turn to the Academy to start her experience with public speaking within their local area, and then expand in the state and national level. Participate in the media and speakers' specialty group which is part of the Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group (DPG). ·         Speak about what you are an expert in. If your specialty in weight management, start with su...

When looking at different duties of the CNM it is important to guide the RDN's and DTR's for their scope of practice. The RDN's and DTR's should/must be able to answer the question what is withing my scope of practice? RDN's and DTR's should complete ongoing self-assessment of skills, education, training and knowledge along with knowing what their autonomy and responsibilities are. There are multiple ways that either professional can find information on scope of practice. The CNM's role is to help the RDN's and DTR's on staff and should encourage staff members in determining scope of practice and new opportunities or responsibilities. The article gave an overview of the different sources that can offer guidance or answer questions. The Scope of Practice in Nutrition and Dietetics provides a range of roles, activities and regulations that nutrition professionals can follow. The scope of practice allows professionals to become leaders that can provide ...

Therapeutic Diet Ordering Privileges                 In May, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave RDs working in a hospital the ability to order therapeutic diets without requiring a physician’s order.   While this is a step forward for RDs, this same ruling also states that the hospital has the right to give these ordering privileges to any nutrition professional.   That nutrition professional does not necessarily have to be an RD.   There have been mixed reactions to this decision, some saying that by including other nutrition professionals it minimizes an RD’s credentials.   Others felt with the inclusion of other nutrition professionals, that RDs can “up their game” and prove why they knowledge and skills are valuable.   In either case, it is important for this ruling to define what a qualified nutrition professional is.   It was decided that the hos...

         Career ladders are ways to categorize employee based on their development and promotions. A career ladder can be classified into two subsets: ·          Traditional career ladder: when the employee has certain skills, he/she can be promoted to a higher (managerial) position. ·          Dual career ladder: when the employee has certain skills, he/she will be specializing in that skill, rather that pursuing managerial role.          The dual career ladder began to be used in the nutrition field in the early 1990s and continue to develop by providing programs for RDs to grow and specialized without necessarily going to the managerial route. Examples are Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR) and Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP) in the early 1990s, and later on many specialty certifications ...

I thought it was interesting that cell phones could have a role in people being mindful about what they are putting in their bodies. There are 5 key trends that smartphones have a major role and how it can help decrease the obesity epidemic. These also give RDs a source to use to get correct nutrition messages to the public. 1                   Higher quality is associated with healthier foods 2.                  The evolution of modern eating is driving revolution of healthy food 3.                   Health and wellness go mainstream 4.                   Shifting demographics influence food desires 5.                  Helped consumers increase their food literacy Smartphone have given p...