Comments on: What I like…and don’t like about being a Renal Dietitian

By: Nicole Morrissey

Nicole Morrissey — Thu, 02 May 2019 01:41:27 +0000

In reply to Jess. Thanks so much, Jess! Best wishes to you! <3

By: Jess

Jess — Wed, 01 May 2019 14:50:12 +0000

Thank you for this thoughtful post. I am a Dietetic student right now, I have been exploring career options and renal care is one of my areas of interest. I appreciate your insight! Best of luck on your journey ahead.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 20:57:12 +0000

In reply to Nicole, RD. Hi Nicole , Find out your blog by accident and I think it s lucky! I cried when I read it because make me remember about my husband. He is on dialysis 1 year now and actually it s very sad and painful when think what will happen And I m scared think about that day. I try my best to help him with diet because I know it will affect on his kidney health a lot, but once again I have to go to work for living, go home late and can not do good diet for his kidney and most important that’ I m not nutrition so things with me not easy. I m looking for the kidney dietitian for planning the meal for my husband every month bases on Husband blood test. So I really hope you can help me this please! It’s said you save one person it is same to you build up big pagoda. So hope you can help me this! Thank you so much! Tiffany

By: Megann Harris

Megann Harris — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 22:02:05 +0000

Thank you for sharing these invaluable insights!! I was recently laid off as a diabetes educator and I’m considering dialysis, not sure which direction to go yet. I’ve even been wondering if I qualify for anything with somewhat comparable pay outside of the field altogether. I am right with you on our healthcare systems’ issues and the great difficulty we have in practicing holistically. Its a big problem and it has to change! It seems like its only gotten worse unfortunately.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 02:56:27 +0000

That was a very good summary of working as a Renal Dietitian. I have been working in this field for 16 years, and for the most part have loved much of my time. I must say that it is starting to get harder and harder to get motivated to go to work. All the cons that you have listed do start to weigh in. It is very hard working with patients that do not want to do what they need to in order to have the best health possible. It is hard to be responsible for their outcomes, when it seems like you care about them more than they care about themselves.
I too love the concept of prevention so much more than working at this side of the disease process. But unfortunately those jobs are few and far to find.

By: Cat

Cat — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 10:32:03 +0000

thanks for writing this!! I was just looking up info on what’s it like to be a renal dietitian (i am an RD but never worked in dialysis other than in my internship). Thanks so much for the good, bad and the ugly breakdown.

By: Selina

Selina — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 12:27:44 +0000

Hi Nicole!

I am currently a Master’s student in Dietetics & Nutrition and am looking forward to my journey on becoming a clinical dietitian. I love what I’m learning as well as the thought of helping people. Besides the knowledge and great flexibility the job offers, the thought of dealing with non-compliant patients can be a bit frustrating. You wish you could control your patients diet and help them get better, but none of it is done if they’re being stubborn.

Among all of your patients, including the non-compliant ones, do you feel as if you have made a difference in helping them control their eating habits? How do you deal with their stubbornness? I think I’m just afraid of the profession being unfulfilling in the long run if I don’t feel like I’m making a difference in my patient’s lives.

By: Nicole, RD

Nicole, RD — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 15:49:58 +0000

In reply to Melissa.

Hi Melissa! You’re not alone, trust me! It’s overwhelming!! You’ve made it this far, so I’d say just look to try something. You may not get it right your first attempt, but there’s always time to try something new. Due to moving around with my husband’s job, the longest I’ve been at a job is 2 years 🙂 What I love most about my job is the variety – I get to do in-patient, out-patient, MNT, cooking classes, management…you name it. Maybe looking for something with variety will enable you to figure out what you like most and least? Apply to any job that fits your criteria (i.e. full-time, part-time, proximity to home, etc.) and see how the interviews go. Chances are you’ll know what’s right 🙂 Good luck! Please feel free to email me with any more questions. And, congrats!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:48:29 +0000

Hi Nicole! Thank you for sharing what you do. I am currently going to school to become an RD and I am applying for the Dietetic Internship within the next two weeks in the New York/Long Island area. I had decided to go into nutrition because I wanted to help people lose weight and learn healthy habits for a more fulfilling life. However, I am having such a hard time deciding which field I would like to go into, since there are so many areas to choose from. I am finding that most jobs are in clinical nutrition and weight-loss is more for independent practice. I am debating different areas including renal nutrition, working with diabetic patients, and patients with eating disorders. I also thought of working for a company in wellness but I hear they are usually short-term contracted jobs. As you can see I am all over the place! In the end I just want to work with people to help them accomplish their goals and learn about nutrition and making positive life-style changes. Do you have any advise for me? Thank you so much! – Melissa

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:47:53 +0000

Hi Nicole! Thank you for sharing what you do. I am currently going to school to become an RD and I am applying for the Deitetic Internship within the next two weeks in the New York/Long Island area. I had decided to go into nutrition because I wanted to help people lose weight and learn healthy habits for a more fulfilling life. However, I am having such a hard time deciding which field I would like to go into, since there are so many areas to choose from. I am finding that most jobs are in clinical nutrition and weight-loss is more for independent practice. I am debating different areas including renal nutrition, working with diabetic patients, and patients with eating disorders. I also thought of working for a company in wellness but I hear they are usually short-term contracted jobs. As you can see I am all over the place! In the end I just want to work with people to help them accomplish their goals and learn about nutrition and making positive life-style changes. Do you have any advise for me? Thank you so much! – Melissa