Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Hi Carol: We all need to consider where it is we wish to go in our careers, and I think you said it yourself when you said " my niche is not clinical dietetics " . Do you like where you are now {rehab center}? What are you doing there, do you see yourself staying there, is there room for growth? Or transferring those skills to another medical arena? Looking at your options, such as gerontology because you enjoy working with older folks, or education because you enjoy teaching, or food history {I am not familiar with that} because... Of course, the flip side is that we are not stagnant people, 5-10 years from now you may be off in another tangent of the field. I for one was working in a hospital, I wanted to be able to advance and go into management... obtained my MS in Human Nutrition because I thought any graduate degree would help me, which I guess it did as I did get promoted up to Chief Clinical in a 620 bed facility, to a position I wound up hating and lasted for 2 years at. Meanwhile after many years of trying I gave birth to my daughter and was able to say goodbye to full time administrative work/stress/aggravation for a few years. Now I am {somewhat} happily employed part time in a nursing home. I do enjoy working with the elderly and in retrospect a grad degree in gerontology would probably be of more help to me now than that nutrition degree. But that wasn't my focus at the time. At any rate good luck with your decision! McMahon New Jersey " The universe is vast, though we are so small. There is really only one thing we can ever truly control... whether we are good or evil " ~Oma, Stargate SG1 --------------------------------- Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 I got a master's degree in health services administration and was glad to meet other professionals outside of dietetics. It was a great experience. Working right now on a social marketing project for falls prevention, I think having RDs with emphasis in Gerontology would be great. I do know that CDR is looking at offering a certification for RDs with a speciality in that area. That might be a good next step. Good luck and keep us posted, Pat Ps I think that the recommendation currently from the Education Task Force is for entry level RDs to have a master's degree. From what I have understood when I needed more information to be able vote on the issue, PT and OT did do this and found an increase in salaries also occurred. In a message dated 8/10/2007 11:14:05 P.M. Central Daylight Time, carolscasey@... writes: I understand that this has been discussed numerous times, however, I am seeking feedback and opinions. With this climate of the ADA pushing and not pushing and pushing and not pushing dietitians to get master's degrees, I just am not sure what direction to pursue. I had decided to pursue a graduate degree in nutrition, but now I am having second thoughts. I have been contemplating a degree in gerontology. I have realized that my niche is not clinical dietetics. I am currently employed in a rehabilitiation center that is as close as you can get to being a rehabilitation hospital without actually calling it a rehabilitation center. The facility is 120 beds with 1/3 to 1/2 being subacute. I am also very interested in food history. There are degrees that available in those areas. I understand that a master degree in nutrition is not mandatory and as long as I maintain my registration status, I will not lose my registered status. I am just torn as to which direction to pursue. I would appreciate hearing what opinions are out there. I am not looking for anyone to tell me what to do, I am just just seeking opinions. Thanks, Carol _CarolSCasey@CarolSCas_ (mailto:CarolSCasey@...) " You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try. " Dolly Parton _http://nutritionalmhttp://nutritionhtt_ (http://nutritionalmatters.blogspot.com/) " I am a border ruffian from the State of Missouri. I am a Connecticut Yankee by adoption. In me you have Missouri morals, Connecticut culture; this, gentlemen and ladies, is the combination which makes the perfect woman. " Paraphrased from Mark Twain's speech " Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrims, " December 22, 1881 " My weaknesses have always been food and men - in that order " . Dolly Parton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Congratulations on taking this step! I have to say that I've not once regretted seeking and obtaining advanced degrees. I also have to say that at one time I pondered a focus on food history, as I have a strong history background. However, because I do love clinical nutrition, that's where I ended up. I am not sure if you can get an MS in gerontology. I know of several certificate programs, though. I could be wrong on that one. Focusing on gerontologic nutrition through a certificate and/or advanced degree can give you quite the competitive edge in that field. As we all are aware, the rehab/LTC field is only going to grow in the next decade and we need advanced level clinicians to care for folks. No, there is no " mandatory " degree at the graduate level. And, to make a minor correction, ADA is not looking at advanced degrees for currently practicing RDs. The Task Force is looking only at entry level practice. That's a major misconception that's been hindering a logical, clear look at the future of dietetics. Best wishes, and keep us posted on your decision, Pam Pam Charney PhD, RD, CNSD Author and Consultant Seattle, WA > I understand that this has been discussed numerous times, however, > I am > seeking feedback and opinions. > With this climate of the ADA pushing and not pushing and pushing > and not > pushing dietitians to get master's degrees, I just am not sure what > direction to pursue. I had decided to pursue a graduate degree in > nutrition, but now I am having second thoughts. I have been > contemplating a > degree in gerontology. I have realized that my niche is not clinical > dietetics. I am currently employed in a rehabilitiation center that > is as > close as you can get to being a rehabilitation hospital without > actually > calling it a rehabilitation center. The facility is 120 beds with > 1/3 to > 1/2 being subacute. I am also very interested in food history. > There are > degrees that available in those areas. > I understand that a master degree in nutrition is not mandatory and > as long > as I maintain my registration status, I will not lose my registered > status. > I am just torn as to which direction to pursue. I would appreciate > hearing > what opinions are out there. I am not looking for anyone to tell me > what to > do, I am just just seeking opinions. > Thanks, > Carol > CarolSCasey@... > > " You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try. " Dolly > Parton > > http://nutritionalmatters.blogspot.com > > " I am a border ruffian from the State of Missouri. I am a > Connecticut Yankee > by adoption. In me you have Missouri morals, Connecticut culture; > this, > gentlemen and ladies, is the combination which makes the perfect > woman. " > Paraphrased from Mark Twain's speech " Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrims, " > December 22, 1881 > > " My weaknesses have always been food and men - in that order " . > Dolly Parton > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Pam, There are MA gerontology courses. USC (in CA) has one of the best I know, and I'm sure there are many more. They're not nutrition related, but strongly administrative. Digna Re: graduate studies Congratulations on taking this step! I have to say that I've not once regretted seeking and obtaining advanced degrees. I also have to say that at one time I pondered a focus on food history, as I have a strong history background. However, because I do love clinical nutrition, that's where I ended up. I am not sure if you can get an MS in gerontology. I know of several certificate programs, though. I could be wrong on that one. Focusing on gerontologic nutrition through a certificate and/or advanced degree can give you quite the competitive edge in that field. As we all are aware, the rehab/LTC field is only going to grow in the next decade and we need advanced level clinicians to care for folks. No, there is no " mandatory " degree at the graduate level. And, to make a minor correction, ADA is not looking at advanced degrees for currently practicing RDs. The Task Force is looking only at entry level practice. That's a major misconception that's been hindering a logical, clear look at the future of dietetics. Best wishes, and keep us posted on your decision, Pam Pam Charney PhD, RD, CNSD Author and Consultant Seattle, WA > I understand that this has been discussed numerous times, however, > I am > seeking feedback and opinions. > With this climate of the ADA pushing and not pushing and pushing > and not > pushing dietitians to get master's degrees, I just am not sure what > direction to pursue. I had decided to pursue a graduate degree in > nutrition, but now I am having second thoughts. I have been > contemplating a > degree in gerontology. I have realized that my niche is not clinical > dietetics. I am currently employed in a rehabilitiation center that > is as > close as you can get to being a rehabilitation hospital without > actually > calling it a rehabilitation center. The facility is 120 beds with > 1/3 to > 1/2 being subacute. I am also very interested in food history. > There are > degrees that available in those areas. > I understand that a master degree in nutrition is not mandatory and > as long > as I maintain my registration status, I will not lose my registered > status. > I am just torn as to which direction to pursue. I would appreciate > hearing > what opinions are out there. I am not looking for anyone to tell me > what to > do, I am just just seeking opinions. > Thanks, > Carol > CarolSCasey@... > > " You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try. " Dolly > Parton > > http://nutritionalmatters.blogspot.com > > " I am a border ruffian from the State of Missouri. I am a > Connecticut Yankee > by adoption. In me you have Missouri morals, Connecticut culture; > this, > gentlemen and ladies, is the combination which makes the perfect > woman. " > Paraphrased from Mark Twain's speech " Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrims, " > December 22, 1881 > > " My weaknesses have always been food and men - in that order " . > Dolly Parton > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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