The Future Dietitian: Clinical Skills to Expand the Breadth of Practice

Dietetics practice expands with advances in health care and prevention efforts, offering opportunities for new services and roles for the registered dietitian nutritionist. This session will examine how augmenting the clinical skill set of the RDN can provide new value-added services that hold great potential for contributing to patient care and entrenching the RDN's essential place in today's health care system. An expert panel of speakers will explore the importance of extending the RDN's clinical skill set from an employer perspective and enhancing practice through advancing policy and expanding the scope of practice of the profession.

CPE Level: Level 2 (intermediate knowledge/experience)
CPEU: 1.5

Performance Indicators

• 3.2.8 Challenges, encourages and supports others to take action to advance the profession.
• 2.3.4 Identifies opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships with individuals or organizations with shared visions.
• 3.3.1 Educates clients and other stakeholders on the need for and availability of food and nutritional services.

Learning Objectives

• List three implications of clinical skills for supporting policy initiatives
• Examine the interplay between an enhanced clinical skill set and RDN scope of practice
• Describe to an employer how enhanced RDN skills add value to an organization

Moderator

• James Swain, PhD, RD, LD, FAND

Speakers

• Jeanne Blankenship, MS, RDN
• Tamie Frable-Newman, MS, RDN, LDN
• Wendy Phillips, MS, RD, CLE, NWCC, FAND