Am I Ready for This?

(7/3-7/16) MNT

We Need Prevention

After seeing the number of adults who need nutritional interventions, education, and care as forms of treatment throughout my clinical experience, I have a newly profound interest. How can healthcare, schools/institutions, and the field of dietetics take additional preventive measures in children and young adults to avoid these common diseases in the future? I have thought about this in the past, educating the younger generation, but sometimes we are so focused on the population we work with that we forget how we can impact other groups of people. Every day I see older adults that are struggling with current health issues that are not reversible. Can we prevent these issues by providing more nutritional education and awareness to children, young adults, and parents? I know this would take time including policy change and advocacy, but it starts with those who have the information, dietitians.

Diabetes Camp

Speaking of the younger generation, this past week I volunteered at a camp for children with type 1 diabetes. I got the chance to educate 19 eight year old’s on carbohydrate counting, managing diabetes, controlling blood sugar, etc. I even got up at 2am to check their nightly blood sugar as well as before meals and as needed. In doing so, I met CRDN 3.3: perform routine health screening assessments. The reason we had to measure their blood sugar at 2am is to check for nocturnal hypoglycemia. Studies show that almost half of all episodes of low blood glucose occur at night during sleep (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023). Fortunately, the team provided good snacks before bedtime, so we didn’t have too many issues with this. Overall, camp was super exhausting, but it was rewarding to help educate children on how to manage their diabetes while still having fun and being a kid.

Am I Ready for This?

This week is my staff relief meaning I am on my own, seeing patients unsupervised and calling the shots (of course the RD signs off on my notes). With there being only three weeks left of my internship, it is time to do the dang thing… apply to jobs. With this comes having an idea of what I want to do, who I want to be, and where I want to be located in the near future. This is probably the most important thing I have learned about myself thus far. Although I have enjoyed every minute of my internship, I haven’t made a dime for the past 8 months, so I am in desperate need of a job ASAP. I considered waiting to get a job after I pass the RD exam but that just isn’t feasible with the way my bank account is looking. Yes, you can work as a “dietitian” without being licensed. However, other dietitians must sign off on your notes and you must have plans to take the exam and become licensed within a certain time period.

Before I entered into clinical and even the internship in general, I thought that there was no way I was going to go into clinical nutrition. I was set on community and that was that. Like I mentioned in a previous blog, that has since changed and I think a clinical job with a team of dietitians is going to be what is best for me so I can gain experience, train, and learn all while studying for the exam. I have discovered that I am a quick learner, thrive in a fast paced environment, and work well with a team but I need to improve on my communication in interdisciplinary settings and my cultural awareness. This is why an inpatient; acute care setting is what I am hoping for at the end of all of this. Of course, I will be grateful wherever I end up, who knows I may be selling myself short and end up in outpatient. None the less, I have finally figured out who I am and what it is I am interested in doing… goal accomplished! Now don’t read this and think applying to jobs is butterflies and rainbows. I probably have imposter syndrome like no other. Sometimes I feel as though I am not good enough, don’t know enough, won’t meet expectations. I ask myself, “Am I ready for this?” I have to continue to remind myself that jobs are learning experiences, and everyone has room for improvement no matter their position on the totem pole. The way my preceptor puts it, “I never want to be the smartest person in the room.”

Written by Brianna Starr, UK Dietetic Intern

References

Johns Hopkins Medicine (2023). Hypoglycemia: nocturnal. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University.