Gone In a Flash

(2/13-2/26) Community

Bills & Bourbon

The most exciting day of the past two weeks was Legislative Day. This is a day in which dietitians, interns, and students within Kentucky attend the capitol to advocate for the profession and the essential work we do for our communities. It is highly recommended that participants meet with legislators to discuss current bills and legislation that deal with nutrition and health care.

I, along with two other interns, met with a senator to discuss insulin costs. This meeting could have not gone better. He was so excited that we were there to discuss nutrition and dietetics. He was in full support of dietitians and the work they do to protect the public. He listened to the bills we proposed as well as the supportive stories we told to address costs of insulin. It was great to witness the wonderful legislators of KY that wish to spread awareness for dietitians and the wonderful work of this field.

To keep the excitement going, the attendees of Legislative Day met after at Buffalo Trace to network and tour the distillery. We saw the way bourbon is made, held, and packaged. We also participated in a tasting of their more popular beverages. I am not a bourbon fan, but my boyfriend was excited to hear that I have a better appreciation for this work of art after the adventurous break away from the clinic.

From Spanish to English

This past week, I had the opportunity to sit in on an MNT session and witness translation. The daughter of the patient tagged along and was able to be the translator for the appointment. My preceptor was able to give recommendations that followed the patients cultural diet. This was a cool experience and provided many opportunities to learn.

Testing my Creativity

My preceptors will be participating in a health fair next month. I am sad that I will no longer be their intern to help with the fair, but I had the pleasure of putting my creativity skills to the test and making them a handout to take with them. The handout provides several factors associated with healthy eating for diabetes. I thought I would share it as I am pretty proud of it!

The Big Project

In my opinion, the heftier project of the community rotation was the presentation. I had to present an education lesson to a target audience within the clinic. I chose to educate the staff of the endocrinology department on the variety of interventions used in medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for diabetes as well as advocate for registered dietitians in treating diseases and conditions. I used evidence-based data to support the success of MNT on diabetes and went into depth on the following interventions (Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, 2021):

• Consistent carbohydrate diet & the portion plate method.

• Individualized MNT based on blood glucose levels, medication, and the patient’s schedule.

• Monitoring weights.

Through educating the staff via presentation, I was able to meet CRDN 3.11. I described the products and services used in MNT for diabetes that promote consumer health, wellness, and management. Although this was an extensive and nerve-racking assignment, I was pleased with how it went and now have more confidence when it comes to public speaking.

The Value of Precepting

The past 6 weeks have flown by, and my preceptors have made this experience an enjoyable one that I will never forget. To have mentors that both support me and challenge me is an opportunity to learn and to grow. No shade to my next rotations but I kind of don’t want to leave Lexington Clinic. I am loving my time here and learning lots.

I could not be more thankful for my preceptors, and the value they have provided to my professional life. They took me out of my comfort zone and had my back when I needed it. I have the upmost respect for any and all preceptors and hope to be one myself one day. Every career should provide students with mentors like these. They hold value and knowledge for students better than anyone else. I am looking forward to my future preceptors and the knowledge they will bestow on me. Cheers to Andrea and Bethany!

Written by Brianna Starr, UK Dietetic Intern

References

Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. (2021). Diabetes care and education curriculum. Chicago, IL: Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists.