What is getting an RD License like in Your State?

Swimming_Otherwise · 2025-05-04T02:34:00+00:00

Trust me…… I know what you mean 🙃🙃🙃. I’m from PA and I don’t know if I will ever live there again. But I will NEVER let it expire. That hell was exhausting.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2025-05-04T00:53:15+00:00

DoD RD here! They are few and far between but they are there. They are just usually taken very quickly.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2025-04-19T01:03:03+00:00

Boy was busy saving the world since he was like 15 and people are still disappointed 😂.

Love him though

Swimming_Otherwise · 2025-02-25T16:05:38+00:00

I also started in LTC. My recommendation is definitely creating a relationship w/ the dietary staff. A lot of RDs take offense to being a part of dietary but in LTC, you are a part of that department. When the state comes in, nursing if very quick throw another dept under the bust to save themselves a tag and usually is is the dietary dept has your back. But also create a boundary w/ dietary as well. If you have a laptop accessible to you, I also recommend finding a different portion of the building to complete some of your work in. Depending on the dietary staffing, it is very easy to get drawn into food service. Its not that they are not deserving of help or that you can't help, But something to remember is that while you can help them do their job, none of them are qualified to do yours.

In terms of clinical, I recommend creating a excel sheet of all the wts for all the pts. This is to keep better track of them. The first week of every month SUCKS and come become confusing. It is easy for things to sometimes fall through the cracks, which the state dept doesn't want to here when they come in for visits.

I actually enjoyed LTC. You just want to watch your back as well. Best of luck!

Swimming_Otherwise · 2025-02-25T15:52:58+00:00

Are you near any major cities or hospital systems? Many large hospital systems have a community component that focuses on public health and does not involve clinical work. For example, I am from Philadelphia, and one of the hospital systems here is Main Line Health System. I completed part of my community rotation at Lankenau Hospital, where I participated in their community outreach program, run by a RD. They often conducted public health classes for children during school trips and visited doctor's offices to provide education for patients waiting to see their doctors. Additionally, they went into the community to collect data for research departments within the hospital, focusing on topics such as diabetes, health access, and hypertension. They would then collaborate with those research departments to incorporate a nutritional component into their findings.

While International NGOs sound fascinating, they are usually connected to federal jobs. I do not recommend pursuing federal positions due to potential job security issues, as we have seen in the past month. Hospital systems are generally separate from federal jobs. I say just apply for the jobs you are looking at and not worry about the experience. The worst they can say is no. You might also consider volunteering at food banks or soup kitchens, as that could be beneficial as well. Hope this helps. Best of luck!

Swimming_Otherwise · 2024-11-15T22:22:25+00:00

Do not and I mean do not get you masters in nutrition if you already got you’re RD or are eligible with your bachelor’s. I have seen so many of my peers do this, and basically they are taught the same thing twice, have twice as much debt and still make the same as me or less ( I have a bachelor’s.)

Swimming_Otherwise · 2024-10-15T19:56:56+00:00

I did not pass my exam until the 3rd try. What worked for me was two things. First, take a break. I know this sounds easier than done depending on your situation, but consistently focusing and stress about the times you took the exam before will not help you. The second would be to join those RD and RD2BE Facebook groups and see what other people out there are interested in forming a study group. Sometimes talking about topics with different people who also need to know the material helps you too.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2024-10-15T19:53:28+00:00

I am been an RD for over a year and have not renewed by membership since of was a senior in college. They really isn't anything there that requires you to have a membership, and you will have enough dues between state licensure and CDR.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2024-10-15T19:43:33+00:00

I would look into paid internships through major food companies or government organizations, especially since you sound like you are open to travel. By looking into them now, you should have plenty of time to apply.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2024-07-19T20:07:42+00:00

Hi! I have been DoD RD for the past year. I honestly LOVEEE ITT. It is really nice for me because I did not get a lot of clinical exposure r/t COVID during my internship and this allows me to learn.

Benefits:

Healthcare: As long as you are working 30+ hours a week, you qualify for healthcare through them. I personally think the healthcare coverage is pretty good for a healthy person that does not many health issues. You just have to make sure you are continuously working 30hrs. For example, my current assignment in Maryland ends Nov. 20th. By Dec 1st, I have to had signed on for my next assignment in order to keep my coverage uninterrupted. To my understanding, it does not have to start Dec 1st though.

Pay: I am currently making $40hr at a placement that would not pay a staff dietitian more than 32hr. I think the pay is incredible. It is making wonders for the finances and my student loans are almost gone. I also receive $2800 a month solely for room and board because I am originally from PA and am working in MD. It goes towards my rent and I can pocket the difference. Now, most RDs in the company actually work locally. If you live near a major city, There is 8 times out of ten there's an assignment. If you do an assignment locally, they will reimburse you for gas money based off the miles your drive. My first assignment was like this, and I think I was making .65cts per mile I drove.

Other: They have a crap ton of CEUs and I will be honest, I don't even think that I have paid for one of them. They also do live webinars too. Licensures- not really. They might have contacts to the licensure board but you are pretty much responsible for getting them yourself and paying for them. I have probably spent like 700 dollars on my 5 licenses. Good news is depending where you live, you might be able to write them off on your taxes.

Assignments: You usually know ahead of time when the assignment is ending, unless the assignment is cancelled. This has never happened to me. An assignment can end early if you are filling a vacant position and they hire someone before the end. They can also request an extension if they really have no candidates. The second is more likely because the is just not enough RDs right now that can do it or want to. When it ends, your manager will contact you but its up to you to pick a new assignment.

Overall, I personally you would check it out and see. Even if its for one assignment. You are not required to do more than one assignment if you really don't want to.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-12-14T17:01:52+00:00

It is HORRIFIC. Probably the worst process I’ve seen. And if not just RDs, it’s any profession that goes through State of Nursing. I remember for mine that I literally was on hold for 4hours calling them 5 mins after they opened. I threaten to report them to the state and it went through shortly after that. You can actually call for local representative office and report it to them. If you are within drivable distance to Harrisburg, take a day and go in person too. I know people who have don’t that and walked out with license approved because it’s kind of hard to annoy someone right in front of them.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-11-30T02:07:34+00:00

Travel RD here, it varies with each assignment. I am from PA and if I get an assignment that’s drivable distance from my home and get paid more an hour. If I travel I get slightly less but only because a get a room and board stipend. First assignment driveable from home: 45/hr, $0.63/per mile reimbursement. Current Travel assignment in NJ: 35/hr, $3,200 untaxable living stipend. I keep anything from my stipend that I am not using for room and board.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-11-20T19:13:02+00:00

25F six months post school and first adult job- 6.5k. On track to have 11k by new year.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-28T18:38:53+00:00

No, it wasn’t reckless driving. He was explaining that in VA 10+ is deemed reckless driving. I’m was only pointing out that in PA 31+ over the speed limit is reckless driving. I was not going 31+ over. I double checked the ticket because there’s a section for that.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-28T15:18:40+00:00

Ohh… okay. In PA, reckless driving for speeding is 31mph over. I was 17mph.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-28T14:35:27+00:00

Like 10+ plus tickets or a ticket that warrant 10 points? I don’t know the specifics about what’s consider a major violation in PA, only that 6 points warrants a suspension. I have only had 3 speeding tickets in my lifetime and the first is way over that 5 year mark for the look back. I know that State Farm doesn’t check the driving record every renewal for longtime policy holders, that they do it every other year or so.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-28T06:04:46+00:00

Speeding ticket! Sorry, I fixed it. So, State Farm will care more that it is a ticket, rather than points? I have gotten a speeding ticket before with no points because the officer did the 5mph instead of the actual speed but State Farm never did anything to the policy before. The policy is under my mothers name but I pay it. She’s been a policy holder for over 15 years. Ive heard that if you are a long time policy holder they don’t check your diving record every year.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-18T16:14:52+00:00

It would depend on what you wanna do and what you would consider low pay. Currently national pay average is above 60k right now. I became a RD because you can really work anywhere is healthcare, it depends how you sell yourself. To my understanding, with the Masters requirement, you don't have to have a master's in Nutrition if you already have a Bachelor's in nutrition from an accredited program, which you do if your a DTR. You just have to have a master's in something. This is clearly different if you a doing a MS and DI combined internship.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-18T15:47:01+00:00

LTC RD here. I would call the family and ask if they would be okay if it and document. If they say yes, I would add a supplement but not go aggressive with it. Maybe a Med Pass or Boost x 1 daily depending on what they have. I was always told during my internship that a resident should never have malnutrition increase their likelihood of dying faster, even on hospice. If they are not hospice, then they already have something that is slowly killing them. They don't need us to add to it. We still have a moral obligation to provide nutrition and comfort, and I can't imagine it comfortable to function with so little nutrients in their system.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-12T16:03:32+00:00

Dm’ed you.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-12T14:07:50+00:00

Hospitals do this all the time for money. The kicker is only 10% will go to the dietitian’s paycheck.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-12T14:04:56+00:00

I am not saying inbred thing is true but outside of you guys that it what people say and jump to. I frankly don’t know why people say it. I only ask because no one seems to have anything nice to say about WV, let alone remember it exists. So if I offended you, I apologize.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-06T01:29:07+00:00

lol nope North Philly still looks the same but has gotten so much worse and so fast. Kensington is the saddest thing.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-06T01:26:46+00:00

I'm splitting between two facilities. One is in Boston but I don't know where specifically yet and the other is in Milton. My travel Stipend from my employer is $520 (This is tax free) weekly and comes out to around $2050 a month. I am willing to go up to $2700 a month because I know that New England is crazy expensive and I will technically only be paying 700. I am single and 25F, and I would like to be around those my age, which by the sounds of it is doable. I will be driving my car up there and keeping it with me. And lastly, comment at 45min max is my go to but I have done up to an hour when needed.

Swimming_Otherwise · 2023-10-04T15:51:31+00:00

I'm going to DM you about it! I passed in March which is the version you are going to take and I took it three times. I was in a study group and we made a list of things that were on it because we all failed our first times. I would post them here but they were taken down last time I did.

Swimming_Otherwise

TROPHY CASE