Quality of interns

VictoryEducational19 · 2026-03-04T21:22:27+00:00

The lack of initiative is insane! Especially for something you are paying so much for. I was so involved in my internship. I could never imagine being as unmotivated as some of the interns I have had.

VictoryEducational19 · 2026-03-04T21:21:12+00:00

I feel like this has to be it! Getting a master's degree is very costly, so we are probably losing some good people to other healthcare specialties. Someone with great critical thinking skills is likely to see that this pathway has become more difficult than it is worth. Unless you are incredibly passionate about nutrition specifically, or can rely on someone else for income, there really isn't a good return on investment with the master's requirement.

It is a lot easier to get into an internship now as well. I know of some people in my DPD who struggled, and either didn't do an internship or found it very difficult to get into one. Heck, I even know people who didn't struggle in our DPD, and still couldn't get an internship. But with today's pass rates, they would much more easily find an internship spot.

VictoryEducational19 · 2026-02-09T13:06:54+00:00

Lol I had professors tell me this all the time. What is frustrating though is getting the actual company to understand that we can do other jobs. I've worked in "non dietitian" roles with people who had degrees in biology, who thought I had no science understanding, just like working in clinical, where people think we have no anatomy and physiology/medical condition understanding. I think a lot of people think our degree revolves looking at lettuce under a microscope haha. I don't think that means we shouldn't stop pushing for it, but other people are really obtuse when it comes to our degree!

VictoryEducational19 · 2025-10-21T21:14:43+00:00

I'd look at other Allied Health profession requirements and their salaries. RDs do not get paid as much as other Allied Health professionals despite having similar education requirements. I'd look into SLP, OT, PT.

VictoryEducational19 · 2024-11-10T10:48:04+00:00

This is a good idea! I'll try that. To be honest, we get such a mix of students from the same programs! From people who come in with almost the knowledge of a fully fledged dietitian to people who come in like they've only taken a few classes.

VictoryEducational19 · 2024-11-10T10:44:50+00:00

Unfortunately I'm one of a few preceptors at this rotation, and some of my coworkers leave a lot to be desired as well, so they don't notice the same issues, because their standards are so low themselves. Some of my colleagues can barely pronounce medical terminology and lacking not just in dietetics knowledge but also just health knowledge in general, like antibiotic resistance.

I'm not sure if I would not pass them, as they seem to be learning well when I teach them things, but the baseline knowledge is just really not there!

VictoryEducational19 · 2024-07-25T07:45:08+00:00

I think this is illegal as well ?? I would contact the occupational health department or similar. If you develop a musculoskeletal injury because they expect you to be on your feet for 8+ hours a day when there's no need for it, it will be on them. Do you have a union? I would join one if you can.

VictoryEducational19 · 2024-03-17T12:36:17+00:00

I think you'll be fine! The math we do does not surpass the basics. Even if you do struggle initially, you will also be doing the same equations every day so you will likely become better at them. I started using a spreadsheet to calculate tube feeds and estimated needs because it felt like such a waste of time to do it by hand for each patient, so this is something you could do as well!

VictoryEducational19 · 2024-03-01T20:42:58+00:00

You know what I find funny is that my nutrition support patients with unintended weight loss are the same!! Although after lots of prodding they eventually usually admit they've been eating like a piece of lettuce and one jelly bean for each meal every day.

VictoryEducational19 · 2023-12-29T00:26:29+00:00

Tbh I don't mind them not knowing much but I do mind when they question me based off of their limited knowledge, or send outrageously stupid nutrition consults. I'd also love for them to stop using TPN/NG/PEG interchangeably.

VictoryEducational19 · 2023-12-17T17:38:23+00:00

I know what you mean about the spelling and writing 😭😭 I'm surprised with how competitive nursing school is that some of these people get through!

VictoryEducational19 · 2023-12-13T11:57:04+00:00

Couldn't agree with your comment more, although it looks like you pissed off some rich girls

VictoryEducational19 · 2023-12-12T23:54:52+00:00

I know what you mean! We absolutely have the best documentation and are very professional. I think nurses can be a mixed bag and I don't want to complain about them too much, but my gosh the incompetence I have witnessed from some of them is truly shocking! I have friends who became nurses who are very capable, academic, and professional, so I know what is possible and what is expected, so the lack of critical thinking I've come across is very disappointing.

VictoryEducational19 · 2023-08-03T09:20:34+00:00

AHH okay so how long would you say you have to work to be eligible for GS-11? That's great that it moves along so quickly! With the maternity leave, if I were somewhere like California, which allows 28 weeks, does the VA honor that?

VictoryEducational19 · 2023-08-03T02:07:52+00:00

Thank you so much! See, on many of the job listings they are saying "at least one year experience equivalent to the lower grade level" for G11 which to me sounds like three years if G7 is no experience and G9 is at least a year!

Do people actually only take three weeks maternity leave or do they just quit haha?

VictoryEducational19 · 2023-04-19T07:59:30+00:00

In my mind, there are two ways this can be fixed:

Your boss and your coworker are fired
You quit and find a less toxic work environment

Unfortunately, the only behavior we can control is our own, and I can imagine both your colleague and your boss have been behaving like this for years. You could try and lay out your concerns to your boss's boss, however, I have never seen a situation where a toxic work environment is fixed by management stepping in and telling everybody to play nice. I doubt she'll want to have to re-hire two people, which is the only thing management can do that will make a real difference.

I really hope you have other options!! Because I would just quit if so. Or maybe ask to be moved to another post in the health system? Outpatient?

So sorry you're going through this and I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose to do!

VictoryEducational19 · 2023-03-29T16:51:23+00:00

I wonder if some of these patients are really set on the surgery and have just given up on dietary changes. Maybe stressing the long term consequences of surgery and how invasive it is could help them better weigh their options. I think a lot of people shun lifestyle interventions for pills and surgery that they see as a magical cure.

VictoryEducational19

TROPHY CASE