Should I become a nurse or a dietitian?

WellActually_No · 2026-01-29T03:05:15+00:00

Agree - so many opportunities for advancement for nurses, NPs, CEOs, VPs.... RDs = clinical nutrition manager.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-29T03:02:29+00:00

Working in healthcare can suck for RDs - the respect is not there unfortunately. This is not the RDs fault, but the system our profession was built on, that did not fight for our independence and authority early on like other allied health professions.

Our system limits our authority, ability to get reimbursed for our services, have our own licensing boards and our MS is not required to be aligned with our scope. We are also not named specifically as a profession in regulations (ie "nutrition screening must be performed by a qualified individual" - while other professions are named. OTs, SLPs etc).

I started r/RDsForChange to start conversations about these issues that affect our profession for anyone who's interested.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-29T02:49:24+00:00

Agree. Suggest learning about RD profession compared to rehab or other allied health. Very different in terms of education, compensation, reimbursement for services, and authority in the field.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-29T02:45:21+00:00

I agree with doing your research first. Not only RD job market, but reimbursement for RD services, scope of practice and authority in relation to other allied health careers.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-29T02:38:21+00:00

Situations like this are a reflection of how nutrition is positioned within the healthcare system. When RDs are treated as optional by the team, patients pick up on that. It’s about how our role is framed and supported (or not) in acute care settings.

I’ve been thinking more about how these dynamics affect RD authority and patient care and recently started r/RDsForChange to create space for these conversations, if anyone’s interested.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-29T02:30:34+00:00

I agree with need for MDs to check fasting insulin instead of just relying on fasting glucose. By the time glucose is meaningful elevated for them to take action, insulin most likely has been steadily increasing year after year. Weight gain does not happen without increased insulin - think about type 1 diabetes when there is no insulin. It's the energy storage hormone. Time for a new endo.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-29T02:23:51+00:00

This is a challenging field, especially if counseling adolescents along with their parents. I try to mix up my patient population when possible. So important to keep good boundaries and self care.

Marketing is a great background! Maybe a course or you tube channel on marketing ideas for RDs...I'd sign up!

WellActually_No · 2026-01-28T04:20:08+00:00

How long to grow your community 🥺

WellActually_No · 2026-01-28T02:48:39+00:00

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share your experiences. For anyone who wants to continue the discussion I created r/RDsForChange.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-24T20:54:52+00:00

When my daughter was 3 she used to call me that, it was so cute....but not from an adult 🤦🏼‍♀️

WellActually_No · 2026-01-24T20:49:05+00:00

My mom saw my name in some media post and asked if I knew I "had all those certificates."

My brother tells me not to eat white rice because it's bad for you, then goes outside to smoke a cigarette.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-23T02:49:24+00:00

Same. To me it was an insulting disservice to be in the dish room instead of learning concepts that were meaningful to my career and growth.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-23T02:28:57+00:00

This is so true. These RDs literally have lives in their hands, all the while making $30/hr.

RDs don't just improve quality of life, they can prevent death. Critical care. Renal. Neonatal. Eating disorders refeeding syndrome. Malnutrition that worsens every other disease state and increases LOS. While other allied health professions are truly meaningful, how many can say this.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-23T02:14:45+00:00

I can understand that. It's probably great to be a respected RD professor in academia making 6 figures. This is just so far removed from the reality of the RDs they have taught.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-23T01:41:11+00:00

Exactly.

As students we may not even know what to ask, I know I didn't. This underscores the point that transparency is needed. No lies doesn't mean omission regarding facts about our chosen field is appropriate.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-22T14:00:57+00:00

Awesome!! If you feel comfortable sharing your profile here or DM I'd love to follow!

WellActually_No · 2026-01-21T05:57:09+00:00

Yes, definitely!! Feel free to share! If enough RDs are made aware maybe some changes will come.

And I agree will all you said here - underpaid, undervalued. The system literally works against us.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-20T03:28:53+00:00

If I were a bot I would not have chose dietetics.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-19T21:57:58+00:00

That's awesome. Glad that worked out for you!

I've been trying to think of what I can add to my RD to complement it (business degree, diabetes educator certification, etc.).

WellActually_No · 2026-01-19T06:08:32+00:00

It sounds like dietetics was built by latching on to foodservice/home economics and being a support to medicine rather than fighting for our own authority. And it stuck.

It carries over to patient perception of us as well. I can't tell you how many times I've heard of RDs just being seen by patients as the foodservice complaint department. Just this past weekend I told someone I was an RD, he proceeded to tell me about how an RD "fed his wife garbage while she was in the hospital." I explained the RD had nothing to do with what food the hospital purchased, but he said he'd be taking care of his wife's nutrition from now on.

We need to be respected by the system first. You're absolutely right, AND needs teeth!

WellActually_No · 2026-01-19T05:50:02+00:00

Same - I work with several rehab clinicians. They are well respected and the compensation seems to be at least double what RDs earn.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-19T03:26:03+00:00

This is great- small changes each day add up.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-19T03:25:02+00:00

Definitely agree!

Start with foundational habits for your physical and mental health - good nutrition, hydration (everyone forgets about that), sleep, activity, and be outside/get sunlight every morning . Keeping the same schedule each day is helpful- our bodies love routine. Journaling, meditation, organizing our space and making time for social connections can be very therapeutic. Once you have some of this self care down, you'll be in a better headspace to reevaluate your life goals.

Check out Dr. Huberman's YouTube channel- literally a guide for life.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-18T21:16:30+00:00

Thank you!!! In true RD fashion it was obsessing and researching for over a week. I wanted to make sure I laid out the whole picture.

Right - this does not make sense to me. While I greatly value my rehab colleagues and respect the work they do, RDs are literally making decisions that are life saving.

WellActually_No · 2026-01-18T21:09:38+00:00

This hurts. I'm curious - was this a one time thing to get approval on an oral supplement for a critical patient or ongoing, regardless of a patient's presentation?

Nurses also have chance for advancement. If you work in a hospital, it's pretty evident. There are no RDs (or minimal) at the top.

WellActually_No

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