So my thread for tips for newly qualified dieititians. If you follow this guidance after 5 years you to may reach the dizzy heights of a band 5.5 dietitian (it’s a thing) and be not terrible at your job! Also these points are still very applicable to me 5 years on.

Physiology- remember that thing from first year? You might want to refresh your memory on that! Good physiology knowledge is sooo important for clinical practice. Bias but you need very good knowledge of gut physiology, especially when bits of it stop working or get taken away.

Biochemistry- also remember this one from first year, also kind of important to what we do and our planning! If you have a good knowledge of biochemistry and physiology it’s going to make your argument that much better when you’re discussing with a medic about a plan!

Communication skills- they don’t quite work In the awkward way they do at uni, randomly trying to throw a verbal following in, but they work, use them, practice them.

Story time- Know your patients’ story. X admitted with this, history of this, bloods have been doing this, weight/anthro doing this, diet doing this, patient happy with this, hence why I think we should do this. Easier for an MDT decision, much easier to discuss with medics.

Estimating requirements- it’s an estimate, usually based on some pretty shitty evidence or at least very small numbers. “Meeting estimated requirements” doesn’t mean much on its own! (I really really really want a metabolic cart to do IC). See next.

Weight - please where you can don’t just use weight. Get into the immediate habit of using various anthro tools, MUAC, grip strength, CC etc. There’s more opportunities coming about for using things like USS for muscle thickness, CT’s to look at PMI, jump on them when you can!

Related to the above- Phyisos are your friend, they will weigh patients for you, they often use some the same anthro kit as us! Makes friends with them!

Physios part 2- you want your patients FFM to go up. Meeting calories, meeting 1.6g/kg protein split over 4 even doses of 0.4g/kg to meet the leucine threshold for MPS. Do you know what might be really good for the gains, some resistance exercise, and voilà physiotherapist!

I know you’ve just qualified but look for some PG training (In research would be great). There are some amazing research dietitians out there, however the vast majority of research in nutrition and dietetics is not done by dietitians. It would be good to make a dent in that.

“Trust a dietitian” “the expert” not always the case, sports nutrition prime example, a large % of experts in this area aren’t dietitians. To say you’re an expert, have good foundations in certain areas that the general public are going to expect you to have knowledge in.....

It’s expected a dietitian to know about weight loss, even if not your area, you need a half decent knowledge of the literature when it comes to weight management. Sports nutrition, again people are going to expect you to know this, keep yourself up to date with what’s going on.

Back to the silly titles, if you’re going to use the title highly specialist dietitian in your future practice, I want evidence, a Thesis would be nice. To me if you become a 6 or above just use the title, Renal, Gastro, CF etc. Just a personal annoyance of mine!

Intestinal failure closely followed by critical care are the most interesting areas of nutrition.

All this learning you’re going to have to do, yeah you’ll have to do a lot of it in your free time!! God forbid!!

You’re welcome.