India has many renowned colleges and universities, that offer education in various fields. Likewise, several institutes offer nutrition and dietetics courses in India like bachelor’s and master’s in nutrition and dietetics, as well as diplomas. Students who seek to be future dietitians and help people with eating healthy, enroll in these courses. But, completing theoretical education is one thing. The other important requirement to become a successful dietitian is to possess and develop some of the important skills and characteristics which can help you to pursue your career. Some of the key skills of a successful dietitian are discussed below.
Compassionate thinker
This is one of the top skills a successful dietitian should have. Being a compassionate thinker is an important part of a dietitian’s job. Most people do not consult a dietitian unless recommended by a doctor, which mostly happens after the patient undergoes a diagnosis of diabetes or similar conditions, or after having a stroke or a heart attack. Hence, students, after completing their MSc in nutrition and dietetics, should be able to think just as their patients do, while also being compassionate. This helps to build a better relationship between the dietitian and the client.
Problem solver
Dietitians need to have good problem-solving skills. Most students realize this during the internship of their MSc dietetics courses after they see other professionals working in this field. This is a vital quality that a dietitian should have since he/she can land up in a difficult situation with a client, that needs excellent problem-solving. For instance, a new client, after scheduling an appointment, may not want to follow a strict diet. Many a time, clients tend to claim that they already eat healthily and are unwilling to follow a new plan. In such situations, the dietitian should be able to find solutions to these issues that a patient might face. The other issues may include not having access to fresh produce or living in a home that lacks a proper stove and oven.
Good listener
Sometimes, dietitians, with masters in nutrition and dietetics in India, may have to play the role of a counselor for his/her patients. This is because a client may feel frustrated about a recent diagnosis and might want to vent it out on others, or someone with a new diabetes diagnosis may feel afraid and worry about sticking to a new diet plan. Therefore, a dietitian should have the ability to listen to clients without passing any judgments. Simply telling the patients to obey them is not enough. You need to explain to them why your suggestions are the best options and why they need to follow them.
Flexible
The dietitians are required to do residencies or internships as part of their studies during their MSc in nutrition and dietetics program, through which they learn from some of the most successful dietitians. One of the important things that the students learn is the significance of being flexible if you want to be successful in this field. Being flexible in terms of the hours they work and the clients they see is a crucial part of working as a dietitian. While many dietitians choose to operate during office hours, the ones who work in hospital settings have to be available during shifts in the middle of the night, so that they can work with patients arriving at the ER with serious problems.
Excellent communicator
All the successful dietitians are very good communicators, since they work with patients, just as a doctor would. Communication is important as new patients will likely have questions about their medical conditions and would want someone who can answer their questions and soothe their worries. They may also need to discuss certain things with the client’s close ones and tell them how they can help the patient and also explain the risk factors of not following a healthy diet plan.
To sum up
Dietitians require a range of good skills to be successful in the field. Many students develop these skills while doing their masters in nutrition and dietetics, or doing their internships and residencies.