Describe the role including the history of the role, education and certification, and major functions of this role.

Marketing plan | Nursing homework help

The role of a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is to promote health and prevent disease through nutrition counseling, education, and advocacy. The history of the RDN dates back to 1917 when the first dietetics program in America was established at Teachers College at Columbia University. Since then, numerous laws have been passed regulating dietary practice in different states.

To become an RDN requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or related field from an accredited college or university followed by supervised practice in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, management/administration, or consulting. In addition to state licensure requirements in some states and Canadian provinces that may include passing an exam such as the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), some employers may also require certification such as Certified Dietitian Nutritionist (CDN).

The major functions of this role include assessing patient nutritional needs; developing meal plans according to medical conditions; providing counseling on food choices; educating patients about healthy eating habits; creating educational materials for clients and staff members; interpreting laboratory results for nutritional deficiencies or excesses; advocating for improved public policies regarding food access and safety; coordinating with other healthcare professionals including physicians on diet-related issues; conducting research related to nutrition topics such as obesity prevention or diabetes management; tracking patient progress over time and revising care plans as needed.