Dietetic Technician
By Ken Mosier
For What2Be
WHO AM I?
Name: Nicole Erdelyi
Title: Registered Dietetic Technician
Affiliation: Miami Valley Hospital
Education: Associate of Applied Science, Sinclair Community College
Quote: “The reason I became a DTR is because I could work at a good hourly rate while I am finishing up school to be a (licensed) dietitian. I really do like my job.”
WHAT’S 2 LIKE ABOUT THIS JOB?
• Interacting with and educating patients.
• A field that is always changing.
• Knowledge obtained in the field can be used personally.
• Eight-hour days, Monday through Friday.
• Flexible schedule (in some locations).
WHAT’S NOT 2 LIKE?
• Dietetic Technicians are not at top of pay scale.
• Doctors sometimes ignore recommendations.
• Much computer work at times.
While attending Wright State University on a vocal music scholarship, Nicole Erdelyi realized that a career in music is sometimes an iffy thing.
“I realized that there is not a whole lot of stability in music — if you want to be a performer. So I decided to take (music) on as a hobby,” the Stebbins High School alumna said.
“My sister was always into nutrition, and it was always something that I loved to learn about,” she continued.
Since Wright State had no program, she transferred to Sinclair Community College, where she received her Associate degree in Applied Science.
“I don’t think I knew what dietetics was when I first stepped foot in class,” she said. “When I started studying nutrition, I never thought I would be working in a hospital — I never thought it was going to lead me to a medical field.”
Erdelyi is a Dietetic Technician, Registered, at Miami Valley Hospital. She received her certification from the Commission On Dietetic Registration — which is the credentialing body for the American Dietetic Association. The certification requires an associate degree from an accredited college or university.
“I received (my diploma) at Sinclair,” she said. “It is a two-year degree, and there are practicum hours (450 minimum) involved in that. At Sinclair, it is incorporated (into the program) rather than an internship.”
Erdelyi said that her typical day would start as she comes to her office and begins clinical nutrition assessments on the patient list.
“I just gather as much information as I can to create an assessment of whether I believe that they are a low-risk, moderate-risk or high-risk nutritionally,” she explained. “Low- or moderate-risk, I get to complete the assessment,” she said. “If I find that they are high-risk (such as kidney problems), I would refer them to a (licensed) dietitian.”
A dietetic technician’s job in a hospital has a great deal to do with education of patients.
“That is probably my favorite part of the job — getting to come out of my office with my information and to be able to talk to the patient and to teach them something,” she said.
She has the chance to become familiar with some of her patients — those in rehabilitation are sometimes there for three or four weeks.
“I get to keep working with them and to see them grow.”
A hospital setting is not the only place you could find a DTR.
“As long as you are under (the supervision of) a licensed dietitian, there are the food banks, the wellness centers and there are specialties such as working in a dialysis center,” Erdelyi said.
She added that certification in dietary management is also part of the training.
“It is managing kitchens — a lot of times in nursing homes — that kind of thing or you could manage restaurants,” she said. “We are qualified to do that.”
As with most professions, continuing education is a requirement.
“We have a portfolio that we have to complete every five years. We submit our goals and learning plan at the beginning of that five-year period, and we obtain education credits through reading journals and going to seminars,” she explained.
Advanced degrees are also possible. Erdelyi is currently finishing up her general education requirements at Sinclair and will transfer to the University of Dayton to pursue her bachelor’s degree so that she can become a Licensed Dietitian. A master’s degree program is also available in the field.
