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RD and DTR: A Valuable Partnership
practice applications
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
RD and DTR: A Valuable Partnership
T
o maximize the nutritional health of a patient, client, community, and nation, few professional relationships are more valuable than the partnership between the registered dietitian (RD) and the dietetic technician, registered (DTR). As a director of clinical nutrition, I value the different skill sets of the RD and DTR and I know that, together, they provide outstanding nutrition care for the patients at my health-care facility. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN In identifying the American Dietetic Association’s “preferred vision of future dietetics practice,” the Phase 2 Future Practice & Education Task Force recommended that “emphasis must be placed on promotion of the DTR as well as the RD.” ADA’s Board of Directors accepted the recommendations in February 2009 and appointed a DTR Promotion Work Group last fall. Part of its charge was to “create a comprehensive plan for addressing the promotion of the DTR and communicate it to the membership” (1). My thanks to the group, which worked very hard, holding conference calls and conducting online surveys soliciting ideas for tactics to promote the DTR to ADA’s membership from educators, ADA organizational units such as the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), dietetic practice group (DPG) chairs, and affiliate presidents. Based on the survey results and its own discussions, the DTR Promotion Work Group made recommendations the Board has accepted. A few examples include: ●
●
Develop case studies that focus on the roles of the RD and DTR in all areas of practice. Develop and promote use of tip sheets that highlight the working relationships of the RD and DTR in various practice settings, such as RD and DTR roles in the Nutrition Care Process, promoting potential
Jessie M. Pavlinac
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● ●
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career opportunities for DTRs, and assisting RDs and DTRs in understanding their roles within various practice settings. Encourage collaboration among didactic programs in dietetics/coordinated programs/dietetic internships and dietetic technician education programs, such as joint education opportunities that involve students from all programs and are designed to promote understanding of the roles/responsibilities of each. Establish a DTR Day during National Nutrition Month. Provide CPE opportunities to enhance member and nonmember understanding of the implications of the Standards of Practice in Nutrition Care for the DTR and RD, such as teleseminars, independent selfstudy, and e-learning. Establish a network of RD/DTR teams who serve as a resource or as mentors for clarifying roles and responsibilities.
EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS There is ample evidence that the RD/ DTR partnership is effective and should be promoted and strengthened. The work of ADA members at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics serves as an excellent example: “As a dietetic technician for over 27 years, I have continued to expand and
© 2009 by the American Dietetic Association
enhance my skills to work with patients through interaction with the RD and health-care team,” says Barbara A. Munoz, DTR. “My role has evolved over time due to health-care changes, new standards of care and patient safety, and patient-centered care. “These activities enable me to support the role of the RD while providing job satisfaction and professional development for me personally. Having shared responsibility and interaction with the registered dietitian is the best means to learn to support and care for patients and contribute to unit and department goals. It is a profession and partnership that has brought me many rewards,” Munoz says. “As a director, I am fortunate to have RDs and DTRs with complementing strengths and skills working together for the best interests and needs of our patients,” adds Jane M. Dunn, MS, RD, CD, director of clinical nutrition services at the university’s hospital and clinics. “Patients benefit from the combined collaboration and partnership. Dietetics practitioners experience increased job satisfaction by performing within their scope of practice. The department benefits through an effective and efficient use of resources for quality care.” As the DTR Promotion Work Group and the Board recognize, the RD/DTR partnership is ideal for practice areas beyond clinical as well. I look forward to expanding this unique and valuable relationship throughout the dietetics profession. —Jessie M. Pavlinac, MS, RD, CSR, LD [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.10.025 Reference 1. American Dietetic Association DTR Promotion Work Group. Report of DTR Promotion Work Group to ADA Board of Directors, May 2009.
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
1981
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
RD and DTR: A Valuable Partnership
T
o maximize the nutritional health of a patient, client, community, and nation, few professional relationships are more valuable than the partnership between the registered dietitian (RD) and the dietetic technician, registered (DTR). As a director of clinical nutrition, I value the different skill sets of the RD and DTR and I know that, together, they provide outstanding nutrition care for the patients at my health-care facility. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN In identifying the American Dietetic Association’s “preferred vision of future dietetics practice,” the Phase 2 Future Practice & Education Task Force recommended that “emphasis must be placed on promotion of the DTR as well as the RD.” ADA’s Board of Directors accepted the recommendations in February 2009 and appointed a DTR Promotion Work Group last fall. Part of its charge was to “create a comprehensive plan for addressing the promotion of the DTR and communicate it to the membership” (1). My thanks to the group, which worked very hard, holding conference calls and conducting online surveys soliciting ideas for tactics to promote the DTR to ADA’s membership from educators, ADA organizational units such as the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), dietetic practice group (DPG) chairs, and affiliate presidents. Based on the survey results and its own discussions, the DTR Promotion Work Group made recommendations the Board has accepted. A few examples include: ●
●
Develop case studies that focus on the roles of the RD and DTR in all areas of practice. Develop and promote use of tip sheets that highlight the working relationships of the RD and DTR in various practice settings, such as RD and DTR roles in the Nutrition Care Process, promoting potential
Jessie M. Pavlinac
●
● ●
●
career opportunities for DTRs, and assisting RDs and DTRs in understanding their roles within various practice settings. Encourage collaboration among didactic programs in dietetics/coordinated programs/dietetic internships and dietetic technician education programs, such as joint education opportunities that involve students from all programs and are designed to promote understanding of the roles/responsibilities of each. Establish a DTR Day during National Nutrition Month. Provide CPE opportunities to enhance member and nonmember understanding of the implications of the Standards of Practice in Nutrition Care for the DTR and RD, such as teleseminars, independent selfstudy, and e-learning. Establish a network of RD/DTR teams who serve as a resource or as mentors for clarifying roles and responsibilities.
EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS There is ample evidence that the RD/ DTR partnership is effective and should be promoted and strengthened. The work of ADA members at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics serves as an excellent example: “As a dietetic technician for over 27 years, I have continued to expand and
© 2009 by the American Dietetic Association
enhance my skills to work with patients through interaction with the RD and health-care team,” says Barbara A. Munoz, DTR. “My role has evolved over time due to health-care changes, new standards of care and patient safety, and patient-centered care. “These activities enable me to support the role of the RD while providing job satisfaction and professional development for me personally. Having shared responsibility and interaction with the registered dietitian is the best means to learn to support and care for patients and contribute to unit and department goals. It is a profession and partnership that has brought me many rewards,” Munoz says. “As a director, I am fortunate to have RDs and DTRs with complementing strengths and skills working together for the best interests and needs of our patients,” adds Jane M. Dunn, MS, RD, CD, director of clinical nutrition services at the university’s hospital and clinics. “Patients benefit from the combined collaboration and partnership. Dietetics practitioners experience increased job satisfaction by performing within their scope of practice. The department benefits through an effective and efficient use of resources for quality care.” As the DTR Promotion Work Group and the Board recognize, the RD/DTR partnership is ideal for practice areas beyond clinical as well. I look forward to expanding this unique and valuable relationship throughout the dietetics profession. —Jessie M. Pavlinac, MS, RD, CSR, LD [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.10.025 Reference 1. American Dietetic Association DTR Promotion Work Group. Report of DTR Promotion Work Group to ADA Board of Directors, May 2009.
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
1981