Dietetic Internships

A project resulting in a recommendation and ranking of which

dietetic internship to apply to for a specific client

How it affects you

• While you may not be applying to a dietetic internship you may be applying for:– Graduate school– Other internships– Jobs upon graduation

• Research methods used and criteria are great ways to decide where to apply/accept no matter what you are doing

The Client

Jackie Noack

• U of M student majoring in Nutrition

• Plans to apply for a dietetic internship next year to become a Registered Dietitian (RD)

• Wants to work in Clinical Nutrition

Purpose

• This project was chosen so I could research and help a fellow student decide where to apply

• There are several internships that appear to be the same at first glance

• Research is needed to find out which one is best for an individual applicant

Steps to become an RD

• Graduate with a BS in Nutrition

• Complete a dietetic internship (DI)

• Take the RD exam

• Complete annual continuing education to renew RD license

Why is this such an important decision?

• There are hundreds of internships, each are slightly different

• Want to line up YOUR nutrition interests with an internship

• If your interests match well it increases your success in the program and on the exam

Research Methods

• Online research:– American Dietetic Association– Individual websites of DI

• Interviews:– DI Directors– Current intern

DI Directors

• Heidi Hoover – Director of the Veterans Association DI

• Shayamala Ganesh – Director of the Fairview Hospital DI

• Carrie Earthman – Director of the Coordinated Didactic Program

at the U of M

Current Intern

• Pam Jaskowiak– Enrolled in the Veterans Association DI– Plans to take RD exam upon completion

What is Jackie looking for in an internship?

• Stay local (Twin Cities if possible, but at least stay in Minnesota)

• Medical nutrition therapy emphasis

• Low tuition costs if possible

Which internships were looked at?

• Concordia College - Moorhead

• St. Mary’s Hospital – Rochester

• Fairview Hospital – Minneapolis

• Veterans Association – Minneapolis

• University of Minnesota – St. Paul

Findings

• Concordia College– Located in Moorhead– Emphasis in Food Service Systems– Tuition: $7,000– Requires minimum GPA of 3.0 and food

service experience– 80% RD exam pass rate– Rotations: 10 weeks clinical, 10 weeks

community, 14 weeks food service

Findings

• St. Mary’s Hospital– Located in Rochester– Emphasis in medical nutrition therapy– Tuition: $400– Requires minimum GPA of 3.0– No information on RD exam pass rate– Rotations: 28 weeks clinical, 7 weeks

community, 6 weeks food service

Findings

• Fairview Hospital– Located in Minneapolis– Emphasis in medical nutrition therapy– Tuition: $6,000– Requires minimum GPA of 3.0– 100% RD exam pass rate– Rotations: 18 weeks clinical, 7 weeks

community, 5 weeks food service, 4 weeks management

Findings

• Fairview Hospital– One of the top DI in Minnesota– Has extremely competitive GPA

Findings

• Veteran’s Association– Located in Minneapolis– No emphasis– Tuition: none, stipend provided of $10,558– Requires minimum GPA of 3.0– 100% RD exam pass rate– Rotations: 20 weeks clinical, 5 weeks

community, 5 weeks food service, 4 weeks management

Findings

• Veteran’s Association– Extremely competitive application process– Personal statement letters strongly

emphasized– Teachers are very invested in intern’s

success

Findings

• University of Minnesota– Located in St. Paul– No emphasis– Tuition: $4,900– Requires minimum GPA of 3.0 and enrollment

in graduate school at the U of M– 98% RD exam pass rate– Rotations vary

Conclusions

• Not the best choices:– Concordia College

• Food service emphasis• Not located in the Twin Cities• Expensive

– University of Minnesota• Requires enrollment in graduate school (which

Jackie does not plan on doing)

Conclusions

• Okay choices:– St. Mary’s Hospital

• Medical nutrition therapy emphasis• Low tuition costs• Not located in the Twin Cities

Conclusions

• Good choices:– Fairview Hospital

• Located in the Twin Cities• Medical nutrition therapy emphasis• Expensive

– Veteran’s Association• Located in the Twin Cities• Stipend provided

Recommendation

• If only one internship is applied to, I recommend the Veteran’s Association

• If more than one, follow the ranking below

1. Minneapolis Veterans Association2. Fairview Hospital3. St. Mary's Hospital4. Concordia College5. University of Minnesota