Professional skills development strategies of clinical nutrition managers

Abstract

Career advancement opportunities for clinical dietitians have been limited in the past by the narrow and short career ladder in hospital dietetics. Many clinical dietitians choose to pursue positions in clinical nutrition management for career advancement. Duties of clinical dietitians and clinical nutrition managers (CNM) vary significantly regarding the proportion of direct patient care-related functions and management-related functions. The purpose of this study was to examine the methods used by CNM to develop the knowledge and skills required to perform specific activities required in the position. A mail survey of 700 randomly selected CNM in acute care hospitals having 300 or more beds was carried out to determine career development activities and strategies, perceived adequacy of preparation, perceived competence at the time the survey was completed, and specific areas requiring additional development of knowledge and skill. The most often reported strategies for developing skills and knowledge required to perform CNM job functions were continuing education, networking, work experience, and “on present job”. The largest number of respondents (87%) had previous work experience in clinical dietetics, Foodservice management work experience was reported by 64%. Graduate degrees were held by 47% of the respondents. More than half of the respondents with graduate degrees (52%) reported pursuing the degree in preparation for being a clinical nutrition manager. Adequacy of preparation for the position was perceived as adequate by 52% of the CNM. Present competence was most often reported as between good and excellent (55%). Skills and knowledge requiring additional development were exclusively management-related topics. The results of this study can be used for preparing individual career development plans by dietitians identifying CNM as a career objective and for determining learning objectives for educational programs.