Top 10 Moments of my Dietitian Journey!
Being a dietitian may seem like a destination but it is so much more of a journey! Once you pass that exam, give yourself a moment to breath and celebrate, YOU DID IT! But then the hard work just continues! There are days when I still feel like an intern just because of how much there is to learn!
I had planned to do a 2015 recap post, but as long as I'm looking back, let's look ALL the way back on my top 10 Moments in this Dietitian Journey.
#10 Live Chats!
In case you didn't know...I crazy enjoy jumping on these live chats with students! I find it to be so much fun and its so neat to meet and interact with students from all over! I get excited anytime I see an email from a follower. Know that you could never "bug" me! I love hearing from you guys and cheering you on!
#9 The moment renal/dialysis nutrition made sense!
I just started a new job at a dialysis clinic, and I was afraid... very afraid. Renal nutrition was the subject I struggled with in undergrad, and I never saw a dialysis patient in my internship. And the unknown is scary, right? So scary! But now its not bad at all. Tackle the things that seem tough, they won't be tough if you give in another try!
#8 Feeling Needed and Appreciated.
Sometimes this dietitian gig is thankless. "Anything you can tell me I can get from Dr. Oz on that TV show". DOH! Engage dietitiansaurus rex sized irritation. But that only makes the gracious moments that much sweeter. I'll never forget just how thankful my patients on the PTSD floor were anytime I came to see them. Please, thank you, ma'am, I loved going up there!
#7 That moment when I realized I had done enough tube feedings they were suddenly quite easy.
BOOM! It really is Legen-wait for it-dary!
#6 Writing up care plans for infants like a boss.
So much calculating and graphing and second guessing yourself and OMG I don't want to be responsible for FTT! And then phew... I did it!
#5 Using my first Hawaiian word in an interview with a patient.
So I, an English speaker, was communicating with a patient who primarily speaks Chinese but lives in Hawaii... I had to ask her if she still urinated in order to assess her fluid status. I had been told in my training that there are a lot of words that are used in Hawaii that are no on the mainland, to this point I hadn't used any of them... "Do you still make urine?" ... blank stare....."Do you make shee shee?" "Oh YES!"... we're golden.
#4 Hearing I had been selected by the board to join the Army as a dietitian
(which was later rescinded for not having a Master's degree... but might be back on? stay tuned).
I was selected, then I wasn't and now I may be selected again? I'll believe it when I've signed something but this may be back on.. Biggest emotional rollarcoaster of my life!
#3 Hearing a "yes!" from a prospective preceptor for my clinical rotation with my distance internship.
Insert BIG SIGH OF RELIEF! here. And the best part? It was at a military facility! This is what sparked my interest in joining the Army... well not in the first place, the military has always been something I wanted to be a part of... but my interest specifically in being an Army dietitian!
#2 Writing a grad paper on Nutrition Focused Physical Examination for a tough professor and getting 100%!
I've only been more afraid of one other grade.... read #1.
#1 Passing that Dang Exam!
I cried. I called my mom. And I cried some more. I was so afraid I didn't pass but the stars aligned and my OCD level studying paid off and I passed on the first try! woo hoo!
I had planned to do a 2015 recap post, but as long as I'm looking back, let's look ALL the way back on my top 10 Moments in this Dietitian Journey.
#10 Live Chats!
In case you didn't know...I crazy enjoy jumping on these live chats with students! I find it to be so much fun and its so neat to meet and interact with students from all over! I get excited anytime I see an email from a follower. Know that you could never "bug" me! I love hearing from you guys and cheering you on!
#9 The moment renal/dialysis nutrition made sense!
I just started a new job at a dialysis clinic, and I was afraid... very afraid. Renal nutrition was the subject I struggled with in undergrad, and I never saw a dialysis patient in my internship. And the unknown is scary, right? So scary! But now its not bad at all. Tackle the things that seem tough, they won't be tough if you give in another try!
#8 Feeling Needed and Appreciated.
Sometimes this dietitian gig is thankless. "Anything you can tell me I can get from Dr. Oz on that TV show". DOH! Engage dietitiansaurus rex sized irritation. But that only makes the gracious moments that much sweeter. I'll never forget just how thankful my patients on the PTSD floor were anytime I came to see them. Please, thank you, ma'am, I loved going up there!
#7 That moment when I realized I had done enough tube feedings they were suddenly quite easy.
BOOM! It really is Legen-wait for it-dary!
#6 Writing up care plans for infants like a boss.
So much calculating and graphing and second guessing yourself and OMG I don't want to be responsible for FTT! And then phew... I did it!
#5 Using my first Hawaiian word in an interview with a patient.
So I, an English speaker, was communicating with a patient who primarily speaks Chinese but lives in Hawaii... I had to ask her if she still urinated in order to assess her fluid status. I had been told in my training that there are a lot of words that are used in Hawaii that are no on the mainland, to this point I hadn't used any of them... "Do you still make urine?" ... blank stare....."Do you make shee shee?" "Oh YES!"... we're golden.
#4 Hearing I had been selected by the board to join the Army as a dietitian
(which was later rescinded for not having a Master's degree... but might be back on? stay tuned).
I was selected, then I wasn't and now I may be selected again? I'll believe it when I've signed something but this may be back on.. Biggest emotional rollarcoaster of my life!
#3 Hearing a "yes!" from a prospective preceptor for my clinical rotation with my distance internship.
Insert BIG SIGH OF RELIEF! here. And the best part? It was at a military facility! This is what sparked my interest in joining the Army... well not in the first place, the military has always been something I wanted to be a part of... but my interest specifically in being an Army dietitian!
#2 Writing a grad paper on Nutrition Focused Physical Examination for a tough professor and getting 100%!
I've only been more afraid of one other grade.... read #1.
#1 Passing that Dang Exam!
I cried. I called my mom. And I cried some more. I was so afraid I didn't pass but the stars aligned and my OCD level studying paid off and I passed on the first try! woo hoo!
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