Starting my Clinical Rotation with a Twist

Time flies when you are having fun! I am now over halfway done with my dietetic internship, and I am taking the world of clinical dietetics by storm. This week I had the opportunity to step out from the usual role as a clinician and take a part in an employee wellness program, The Biggest Loser. This program encourages the use of a well-balanced lifestyle to obtain a healthy weight. The dietitians’ at Harbor Hospital aid their coworkers on their way to success through a series of emails and lunch and learns that focus on different weight loss techniques.

            I jumped right into things my first week with a lunch and learn consisting of about 30 Harbor employees. The dietitians dedicated their talks on topics such as exercise, a well balanced diet, and fad diets that could be ineffective or dangerous. I had the opportunity to explain anthropometrics and a variety of calculations needed to determine how many calories each individual required in a day to lose or maintain weight. I quickly realized what a challenge it would be to verbally walk through some of these lengthy calculations.  After days of practice I was thrilled with the outcome! With the help of the dietitians I was able to give a clear explanation of the calculations, and come up with examples that made them relatable. After my first success I was ready to take on anything else this program had in store for me.

            This week I was able to get creative and come up with a fun message to send out to the many participants focusing on tips to lose weight. I decided to highlight one of the many aspects of Harbor I had grown to love over the past few weeks, the cafeteria! With such a wide variety of food, and an emphasis on healthy items, it was easy and fun to go through the menu and get inventive in order to identify new ways the employees could utilize their resources to stay healthy while at work!

            Working with the dietitians at Harbor I have realized what a boundless variety of activities dietitians are able to participate in on a daily basis. One day is never the same as the next. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for me during my last 4 weeks of clinical!