There is plenty of space between desire and reality in many occupations. In the series "The Anonymous Job Protocol" people tell quite subjective, what characterizes their job - whether veterinarian, prosecutor or supervisor in the job center.
"So you help people lose weight?" As a dietician, I often ask that question, and most people think of the profession as pure nutritional advice, and I do so much more.
Some dieticians work in clinics, some independently run their own practices. I work in a large, multidisciplinary rehabilitation clinic and advise, plan and support our patients in terms of nutrition and health awareness.
I also bake and cook with my patients in the teaching kitchen. Many dieticians work large kitchens, create menus and prepare dietetic food. When I prepare menus, for example, I make sure that the sauce is lactose-free. Or if we have patients with a gluten intolerance, I make gluten-free noodles. They must be cooked separately so that no gluten traces can be found afterwards. Who does not like to be in the kitchen, is out of place with us.
Advice on many levels
In addition, I conduct individual discussions, advise the patients in the dining room of the clinic and hold seminars. In the process, I always try to find out where my patients are at the moment and which changes are easy to implement: Does someone cook only for himself or for a whole family? Is someone taking certain medications? Does the person have an incompatibility?
In the dining room, I am the contact person for patients who get a diet menu. They receive information leaflets as well as lists of ingredients and often come back to my colleagues and me to have their meals explained and get tips. For example, diabetics who are insulin-dependent have us counseled about carbohydrate-effective carbohydrates so that they can properly adjust their insulin levels to the meal.
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The anonymous job log: This is what everyday life really looks like Often counseling in the dining room is simply about showing presence, making it easier for patients to get in touch with us. Often I have only 30 minutes per patient for a conversation. I wish that I could divide my time here more individually: with some patients the half hour is enough, with others I would take twice as much time.
Since I work with people all day and deal with something very personal such as health, empathy is very important in my job. When patients talk about their illnesses and the resulting suffering, I want them to feel taken seriously and feel that I really want to help them.
In my consulting function, I need a high frustration tolerance and a lot of tact. Especially the patients who are sent by their doctors often do not feel like changing their behavior. I run against walls again and again.
"I know that I can not save everyone"
Since I'm tall and slim, it sometimes even happens that my own weight and body shape play a role in the deliberations: a big difference in weight always creates a certain distance. Some patients then feel embarrassed or patronized and then close themselves.
It is helpful to talk to people on a personal level. I also like to eat sweets as a dietician. To make this clear to the patient builds trust. Even drawer thinking is not helpful. Not every fat patient is lazy and unhealthy, many have gone through unsuccessful diet attempts - including discouragement and frustration. Also, my thin patients are not all healthy and fit, often the opposite is true.
In dealing with the patients and their successes, I always try to be realistic. Often people are unable to meet the nutritional optimum. I know that I can not save everyone, after all, many things do not depend on me. But I had to learn that first.
"I am happy with you about the successes"
Working with patients gives me a lot: I'm happy with them about the successes and stand with words and deeds aside. A patient of mine, who had been living with a stoma, ie an artificial bowel, for three years at the time, was very desperate at the beginning of the consultation. Due to her stoma, she had very fluid bowel movements, which put a lot of strain on her.
The woman had a lot of humor. While bowel movements are generally taboo, we talked openly about them and also laughed a lot. I helped by changing their diet and prepared a mix of oatmeal, apple, banana and blueberries, for example. She helped and she was really thankful.
The anonymous job log
Annoying nutritional hypes
What annoys me at work? These are half-knowledge and nutritional hypes, because they make it difficult for me to advise patients optimally. Often people inform themselves on the Internet or in social networks and take what they write for cash. For example, many come to me and are firmly convinced that they have a gluten intolerance, which in most cases is absolute nonsense.
If you want to lose weight and eat a healthy and balanced diet, you should always contact a healthcare professional. We can settle accounts with the health insurance and advise the patient on health conditions - neither gyms nor Instagram.
If you pay according to public service tariffs, for example, in a public hospital, you earn about 2300 euros gross. But as these jobs are pretty rare, most of my colleagues have to make do with a lot less.
Unfortunately, 'nutritionist' is not a protected job title. Our professional field is often misunderstood and the training is not appreciated. The term 'assistance' also contributes to this - I think that has something devaluing about it. Many only see slimming coaches in us - cooking and medical knowledge are often forgotten. "
