Is there a Registered Dietitian program for RN's?

1 I am currently working on a BSN and am interested in learning more about nutrition. I have a few questions and I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks!

1) Does anyone know if there are programs out there for Registered Nurses who want to be Registered Dietitians? I would like to take a few courses on my own after graduation, but realize that some of the RD requirements are similar for that of nursing, and I figure I might as well try and see if I can get more credentials out of it since there is some overlap.

2) Is there such thing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist for Nutrition? I feel like I've seen that before but I can't seem to find much through a google search. If this does exist, what is the difference between the RD and the CNS?

Thanks!
This is a great question. I work in a big hospital now and I have not seen any sort of job that you are talking about. So sorry I have no answer for you.I was in dietetics at first but then switched to nursing (more job security) and when I finish nursing school, I would love to connect these two somehow. I am always going to be more interested in nutrition, and if there is a job out there that connects these two that would be for me. Any ideas/advice would be great!
A registered dietician requires a separate degree. It is true that a lot of classes might overlap such as basic nutrition, biochem, A&P etc, but an RD actually requires an intensive internship after your undergraduate degree in nutrition. I hold a BS in Nutrition and was not able to get in the internship at my school as they only took 12 students each semester in the Masters program. The internships are very competitive as is nursing. Good luck with your choice!
Thanks so much for the quick replies. I am already in a nursing program, so I am just looking to expand my knowledge about nutrition. I think it's odd that doctors do not have a course in nutrition and nurses are only really mandated one course (if any). Dietetics just interests me so I was thinking about just taking a few courses in it just to get more of an idea.... that.... and a lot of the patients I see have a lot of health problems related to diet (I see a lot of diabetics) so I do think that we should put more of an emphasis on diet and nutrition and then that will help people in the long run. i feel like our patients only come to us when we're broken, and not for maintenance of good health.
Wow, I am so glad to have read this. I too am very interested in nutrition. I want to become an RN but would love to find a way to overlap Nursing with wellness/fitness/nutrition.
I also have a BS in Nutrition (concentration Dietetics) and like L&Dnurse2be I am now doing nursing. To answer your question, I do not believe there is a program out there for RNs to become RDs without going the extremely slow route of getting a BS in Nutrition (concentration Dietetics) and then completing a Dietetics Internship. The Dietetics Internships are EXTREMELY competitive with less than 50% of applicants getting placed. In addition to the Dietetics Internships being competitive, they are also lengthy (1 year to 2 years) and expensive (you have to pay to complete the internship). I think you can take the route of getting a MS in Nutrition if you have a bachelors right now in nursing and do an Dietetics Internship after the MS is complete. After completing the Dietetics Internship you are eligible to sit for the RD exam.You are right there is a overlap between nursing classes and dietetics classes. For my undergraduate I had to take general chemistry I and II, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, and microbiology. The curriculum also includes nutritional biochemistry I and II, nutritional aspects of disease, nutrition through the life cycle, clinical nutrition, etc. You have to take a bunch of food science classes as well (teach you how to basically run a restaurant) and a couple of business administration classes are required. In addition to the classes, we were required to get community, clinical, and food service experience outside of class (in order to be competitive for the Dietetics Internship these experiences are a must). A RD that I worked with over one summer (while getting my clinical experience) has a daughter who had gotten who RD and did not enjoy working as a dietitian and was going to nursing school at the time. I thought a RN/RD would be an awesome combo to have but I think because it is pretty rare the opportunities are pretty limited. Perhaps you could work a few days as a RN then switch to work as a RD. Not sure if you could overlap them.I totally agree with what you said about it being odd that MDs are not required to take courses in nutrition. In my undergrad, some of the Med students at my school were able to take our nutritional aspects of disease course as an elective but it was an elective so other Med students were not getting an exposure to nutrition. Sorry this is lengthy... as you may be able to tell, I could go on and on about my issues with the schooling to become a RD or the issue I have with the actually career. I'm just frustrated (and bitter) that I spent 4 years working my butt off only to realize that nursing is so much better!!! If you have any questions let me know!
Last year, I took a few online nutrition courses through Kansas State and I highly recommend their program. To pursue the RD, nurses are required to take all of the nutrition courses, bio-chem, complete the internship, and then sit for the RD exam. Nurses aren't required to retake A&P or micro. I hope this helps.
Quote from noyesnoI also have a BS in Nutrition (concentration Dietetics) and like L&Dnurse2be I am now doing nursing. To answer your question, I do not believe there is a program out there for RNs to become RDs without going the extremely slow route of getting a BS in Nutrition (concentration Dietetics) and then completing a Dietetics Internship. The Dietetics Internships are EXTREMELY competitive with less than 50% of applicants getting placed. In addition to the Dietetics Internships being competitive, they are also lengthy (1 year to 2 years) and expensive (you have to pay to complete the internship). I think you can take the route of getting a MS in Nutrition if you have a bachelors right now in nursing and do an Dietetics Internship after the MS is complete. After completing the Dietetics Internship you are eligible to sit for the RD exam.You are right there is a overlap between nursing classes and dietetics classes. For my undergraduate I had to take general chemistry I and II, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, and microbiology. The curriculum also includes nutritional biochemistry I and II, nutritional aspects of disease, nutrition through the life cycle, clinical nutrition, etc. You have to take a bunch of food science classes as well (teach you how to basically run a restaurant) and a couple of business administration classes are required. In addition to the classes, we were required to get community, clinical, and food service experience outside of class (in order to be competitive for the Dietetics Internship these experiences are a must). A RD that I worked with over one summer (while getting my clinical experience) has a daughter who had gotten who RD and did not enjoy working as a dietitian and was going to nursing school at the time. I thought a RN/RD would be an awesome combo to have but I think because it is pretty rare the opportunities are pretty limited. Perhaps you could work a few days as a RN then switch to work as a RD. Not sure if you could overlap them.I totally agree with what you said about it being odd that MDs are not required to take courses in nutrition. In my undergrad, some of the Med students at my school were able to take our nutritional aspects of disease course as an elective but it was an elective so other Med students were not getting an exposure to nutrition. Sorry this is lengthy... as you may be able to tell, I could go on and on about my issues with the schooling to become a RD or the issue I have with the actually career. I'm just frustrated (and bitter) that I spent 4 years working my butt off only to realize that nursing is so much better!!! If you have any questions let me know!
Quote from SSeulI'm currently a student about to declare into the Nutrition major... (finishing g.e's this year) and I was also interested in the Nursing program as well.. So is it possible to get into nursing after I got my degree in Nutrition? (cant really opt out of it now hahaha...) Also I noticed that I had two options in the nutrition program (nutrition science or dietetics) which one would be more beneficial? I think there would be more options in the Nutrition Science cause there is more coursework (more chem, phy, etc..) Sorry for asking so many questions >_< hope i wasn't too confusing... thanks!
Wow thank you noyesno! That is a great response to my question. I am not yet finished with miy BSN program but will be in a few months. In the future while i'm working I'm hoping I can take some classes in nutrition but I'll have to pay off loans first before even considering goign back to school. Still, you mentioned that you think nursing is much better. Why do you say that? What are the hours like? i don't think they're 12-hour shifts. I have spoken to some RD''s who told me to stick with nursing since it pays better. Still, I am curious to kjnow what your thoughts are on the matter. Thansk so much for the insight and information!!!!!
Quote from TangueraWow thank you noyesno! That is a great response to my question. I am not yet finished with miy BSN program but will be in a few months. In the future while i'm working I'm hoping I can take some classes in nutrition but I'll have to pay off loans first before even considering goign back to school. Still, you mentioned that you think nursing is much better. Why do you say that? What are the hours like? i don't think they're 12-hour shifts. I have spoken to some RD''s who told me to stick with nursing since it pays better. Still, I am curious to kjnow what your thoughts are on the matter. Thansk so much for the insight and information!!!!!
Noyesno - Thank you for the info! I've been talking to my nutrition advisers and they are not very informative at all (and hard to catch with all their 'important' meetings -__-) I will definitely keep in touch if I have any more concerns Sooni
Oh my gosh what a breath of fresh air. I have not been in this conversation but feel as though I have to interject I am currently an RD, I work in dialysis, and I worked my BUTT off to get my RD. Guess what? I'm in nursing school. Being an RD sucks. The pay sucks, the hours are rigid, all that. About a year after I got out of my RD internship, I realized that I could NOT do this until I'm 65. So I agree with all the other posts- nursing has more flexibility, better pay, more respect. and compared to the schooling for getting your RD, nursing school is *easy*.