An Inside Look into a Dietetic Internship

Three inexperienced dietetic interns are forged into strong, independent professionals in a rigorous, nine-month dietetic internship.
Skip to 9:26 for the best patient encounter scenario.
This is not an accurate description of our dietetic internship nor our preceptors. This video is non-profit and for entertainment purposes only.
This video contains copyrighted audio. I do not claim any rights towards any of this audio. Music credit goes to Gioachino Rossini for "William Tell Overture" and Monty Norman for "James Bond Theme."
The opinions expressed in this video are the author's own and do not reflect the views of Emory University Hospital.

[@eatmoreveggies]

I have no shame. I'm liking my own video. I think it's darn funny.

[@ohheyLeighannn]

There isn't that much content on KZbin for dietetic internships, so I enjoyed this! The Ensure bit cracked me up.

[@eatmoreveggies]

I am so glad you enjoyed our video! Our internship was tough so trying to find some comic relief at the end definitely helped our stress levels.

[@gerrygeneroso7461]

@@eatmoreveggies , hi..you studied in US?

[@eatmoreveggies]

@@gerrygeneroso7461 Yes, I did! I got my DPD requirements and Master's degree from Auburn University, and I completed my dietetic internship at Emory University Hospital.

[@gerrygeneroso7461]

@@eatmoreveggies nice to hear that...well i am planning to study bs nutrition but in the Philippines though i am in Europe.

[@eatmoreveggies]

@@gerrygeneroso7461 That will be so great! We need more of us in the field, in the US but also across the globe!

[@rachelitzendelatorre1437]

This is amazing! I couldn't stop laughing! Glad someone is putting out content about DI experiences. I'll be starting my internship next year and I hope it's as fun as this makes it seem!

[@eatmoreveggies]

We are so glad you enjoyed it! Your internship is definitely a challenging time but you make the experience what it is. My best advice is to find something small to be grateful for each day, whether it be a great patient interaction or a really good cup of coffee and hold onto that feeling throughout the day. You will grow and learn so much and it really tests you. It also goes by really fast so stick with it and good luck!!!

[@kirankaur854]

@@eatmoreveggies ujj Nz

[@laughinglemon33]

I remember watching this video last year and I thought it was so funny that I shared it with all my dietetic friends. Now I’m a few months away from completing my internship and I can say the clinical rotations are 100% spot on!

[@eatmoreveggies]

Congratulations on being so close to finishing!!! The end will be here before you know it. So glad to know you enjoyed our videos!

[@truthseeker8658]

I thought your name was laughing single mom, instead of laughing lemon.

[@annier844]

"What does his teen angst have to do with his GERD?!" Undoubtedly the best dietetic internship video EVER! You all had me laughing out loud! :) Thank you for the light-hearted yet educational content.

[@eatmoreveggies]

Thank you so much! All of three of us know how grueling DIs can be and we've all encountered these type of patient encounters! Sometimes it helps to just laugh at these situations instead of getting bogged down. So happy that you enjoyed it!

[@jamiegriffin801]

Relatable...Y'all did an AWESOME job capturing the DI experience! Every year I show this to my MS/DI students who are about to go into rotations...and I still crack up when I watch it!

[@pnwokeleme]

I am half way through my dietetic internship just finished my clinical rotation. I definitely saw myself here. Couldn't stop laughing. Thank you!!!

[@eatmoreveggies]

THE END IS SO CLOSE! You can make it to the other side, I promise!!

[@danaweber7138]

Very hilarious! Brings back memories of my dietetics internship! So glad that's over with!

[@waisannthi9684]

I'm finishing my nutrition degree and going into Dietetics next year. This video is great. Its funny and I can see myself exactly like those new interns. Makes me anxious already.

[@BrittSummerlin]

Just re-watching our glorious video - still hits hard even two years later! Those were the days! Frequent flyer punch card, ham sandwich and Maury still crack me up.

[@taaamx3]

Omg the accuracy!! I just started my internship 3 weeks ago :)

[@pieceoflulu2361]

Currently in my internship! Love this!!

[@amandaslifeandrecipes4209]

Oh my gosh I was cracking up, you guys did such a good job, gives me something to look forward to 😆.

[@eatmoreveggies]

You will do amazing! It's intimidating at first but by the end you will definitely have a good idea of what you're doing. Embrace freedom now because they will work you in the internship!

[@amandaslifeandrecipes4209]

Cecilia Tran Thank You, yes I’m going to appreciate this time I have ❤️

[@nickeshaburke9836]

Awesome video. found it quite entertaining, but it really helped to ease some of the anxieties regarding internship

[@eatmoreveggies]

It's perfectly normal to feel anxious about how you'll do in the internship, but don't forget that this is a learning experience. You aren't expected to know everything; that's the point. Don't be afraid to ask your preceptors or your cohort for help! You made it into the internship so you have the knowledge it takes to treat people. It's definitely going to be rocky at first, but the year flies by and by the end of it, you'll have learned so much. And don't forget to have fun throughout!

[@annajordan6789]

I loved this, I am in the first semester my dietetic major. I am already excited about applying for internships. Hopefully I will get a match in the first round picks.

[@HistoriasconKaren]

Tbh I’m really scared for the internship that’s why I’m watching this. I just finished my bachelors in nutrition and I have no work experience to get into the internship at UH. They also say it’s really intense because it’s only 27 weeks

[@eatmoreveggies]

It is completely natural to be scared entering the internship. Yes, they are definitely intense but you become a better clinician for it. I was terrified for the first couple of months of "killing a patient" but your preceptors would never allow for that. Hospitals are not going to let interns do harm, so you'll be okay. And everyone around you is constantly learning, inexperienced and experienced alike. Also, having work experience, while valuable, is not the only thing internships look at to determine if you're a good candidate. Leadership skills/roles, volunteer experience, your grades, how you interview, and other things play an important role as well. Many people who enter dietetics are second career people who have copious amounts of experience in a completely different field than nutrition. This allows our field to be dynamic because it brings new perspectives and experiences that can really change the game. Trust me when I say that you're not the only one who gets nervous or scared about matching or doing well in your internship. We all feel that way but we all find a way to come out successful! I hope this puts you at ease but if not, feel free to reach out and I can answer more of your questions!

[@charmainecaparoso9736]

I love this!

[@pcdihealth]

Yes hahaha I love this video especially get that ensure stat and it all started on a warm day hahaha. This has truly made my day

[@eatmoreveggies]

Thank you for your kind words!!!!

[@devaiahrishik8590]

Well I am psychiatric social worker and I am loving this

[@eatmoreveggies]

Ahhh that makes me so happy to hear that it traverses different fields!

[@bdomazim]

LOL. This made my morning. Good job! *clap*

[@ciaraandrade112]

This was hilarious especially the Maury part!!!

[@user-zj9kw9lh1i]

Great video ! Very funny ! Subscribed :)

[@MISTAWULFY]

super accurate

[@corinnesaylor9346]

MISTA WULFY Dietitians with a sense of humor... Been looking for you all my life!

[@strawberryfraisier6446]

im having such a dilemma between majoring between this speech language pathology for undergrad. nutrition just seems so much interesting to me but i am a little bit worried about the pay lol

[@adyashasatapathy82]

Exactly the same I am just so torn between Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics and SLP for bachelor's I just don't know what to do 🥺

[@carolacg4020]

The end was so funny, specially when patients in the real life tell You false information about them

[@humahuma5232]

So nice video i'm waiting for my time in this job so nice profession

[@cindylee1051]

oh god this is so funny, hope my internship would go well hahah

[@solo.life.travels7215]

U got a match?

[@MaryHeyMusic]

100% accurate

[@squirrelboss7067]

Love it

[@letroypete5636]

Bravo🚀💯a lil peek in future

[@eatmoreveggies]

Thank you!!!

[@SimranSweetsim1598Seth]

This is soo relatable 😂

[@autumnyng]

Hi, I'm in my last year of high school and I'm so confused about picking a major: I love eating healthy, reading nutrition info and helping others, so I thought Dietetics was right for me, but now I find out that I don't enjoy working in hospital and lab setting. Should I go another path and just take food and nutrition as my personal interest - like being a food blogger for instance - or are there any career in dietetics that don't require working in hospital and lab setting? I know there is private consulting, but it's quite risky idk... If someone experienced in dietetics field can help me, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you in advance!!

[@coolbeans871]

Hello. I’m entering my dietetic internship now. There are 3 main “sectors” of dietetics. -Clinical dietician is one, that is working in the hospital. -Out patient is another section. This is working of the hospital. In the community such as government building, schools, wellness centers. - the third is food service. This is working coordination of the kitchen (can be a hospital kitchen, school, or any large kitchen operation) I would say go for it! But by the time you graduate college, they will require a masters degree to become a dietitian. Also there is an 8+ month internship that is unpaid (it’s required) then you have to take an exam. It’s a tedious process but I love it!

[@autumnyng]

@@coolbeans871 Thank you!!

[@eatmoreveggies]

@@autumnyng You are not alone in not wanting to work in an inpatient (hospital) setting. I'm the exact same way you are! I prefer developing relationships with my patients and monitoring/following up with them every few months. I work in an outpatient clinic and I was doing group nutrition education classes (currently on hold due to virus) and counsel patients individually. Another area of interest for me would be working for a food bank or some other kind of community nutrition setting to help provide people with nutritious food. You can also work for the food industry, blog, private practice, workplace nutrition, etc. The great thing about the dietetics field is that there are sooooo many different areas that you can work in. The dietetic internship helps expose you to a lot of those fields. I'd say the dietetics community needs more RDs like you or me since the Asian community is severely underrepresented in our field. The other thing is that you are still in high school so your interests may change AND THAT'S OKAY! If this is something you're interested in, go ahead and major in something like nutrition or food science, but always know that you can change majors as you begin to learn more about yourself. I fell into dietetics by accident, so I did not major in it for undergrad. Hope this helps!

[@autumnyng]

@@eatmoreveggies thank you so much Cecilia!

[@dietrymanagement1321]

Hii I am a dietetion

[@wendepatrella2018]

love this! lol!!

[@eduardoquiroga6804]

omg I'm a guy I worked solely with men most of my 20's im 28 about to turn 29 in October and im going to have so much fun once I start school, again.

[@pinkrush9581]

Hey ihave completed my masters degree in clinical Nutrition and dietetics in india iam planning to start my career in the UK iam i eligible to do an inernship or observership in any hospital ? Plz reply iam really stressed

[@gerrygeneroso7461]

I want to study this.

[@milagroscapomasi8525]

Go for it, uts a great career

[@xmut3x]

Loved this, did one of you go to Mississippi State?

[@eatmoreveggies]

xmut3x yes! I (Cecilia) did!

[@xmut3x]

I just graduated from the state internship, I saw your phone case that gave it away :D!

[@eatmoreveggies]

xmut3x ahhhh! Congratulations! Did you happen to know a guy named Chandler?

[@xmut3x]

He was the class before me. I think right now he is working as an assistant sports RD at Georgia Tech or something.

[@eatmoreveggies]

xmut3x yup! He was one of my preceptors!

[@sarahkim8805]

Omg this is so funny 😂😂

[@ReemXD1]

Omg. I have experienced most of that😂

[@eatmoreveggies]

Reem Oo thanks! We tried to make this as relatable to dietetic interns and dietitians as much as possible. Of course, the video overexaggerates the issues but we had a lot of fun making it

[@laka1728]

Are you Viet? It is quite a surprise for a Viet to do dietitian. OMG

[@eatmoreveggies]

I am! There aren't many of us in the field, but that's why it's so important for me to be a dietitian. We need more cultural competency, and I hope to inspire more Vietnamese people to become dietitians to help diversify dietetics.

[@denisecalzada5690]

Honest answer pls hehe, is this course difficult or hard?

[@eatmoreveggies]

anise cool I think the dietetic internship experience is different for everyone depending on the person you are and the program you choose. For me, the clinical portion was harder for me because there’s a lot of material you need to know and trying to pair that knowledge with your clinical judgement. For the community and foodservice rotations, I feel I did a lot better because it was where my passion lied and I thrived in that environment.

[@MusicSashaLoves]

@@eatmoreveggies Hi Cecilia, I wanted to know if someone who completed a bachelor's degree in another field can still become a registered dietitian or clinical dietitian? Thanks

[@eatmoreveggies]

@@MusicSashaLoves TOTALLY! A lot of dietitians are second career people, meaning they worked doing something else and then became a dietitian. I got my Bachelor's in Food Science and worked as a QA Manager for a little while. Went back for my Master's and completed the DPD (classes for dietetics) and went through the internship etc. I really like that we all come from different backgrounds because it gives you a unique perspective on the field and your patients. Hope this helps!

[@ddxoxo2]

@@eatmoreveggies Hey I'm a psych major and I'm graduating in a few months (this spring) but now I'm thinking of becoming a rd what should i do now ?

[@eatmoreveggies]

Diana Puma i think being a psych major is such a great background for being an RD. A lot of people know what to eat so the real help comes in understanding why they eat what they do and counseling them on their emotions with eating. By 2024, all RDs are expected to have Master’s degrees so getting your graduate degree at some point. If you’re still in school, you would need to take DPD (dietetics courses) so that you can apply for a dietetic internship (it’s required). Some internships are combined with a masters program so you can get them done at the same time so that might be an option to look into. If you’re really interested in dietetics, i would try and find ones local to you and see if you can’t shadow them to get an idea of the field. One of the best things about dietetics is that our field is very versatile. You can find RDs in pretty much any setting, especially outside of the hospital (inpatient/outpatient).

[@veronicafawn]

Haha this is great

[@victoriastellas4057]

License to kale! 😂

[@Lisa-vp1wk]

Haha so accurate!

[@priyatanwar5179]

Relatable 😂🤣😂

[@a.m8687]

This is hilarious lol

[@claudiamedina6500]

So funny 😂

[@jazmere777]

lmfaoooooo

[@gomecete2948]

#Canrelate

[@ryan_dosa]

Lol!

[@homesteadcass6579]

Funny 😄

[@jasminerakestraw6037]

😂😂

[@nelygradinariu6836]

😂

[@caroguevara5614]

Hahaha...

[@tialaing8145]

😂😂👍

[@iknowwhatsup2880]

😜

[@Gsmi87]

Hilarious