About Dietitians

Role

Registered Dietitians are uniquely trained in human nutrition and food science. They are essential members of interprofessional healthcare teams and actively contribute to the health and well being of British Columbians. Dietitians are known for:

  • assessing nutritional needs of individuals and groups
  • designing, implementing and monitoring nutritional care plans and therapeutic diets based on current and relevant scientific, medical and nutrition information
  • disseminating relevant scientific information about food and human nutrition to promote health and assist individuals, groups and communities attain and maintain health and
  • managing quality food service operations in healthcare institutions

Scope of Practice

Dietitians’ scope of practice is broadly defined in the Dietitians Regulation.

Dietitians may register with restricted activities if they feel competent and safe to practice them. The following restricted activities are defined in the Dietitians Regulation:

"Restricted Activities
No person other than a registrant who meets the additional qualifications set out in the bylaws of the college may

(a) design, compound or dispense therapeutic diets if nutrition is administered through enteral means,
(b) design therapeutic diets if nutrition is administered through parenteral means, or
(c) administer a substance to a person by instillation through enteral or parenteral means.

Limits or conditions on services

(1)  No registrant may insert a feeding tube.
(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to a registrant who
a) is acting under delegated authority of a medical practitioner, and
(b) is acting in accordance with standards developed for the purposes of paragraph (a) and approved by the board and approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia."

Common Workplaces

Dietitians practice in a variety of settings:

  • hospitals, rehabilitation, long-term care facilities or home care
  • community health centres, health clinics
  • food service departments in hospitals and other health care facilities, schools, universities, and businesses
  • private practice
  • academic and research institutions
  • food, food marketing, food research and pharmaceutical industry
  • government offices responsible for nutrition & health services
  • sports and recreation facilities