The Best Rotation Sites for Dietetic Interns
One of the greatest benefits of a distance dietetic internship is the freedom to choose rotations and sites that most closely align with your interests. In this post, we have crafted a list of the best rotation sites for dietetic interns that are interested in doing something different!
So whether your passion is pediatrics, adults with GI disorders, sports nutrition or product development, you can craft the internship of your dreams. We are proud to offer unconventional rotations for a dietetic intern.
Read below for more ideas on unique places to complete your rotations.
Business Rotation Sites
Interns will complete 7 weeks (280 hours) at two different business sites. We encourage interns to select at least one private practice. Three of the seven weeks can be completed virtually. Ideas for unique business rotations include:
- Food Blogger or Photographer
- Cookbook Designer
- Corporate Wellness Dietitian (such as B.Komplete)
- Author or Copy Writer
- Media Dietitian
- Food or Product Developer
- Tech such as a Startup or App Developer
- Private Practice Dietitian
- Supplement Company
The possibilities are truly endless and your business rotations don’t have to be with a registered dietitian. We’ve had interns complete rotations with gym owners, personal trainers, specialty food product developers, naturopathic doctors and more!
The best rotation sites for dietetic interns are the ones that align with your interests and that help you advance towards your future goals.
Community Rotation Sites
Our community rotation is 3 weeks (120 hours) and interns gain experience in group and individual education, federal and local funding sources, marketing, and community programming and evaluation. Ideas for unique community rotations include:
- Food Resource Center
- College Campus Dietitian
- Community Garden or CSA (learn more about an intern’s experience)
- Non-Profit Organization
- Nutrition Education Program or Cooking Program
- Extension Department at University
- Outpatient Clinic
- Dialysis Center
- WIC
Several of our interns are also bilingual and have enjoyed the opportunity to create resources to better serve their local communities.
Foodservice Management Rotation Sites
Foodservice rotations sites sometimes get a bad reputation, but we encourage interns to think outside of the box. Interns will complete 6 weeks of foodservice and 2 weeks need to be in the patient services setting. The remaining 4-weeks can be in a production/retail site. Options include:
- University Campus Dining
- Food Resource Center
- Bakery or Cafe
- Meal Kit or Meal Delivery Company
- Meals on Wheels
- Head Start or Preschool Center
- Food Production Facility
- K-12 School Nutrition
- Hospital
- Long-Term Care Facility
Past interns have loved the management and production aspects of foodservice. We encourage you to keep an open mind!
Clinical Rotation Sites
While all interns must complete 9 weeks of clinical rotations, there is some flexibility in the sites that you can choose. Interns need to complete 4 weeks in acute care (hospital or long-term acute care). The remaining weeks can be in a rehab setting, behavioral health hospital, children’s hospital or inpatient eating disorder facility. Interns also have the option to complete 2 weeks in an outpatient setting such as a dialysis center, endocrinology clinic or weight loss center. Clinical rotation site options include:
- Behavioral Health Hospital
- Eating Disorder Facility
- Outpatient Clinic (must see all disease states and accept insurance)
- Endocrinology Center
- Weight Loss Center or Bariatric Clinic
- Dialysis Clinic
- Hospital
- Long-Term Acute Care Facility
- Rehab Facility or Skilled Nursing (depending on the disease states)
- Children’s Hospital or Metabolic Clinic
Many of our interns discover that they enjoy clinical more than they thought they would. We encourage you to keep your options open!
The options for unconventional rotations as a future dietitian are truly endless! Remember, the best rotation sites for dietetic interns are the ones that you truly want to do. This will help you customize your learning and growth.
We love helping interns craft the internship of their dreams.