Nurses are ideally placed to advise on nutrition and diet. Using the principles of the nursing process, nurses can evaluate clients, plan and help them implement dietary changes and evaluate outcomes. There are many ways that nurses can teach their patients about proper nutrition in relation to their health. Presentations at community health centers are crucial to community health.
A nurse with the right knowledge can prepare a PowerPoint presentation to show to a group of seniors during a health fair. They can also give attendees literature to take home for further study and guidance. Similarly, a school nurse can present healthy nutrition facts to students during a school assembly, as well as give them leaflets to take home. While some states allow a person to conduct nutritional counseling without a license as a DR or licensed nutritionist (usually at the master's level), that doesn't imply that a person can practice nutrition, which involves professional, legal, and ethical considerations.
With a nutrition certification, you can provide evidence-based (rather than opinion-based) counseling, conduct one-on-one counseling, lead workshops, and write about nutrition. Providing proper nutrition screenings and nutritional advice is essential to improving healthy eating and subsequent health outcomes. While there is no particular certification that needs to talk about nutrition as a health or fitness professional, it is best to look for a rigorous and respected program that covers the sciences of nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, and other related topics. In addition, under certain clinical conditions, nutritional counseling may require considerations supported by a higher level of specialized training and testing, to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Nurses working in hospitals and clinics are likely to be more concerned with nutrition, as it relates to recovery from illness, surgery, or other treatments.
