As a profession evolves, practitioners examine its tenets, roles and responsibilities, and potential for the future. During each decade since the 1960s, when the credentialing of dietitians as RDs (registered dietitians) began, RDs have reevaluated the meaning of entry and advanced practice to the profession. This issue (24:3) is a reflection of some researchers and practitioners to examine the growth of specialty and advanced dietetic practice.
This issue of Topics in Clinical Nutrition focuses on advanced practice by those in dietetics and allied health. In "A Review of Characteristics of Graduates in the Allied Health and Nursing Professions: Entry-Level and Advanced Practice," Brody et al. compare graduate outcomes of entry and advanced degree programs across the allied and nursing healthcare professions. In a second article to obtain the "learner" perspective, Brody interviewed 2 recent graduates of the only advanced practice doctorate in the United States along with a current student. The three share their reasons for obtaining the degree and how it has impacted their professional growth and work in research, education, and clinical management. The outcomes from these alumni are similar to those found in nursing doctoral programs that included scholarly productivity and professional leadership. Taking the perspective of occupational therapy, Hinojosa and Moyers Cleveland provide a history on the growth of advanced practice in occupational therapy, discuss challenges faced by the profession along the way, and address the implications of advanced practice to their profession.
Several articles follow in various aspects of dietetics practice. Howell describes the role of the advanced practice educator in dietetics and provides insights into the use of the meta-profession of teaching paradigm. McCarthy describes advanced practitioner roles in clinical nutrition, exploring the expanded skills needed for advanced practice and tools useful for performing this role. In Advanced Practitioners and What They Do That Is Different: Roles in Genetics," Camp and Rohr address a growing
specialty area of dietetics that combines 2 disciplines into 1 role, certainly apropos for examining advanced practice in dietetics. Compher and Hise, in Advanced Practitioners in Dietetics Research, address the role of the advanced practice research dietitian who focuses on grantsmanship, writing, presentations, education, and training others. Finally, in this section, O'Sullivan-Maillet provides a historical perspective of advanced dietetics practice, tracing its development from the 20th to the 21st century.
The applied research section includes 3 noteworthy articles. Wright did a project comparing selected outcomes of distance learning versus traditional dietetic internships via surveys of graduates and their supervisors in their first positions. Using an equivalence model, she did not find equivalent preparation between distance and traditional internships.
McCormick and her colleagues presented an assessment of a "Fun Fruit and Veggie Event." Pre-and postsurveys were administered in 15 schools to measure Fruit and Vegetable acceptance, knowledge, and consumption. They found that the event had a positive impact especially among students in grades 5-12.
Williams and Slavin examined dietary fiber and alternative therapies in irritable bowel syndrome. They concluded that dietary management must be tailored to the individual because symptoms of the disorder vary so much from person to person.
As you read this issue and perhaps turn to some of the references within individual articles to further expand your knowledge of advanced practice, please consider sharing your thoughts. A fruitful debate is welcome and any thoughts of advanced practice.
Special thanks to and from our Guest Editor, Riva Touger-Decker.
Judith A Gilbride, PhD, RD, FADA
Editor
Riva Touger-Decker, PhD, RD, FADA
Guest Editor