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Joanne R
Starting Member
8 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Mar 2008 : 15:04:46
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After doing some research into what I need to do for a degree in nutrition/dietetics I am unable to find the course I want to do near where I live and am not able to move away.
I have been looking into other courses and found some on Stonebridge distance learning. These include Clinical Nutrition and Diet and Nutrition advisor and also courses in sport and child nutrition.
The courses lead to an ASET qualification, equivalent to level 3/4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NFQ).
Just wondering if anyone knows of anyone who does not have a degree but works in nutrition. I am not able to do a degree in the position I am in but really want to work in nutrition and this course seems like a good opportunity.
Thanks for your advice.
Jo x |
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morgan
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
486 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2008 : 19:25:12
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Hi Joanne,
It depends what you mean by "work in nutrition". If you want to work for the NHS, you need a dietetics degree. These can only be obtained from a University in attendance.
Given your circumstances you might like to consider nutritional therapy.
I keep mentioning nutritional therapy, but no one seems the slightest bit interested. The up side of NT is that good courses are available with distance learning. The down side is that they the subject is controversial and takes a different viewpoint. It is often ridiculed by people who do not understand it (not on this site though!) Also the outcome is likely to be running your own business/service, which is difficult if you've not had any real-lfe experience in other areas. However, it can be home-based. The subject is very demanding.
To quote from Amanda Ursell's "Healing Foods". (Amanda is a very well respected dietitian)
"Nutritional Therapists take a holistic view of the body, and are likely to focus on the circumstances, symptoms, and state of mind of the individual, rather than giving treatments alone. Advice [] is not always based on scientific theory, and is likely to have elements in commonn with traditional medical practice such as Chinese medicine. ... in spite of the tendancy of conventional medical and dietetic practitioners to dismiss this approach, [NTs] often achieve good results."
A list of NTC approved instutions http://www.nutritionaltherapycouncil.org.uk/training.htm
Note - not all are distance learning and prices vary considerably.
Morgan |
Edited by - morgan on 30 Mar 2008 19:35:00 |
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toska
New Member
32 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 11:57:52
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| Thames Valley University do a very good correspondance BSc in Nutritional Medicine |
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morgan
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
486 Posts |
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Joanne R
Starting Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 12:21:05
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Thanks for your replys, unfortunatley I live in Newcastle so Thames Valley is just too far!
I would definatley be interested in the therapy side....however the only thing that worries me is the job prospects at the end of it.
Looking online at other private nutritionist services, people all seem to have a degree, so I feel I may as well give up as I don’t really want to spend money and hard work on an online course such as the one Stonebridge offers, if there is no real prospects at the end of it….the only thing I could think of is working somewhere like Sure Start or part of a fitness centre but even then I would imagine they would prefer people to have a degree.
I could do a Nutrition degree at a uni up here however I am more interested in the dietetics side of things of which there is no courses up here so I think I may just have to resign myself to giving up!
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sportdiet
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
741 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 12:33:47
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morgan - dietitians actually do take a holistic approach - not sure why you think otherwise.
The problem with all of these courses is they are very limiting in terms of prospects, unless u set up on your own and I that depends on the competition - it is a very oversubscribed field!
C.A.Cashin |
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morgan
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
486 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 12:42:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Joanne R
Thanks for your replys, unfortunatley I live in Newcastle so Thames Valley is just too far!
..But it's distance learning, with a few study days.
quote:
I would definatley be interested in the therapy side....however the only thing that worries me is the job prospects at the end of it. Looking online at other private nutritionist services, people all seem to have a degree
Usually they have a diploma, (and sometimes degrees in other subjects). Therapists are scarce in the north. In fact I could only find one in the whole of Newcastle. Prospects are good in the north provided you can run your own practice.
If you are interested at dip level, have a look at http://www.kevala.co.uk/courses/nutritional_advisor.php and http://www.kevala.co.uk/courses/nutritional_therapy1.php
Morgan |
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Joanne R
Starting Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 13:33:49
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Thanks for that I will have a look later on when I get into work....I like the idea of the study weekends as I was unsure how the clinical consultation training would work through distance learning....quite pricey compared to others I've looked at....
I do like the idea of distance learning but the only thing I'm not thrilled about is not being able to interact with other people
I'm finding it hard finding people who have done a distance learning nutrition course and are now working as a therapist to get some advice and info from them....so if there's anyone about let me know!
Thanks xx |
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Joanne R
Starting Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 13:36:48
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| Do you think this nutrition course sounds better than the Stonebridge? Or are t he qualifications equivalent? x |
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anna
Starting Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 16:11:14
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Hiya,
I am not familiar with Stonebridge or the Nutritional therapy courses so can't advise on that. Unfortunately as you've realised you can't work as a dietitian without completing one of the HPC approved courses. However there are opportunities to work as a dietetic assistant, health trainer, community food worker within the NHS which would give you valuable work experience. You could then maybe study part time aswell(many of these jobs are part time). With work experience and qualifications although you wouldn't be able to work as a dietitian there would then be many other opportunities to progress in the areas of health promotion etc. Have a look on the NHS jobs website. Hope this helps!
Anna |
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Jess
Junior Member
Ireland
54 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 17:45:19
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While I was doing my placement at nothumbria hospital trust there were food nutrition advisors who worked in sure start and none of them had degrees. They all received training on a course conducted by the dietitians. The only entry requiremnt for the course was an interest in nutrition !!and all of them said they loved their jobs
Maybe u could contact this hospital trust -ask for the commuinity dietetic dept( Its in wallsend)and enquire about this course - if this is too far Im sure they could point u in the right direction !!
hope this helps
Jess
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sportdiet
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
741 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 18:03:52
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ah jess and there in lies a difference - food dadvisers are supervised!
Working as a dietetic assistant is anther way of working in this field.
C.A.Cashin |
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morgan
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
486 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 18:29:16
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Hi Joanne,
Here is the site of someone who graduated from distance learning quite recently. But with any distance learning course, communication is going to be eletronic. http://www.castleclinic.com/catherinehunternutrition.html
There is a link at the bottom of the page. I'm sure she'll help with any questions.
Morgan |
Edited by - morgan on 31 Mar 2008 18:32:42 |
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sportdiet
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
741 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 19:01:03
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morgan - the problem for me is the whole distance thing = how is it monitored and supervised ? I have huge reservations as I have told u before and the fact there is no evidence. One only has to look at the facr that they seem to trat so many problems and there seems to be no experince or specialisation - waht is the saying jack f all trades master of none. the sports nutrition side is intriquing how much of that does a nutr therapist study - that seems an odd one for them to advice!
there is a thread for u on general questions
C.A.Cashin |
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morgan
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
486 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 21:02:09
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Chris,
I'm not trying to push NT, I was just making Joanne aware of the possibilities with distance learning. Dietetics is taught on site at Universities: I understand why the CP must be like that, but why the theory also? It seems very inflexible.
quote:
Originally posted by sportdiet
morgan - the problem for me is the whole distance thing = how is it monitored and supervised ?
I can only tell you how my course works. The course is broken down into stages and each stage into modules and the student proceeds at their own pace. At the end of the module there is a set of questions and essays (usually difficult, and not easily sources from the literature). As each module is assessed & marked, a new module is released. During the course the student has to perform 6 or so consultations and submit them for assesment. But this is only stage1 and corresponds to advisor level and does not include CP, which has to be done on site (for ~200 hours about a year) to achieve the full qualification.
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I have huge reservations as I have told u before and the fact there is no evidence.
Well you may believe that, but there is quite a bit of evidence. Firstly there is all of the evidence from dietetics. That is a big part. Secondly, NT takes evidence from other sources that orthodoxy dismisses because it does not reach their standards. That is not the same thing as there being NO evidence. (just because you can't see the ships, does not mean they are not there). In fact if there were no evidence for something, I would not entertain it. Usually these areas of "no evidence" are controversial areas where orthodoxy takes a stance.
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One only has to look at the fact that they seem to treat so many problems and there seems to be no experience or specialisation - what is the saying jack of all trades master of none.
Holistic nutrition aims to treat the body. It is a controversial point that somehow people find difficult to grasp. Yes there are diverse problems, but they are really symptoms of fewer underlying causes. Mostly they are symptoms of poor diet. You've said so yourself, get the junk out the diet and problems start going away. Yes there are specifics, which is why an NT course should take at least as long as a dietetics course.
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the sports nutrition side is intriquing how much of that does a nutr therapist study - that seems an odd one for them to advice!
NTs aim to treat people with problems or prevent problems from arising. Sports nutrition is not in the remit of an NT. As you well know it is a complex field in its own right.
quote:
there is a thread for u on general questions
C.A.Cashin
Ta
Morgan |
Edited by - morgan on 31 Mar 2008 21:07:39 |
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sportdiet
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
741 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 08:15:31
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but morgan that is the problem - nut therapists do proclaim they can do everything - look at that girls website.
The evidence just isnt there for alot of the stuff they do - the recent me study highlights that - every pt i have seen that has been to see various nutr therapists has been told they have a yeast infection and clinicially i can find no reason for it.
Actually dietitians do not just study the theory - the course are very practise based as well and students are tested all the way thro.
I see people all the time who have done variousdistance courses and there is little they can do with them - seems quite quite a waste of money to me. I hate to saythis but people have a very romantic notion about nutrition - it is a very tough profession.
C.A.Cashin |
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Nutrition Advisor
