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Lauren Kuhn Thesis 2014.pdf (963.49 KB)

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The Perspectives of Advanced Practice Dietitians in Foodservice Director Roles: An Exploratory Investigation

Kuhn, Lauren Allison
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397576791

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Allied Medical Professions.
Over the years, as dietitians have had to take on a more prominent role in acute health care settings, the role of the dietitian has shifted away from foodservice and management towards a greater clinical focus. Despite this change, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ official position is that registered dietitians are the most qualified professionals to be directors of healthcare food and nutrition services. However 50% or less of food and nutrition services departments are actually managed by dietitians. This qualitative research study used ethnographic interviews to determine the perceptions of successful dietitians in the foodservice management realm toward the benefits of being a registered dietitian. Nine foodservice directors who were registered dietitians were interviewed. Interview transcripts were coded and thematic analysis was manually conducted to discover naturally emerging themes. Participant responses resulted in five overarching themes: (a) positive influence of being a registered dietitian when a foodservice director, (b) medical nutrition therapy and foodservice management are intertwined, (c) entry into the field of foodservice management by a dietitian often occurs due to early experiences, (d) advocacy for dietitians in foodservice, and (e) foodservice directors forecast decreasing numbers of registered dietitians will be foodservice directors. Overall most participants (n=8) felt that having the RD credential was of some benefit to them. The results of this study should empower dietitian leaders in the field of foodservice management to promote their experiences and expertise, with the hope of stopping the decline of dietitians as foodservice directors.
Kay Wolf, Dr. (Advisor)
Chris Taylor, Dr. (Committee Member)
Deborah Larsen, Dr. (Committee Member)
129 p.
Nutrition
Keywords Foodservice Director, Registered Dietitian, Qualitative Research, Interviews

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kuhn, L. A. (2014). The Perspectives of Advanced Practice Dietitians in Foodservice Director Roles: An Exploratory Investigation [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397576791

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kuhn, Lauren. The Perspectives of Advanced Practice Dietitians in Foodservice Director Roles: An Exploratory Investigation. 2014. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397576791.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kuhn, Lauren. "The Perspectives of Advanced Practice Dietitians in Foodservice Director Roles: An Exploratory Investigation." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397576791

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1397576791
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© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.