Employment Outcomes among Registered Dietitians following Graduation in Manitoba

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
15 November 2018

Abstract

Purpose: The study objectives were to (i) describe employment outcomes among Registered Dietitians (RDs) who graduated from the University of Manitoba, (ii) test for differences in employment outcomes according to graduation year, and (iii) compare preferred area of practice and geography prior to employment with past and current employment.
Methods: Graduates of the Human Nutritional Sciences program (2006–2015) were invited to participate in an online survey. Data on respondent demographics, education, and employment outcomes were collected.
Results: Overall, 133 (68%) respondents self-identified as RDs. RDs who had graduated between 2006 and 2011 were significantly more likely to secure employment within 6 months post-graduation compared with RDs that graduated between 2012 and 2015. Geographically, although 56% of RDs did not wish to gain experience in rural/remote communities upon graduating, 44% of these respondents reported working part- or full-time in a rural/remote location at some point during their career.
Conclusion: Findings indicate that a substantial number of RDs in Manitoba are employed in a rural or remote location despite acknowledging that it is not a preferred location. Future research is needed to explore the views and experiences of new and established RDs toward rural or remote practice, including preparedness for practice.

Résumé

Objectif. Les objectifs de l’étude étaient (i) de décrire les résultats en matière d’emploi de diététistes diplômés de l’Université du Manitoba, (ii) d’évaluer les différences dans ces résultats selon l’année d’obtention du diplôme et (iii) de vérifier si les emplois passés et actuels des répondants correspondaient au domaine de pratique et à la localisation géographique qu’ils privilégiaient avant de faire leur entrée dans la pratique.
Méthodes. Les diplômés du programme de sciences de la nutrition humaine (2006-2015) ont été invités à participer à un sondage en ligne. Des données démographiques ainsi que des données sur la scolarité et les résultats en matière d’emploi ont été recueillies.
Résultats. Globalement, 133 (68 %) répondants se sont identifiés comme étant diététistes. Les diététistes qui avaient obtenu leur diplôme entre 2006 et 2011 étaient significativement plus susceptibles de s’être trouvé un emploi dans les six mois suivant l’obtention du diplôme, comparativement à ceux ayant obtenu leur diplôme entre 2012 et 2015. D’un point de vue géographique, bien que 56 % des diététistes ne souhaitaient pas obtenir de l’expérience dans les collectivités rurales ou éloignées après l’obtention de leur diplôme, 44 % de ces répondants ont déclaré avoir travaillé à temps plein ou à temps partiel dans une collectivité rurale ou éloignée à un certain moment de leur carrière.
Conclusions. Les résultats indiquent qu’un nombre important de diététistes du Manitoba travaillent en milieu rural ou éloigné, malgré avoir reconnu qu’il ne s’agissait pas d’un lieu privilégié. De futures recherches sont nécessaires pour explorer les perspectives et expériences des diététistes nouveaux et établis à l’égard de la pratique en milieu rural ou éloigné, y compris en ce qui a trait à la préparation à la pratique.

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Financial support: Funding for this project was provided by start-up funds to NR from the Department of Community Health Sciences.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 80Number 2June 2019
Pages: 87 - 90

History

Version of record online: 15 November 2018

Authors

Affiliations

Adriana Mudryj PhD
Department of Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Ongomiizwin Research, Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Kayla Farquhar RD
Diabetes Integration Project, Nanaandawewigamig First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Kerry Spence RD, MSc
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Kathy Vagianos RD, MSc
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Miyoung Suh RD, PhD
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Natalie Riediger PhD
Department of Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Ongomiizwin Research, Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

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