Seconds, Anyone?

The Second Round is here. Are you applying? How are you changing your cover letter? Your resume? Have you sought feedback? If not, why? If yes, was the feedback constructive? How are you feeling? Share with us.

Open Letter to the Ontario Task Force on Dietetic Education and Practical Training

Dear Members of the Task Force,


According to your communication in November 2010, you indicated that a final report would be completed and shared by March 31, 2011. It is now April 20 - almost three weeks has passed without hearing anything from you regarding a proposed new model of education and training. 


You also indicated that you would be seeking input, but to our knowledge no students have been consulted. We would be hard pressed to understand why students have not been consulted since we are central to the education process. If students have been consulted, please let us know. Have interns been consulted? They are also key figures in this process with immediate experience as to how the education and internship model might be enhanced.


It seems to be common knowledge among those that are privy to insider information, that students will be consulted by the Task Force. In iSAD email conversation, one of the program Dean's stated that "The task force has the interests of the students at heart and it will provide opportunities for student input." We don't know how that Dean arrived at that conclusion, but we hope it is true. Until we hear otherwise, we can only wait.


What we would propose however, instead of waiting, is for the Task Force to arrange a town hall type meeting organized at each of the four Ontario universities where students (and interns) could come together to hear about the work of the Task Force to date. We would suggest that such a town hall would be open only to students/interns in order for them to feel free to speak openly about their experiences and responses to information being shared by the Task Force.


So, we are looking for an indication from you, Task Force members, that our voice counts as you reconsider the education and training processes that impact our path to becoming dietitians. 


On behalf of all Ontario food and nutrition/dietetics students as well as interns, we ask you for any information whatsoever of what your work has produced and we would be happy to provide feedback from our perspectives.


Sincerely,
iSAD

Another Influence to the Dietetic Landscape

E-mail received from anonymouslytoisad@gmail.com   

Many students decide to do a Masters degree when they do not obtain an internship position within a Hospital program. Several Masters programs actually combine an MSc degree with a dietetic internship. This is the new alternative way to go about becoming a dietitian.

Now, more than ever, there are more interns and dietitians with Masters degrees. How are these dietitians to be treated – like advanced practice dietitians? Should they be compensated differently? Be promoted to leadership roles, despite having little real-world experience? Perhaps maybe internship should be a two year MSc degree/or a 5 year undergraduate/Masters degree with a practicum component. This would be similar to other professions (i.e. speech language pathologists), which is a totally different model for dietetic training not yet suggested. Not that I personally think it is better, but it is another option.

Based on the current availability of combined MSc training programs, I think eventually there may be two tiers of dietitians: those with graduate degrees and those without. I’m interested to know what students and dietitians think about how these programs are going to influence the dietetic landscape.

We've Come a Long Way

In one month, the iSAD blog and twitter feed have registered:

5200 page views – 183 comments – 80 twitter followers – 47 tweets – 20 posts – 1 poll

The conversation has moved from a sharing of impact statements to a sharing of ideas for improving the current system. Along the way, many misperceptions have been aired out – iSAD blog visitors have enthusiastically informed each other of the realities of being a student, intern, preceptor, coordinator, and educator. Students are not spoiled, entitled brats. Interns work really hard and learn lots. Preceptors lack adequate time to spend with interns. Internship coordinators are feeling pressured by an overwhelming large number of applicants for an underwhelming small number of positions. Educators are facing increasing enrollments and accreditation demands.

The blog has not registered a post or comment explicitly from Dietitians of Canada or the Task Force, although all have been informed of its existence. This is unfortunate. Their voices and representation are missed, but always welcome.

There are clearly issues with the internship system, which we have demarcated as beginning with being a student to completing an internship placement. We have noticed that while blaming individuals was the initial, hurtful response, we can certainly see that people have mostly shifted into identifying structural changes that can enhance the education and training of future members of the dietetics profession.

We have even had calls for renaming the blog. We have considered and discussed this request very carefully. While we acknowledge and applaud a move away from only being “sad,” and towards constructive, collective brainstorming, it is more important to remember that the sadness and hurt is what motivated the blog to be created and what enabled students a safe place to share their feelings – FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! This blog will continue to provide that space for the emotional stories AND will promote constructive and collaborative moves forward. Both can happen without neglecting or diminishing the other. We hope that internshipSeasonalAffectiveDisorder motivates and reminds us to strive for making improvements to the system.

For people who want to RANT, you are welcome to it. Just let it out, spill your feelings. Anonymously. Tell *your* truth. Don't be silent about how the current system has affected YOU and the people that care about you.

For people who want to put forward ideas in support of change – all ideas are worthy of consideration – please feel free to post or comment everywhere else. We will still accept posts from the anonymouslytoisad@gmail.com and from theprojectisad@gmail.com email portals.

We wish this to be a place that registers and promotes an historic change in the way internships are done in Ontario. We are pleased so many of you are bearing witness to these changes. We hope that more of you will feel free to share your stories, your ideas, and your hopes for a better future. We believe this better future is possible and within our grasp. We want to see that future arrive very soon.

The truth about integrated internship programs

The following entry came to us via our iSAD Anonymous e-mail. 

Thank you very much for submitting your story.

I keep reading this blog hoping that someone will say something about the students like me who have been left out of this conversation so far.  I guess it’s up to me. I have wanted to be a dietitian since I was 12 years old. My dad got sick and I got to see how a dietitian helped him get better. From that moment on I wanted to be a dietitian. 

I did my homework and decided that my best chance was to go to an “integrated” program – I won’t say which one. So I applied and got in. What I didn’t know then was that being accepted in the program didn’t mean that I was on my way to make my dream come true.  Once I was in the program, I had to apply AGAIN to become one of the chosen few who would actually have the chance to do an integrated internship and become a dietitian.  I studied incredibly hard, volunteered for four different dietitians, and worked as a diet tech.  Nobody wanted this more than me.  It turned out that there were only a small number of internships available in the “integrated” program and that there were at least three times as many applicants as there were internships.  But I had done everything I possibly could to show how much I wanted to be a dietitian and I knew it was the right path for me....... I didn’t get in.  I couldn’t believe it.  It was so wrong. I asked the university why I didn’t get in – they said that they didn't have enough internship positions for all of their “qualified” students.  UNBELIEVABLE.  I had to finish my degree taking classes with those lucky few students who got those precious internship spots. That was hell.  After four years together, they went on to do their internships in their 5th year and the rest of us – and there were lots of us – graduated and were left to fend for ourselves.   I still work as a diet tech. I still want to be a dietitian, but there is no way for me to do this.  I think it's time someone told the truth about integrated internship programs on this blog.

I see job postings for dietitians all the time.   I don’t think it matters which kind of program you graduate from, I think the question we should be asking is

“Why aren’t there enough internship positions?”

If anyone else would like to send e-mails anonymously:

Log into: anonymouslytoisad@gmail.com           

Password: isadisad

Send your questions or statements or comments directly to: theprojectisad@gmail.com
We will post it the way it is written. We will use your title, or if there is no title we will use a sentence from your entry. The more stories we have the more complete a picture we can see. We invite all students from 1st to 4th year, master students, interns, RDs, and anyone else who would like to contribute, from Ontario and outside of Ontario to participate in our conversation. Your voice is needed. 

Survey/Poll

Please take a moment to answer the survey located at the bottom of this page. We will periodically post questions regarding topics from the discussions in this blog.

If you have any suggestions for questions, or additional comments on the questions asked, please post them here.

The first question is in regards to the preferred model of dietetic/nutrition education. We appreciate your participation!

Thank you,

The iSAD Team

Brainstorming Session for Different Models

We are eager to work collaboratively on brainstorming ideas for different models. Any idea counts in this post. We will collate the ideas and share them with the Task Force and any other groups our readers suggest. Thank you!
--iSAD
~~~~~~


Okay, so now we are going someplace.

What characteristics would students like to see in a different model? Realistic or not... 

Write in positive words/phrases so that we do not offend anyone entity/being.
If you have a hard time with this which is understandable... emotions can play alot. write it out on a piece of paper then bring them together and post.

Looking forward to having this discussion.

From iSAD Anynomous

This e-mail came to us from our anonymous e-mail address, anonymouslytoisad@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Each voice counts.
 
Hello,

Even though you promise to keep my identity a secret, I am still nervous to share my ideas. This separate email helps. Thanks. I wouldn't have commented otherwise.

OK. I am currently a RD, just new. I was one of those who was told that I should tone down my looks before my interviews. Keep my hair tied back in a low pony tail, no lipstick or mascara, simple suit. From what I have read on the blog, students can be under-qualified, over-qualified, too pretty, too entitled, and too spoiled. This seems quite unfair. Really unfair. 

Now that I am a dietitian working in clinical practice as my first job, I have started to question if this job was everything I thought it would be. My colleagues are really great and the patients are appreciative for the most part, but the actual work is pretty mundane. Maybe I need a change or I am just tired after going through the whole undergrad and internship process (not integrated, btw). It feels anti-climatic sorta.

Anyway, I wanted to share, so others didn't feel so alone. This blog has helped me to feel more connected to my peers, strangely, when I read their stories. I feel for you. I feel for all of us.


To send e-mails anonymously:

Log into: anonymouslytoisad@gmail.com           

Password: isadisad

Send your questions or statements or comments directly to: theprojectisad@gmail.com

 

Are we qualified yet?

What we are required to do?

• B to B+ GPA
• “Relevant” work and volunteering experience in clinical, foodservice, community nutrition
• Leadership, self-direction, teamwork, motivation, ability to work independently, communication skills, effective critical thinking, word processing and computer skills, flexibility, good judgment, time management

What do we do?

• Sacrificed pay to volunteer 260-780 hours a year
• Searched and pursued volunteer positions independently
• Worked part to full-time while in school
• Worked as a dietary aid (washed dishes in hair net and scrubs)
• Was unable to work for years
• Spent hundreds of dollars on sending internship packages
• Lived for 4 years without pay
• Attained a higher than a 3.0 GPA
• Networked with dietitians
• Sucked up to dietitians and professors 
• Endured disrespectful treatment while volunteering
• Spent an extra course worth of time preparing internship packages (~72 hours)
• Lost my friends 
• Isolated myself from those who do not understand what we’re going through
• Led research projects
• Started a club
• Wrote weekly articles on nutrition and health issues for a student newspaper
• Took extra courses outside of school (leadership, professional development, public speaking)
• Lost hours and hours of sleep
• Sought career counseling
• Inserted 5 spaces between my name and signature on cover letter
• Spent $500 on an interview outfit
• Sought psychological counseling
• Applied for OSAP, various scholarships, and loans during undergrad
• Compromised my mental, physical and emotional health
• Published an article in a peer-reviewed journal
• Paid $60 to park for interviews
• Asked for numerous references
• Became members of numerous professional associations, including DC (which cost $100 each year!!)
• Cared for a family member while being in school 
• Attended Internship Forums since 1st year
• Attended stress management classes 
• Missed family events to volunteer or study to get an A+
• Applied and won academic awards
• Pursued an additional degree, minors, certificates, additional majors
• Balanced school, volunteer and work, social, self(?)
• Worked abroad
• Compromised my physical and emotional 
• Compromised my diet to be able to afford to volunteer with a dietitian and not being able work
• Waited…

What have you done to get the internship?

Anonymous Emails and Communication

Dear readers,

It has come to our attention that some of you may be concerned about the anonymity of submitting and/or posting on our blog.  We want to encourage your participation, because we believe that change can only happen when people come together.  To ensure that this is a safe place, we have set up an anonymous email address that you may log into and send questions and impact statements directly to our iSAD account anonymously.  This way you can avoid revealing your identity even to the iSAD group, if this is a concern to you.

Here are the instructions:

Log into: anonymouslytoisad@gmail.com           

Password: isadisad

Send your questions or statements directly to: theprojectisad@gmail.com

Remember, this blog is for you.  And your voice matters in facilitating change. We look forward to your contribution.

iSAD

iSAD is....

The following question was posted as a comment, we felt the answer deserved a separate post. 


Q: What does the non-integrated internship process entail? Consider the big picture: applying to a DC-accredited undergraduate program, volunteering, working, studying, completing the degree, applying for internship, being qualified and getting lucky enough to get that internship, and then completing the internship.

Did I miss anything?

Owners of this blog, are you suggesting all of these stages when you say iSAD is about the "internship?" Or do you just mean the actual 40-50 week internship?

Please clarify for the confused among us.


A: Thank you for your inquiry. iSAD is concerned with the lasting impact of the current dietetic education and training model in Ontario, which is not limited to the internship, but spans the whole model from enrollment into an undergraduate program to graduating from an internship program and everything that happens in between.