Is Being a Nutrition Nurse Right for You?
A nutrition nurse is a healthcare professional at the forefront of battling the root causes of some of the deadliest diseases affecting Americans. From diabetes to heart disease, the consequences of poor dietary choices are serious. In the U.S., 42% of adults are obese, 96 million are prediabetic, and heart disease remains the leading cause of death. Nutrition nurses tackle these challenges by developing tailored dietary plans to help patients heal and feel their best.
If you have a passion for nursing and nutrition, this career might be a great fit for you. Keep reading to learn everything about this role — responsibilities, salary expectations, and steps you need to take to join this specialty.
What Is a Nutrition Nurse?
A nurse nutritionist is a healthcare specialist who combines nursing expertise with the knowledge of nutrition and dietetics. You’ll work with individuals who require dietary management of various health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and Phenylketonuria (PKU).
Additionally, a big chunk of your work in this field involves preventative care — educating the public about the role of nutrition in preventing diseases.
Wondering who your typical patient might be? In this field, you may encounter:
- Individuals with diabetes, hypertension, and other nutrition-sensitive conditions.
- Patients with gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease).
- Older adults with malnutrition.
- Patients needing nutritional therapies such as tube feedings or intravenous feedings.
- Post-surgery patients.
- Athletes recovering from sport injuries.
- People with food allergies or intolerances.
- Patients with disordered eating.
What Does a Nutrition Nurse Do?
In addition to performing standard nursing tasks like head-to-toe assessments, your work responsibilities can include:
- Conducting focused nutritional assessments to evaluate a patient’s dietary needs.
- Creating tailored diet plans based on the patient’s medical history and treatment goals.
- Monitoring enteral nutrition regimens for patients receiving tube feedings.
- Administering parenteral nutrition solutions for patients unable to tolerate oral or enteral nutrition.
- Interpreting laboratory values, such as albumin, prealbumin, and electrolyte levels.
- Providing education on dietary modifications, meal planning, and lifestyle changes.
- Monitoring for food and medication interactions.
How Much Does a Nutrition Nurse Make?
The typical nutrition nurse salary in the U.S. is $70,239. Your earning potential as a nurse hinges on factors like experience, facility type, and education. And don’t forget location — it can really make a difference. Here are the top-paying states for nurses:
The Pros and Cons of Nutrition Nursing
Being a nurse nutritionist comes with its own set of unique challenges and rewards. Here are some pros and cons associated with this profession.
Pros of nutrition nursing:
- Meaningful impact: You’ll be able to help people look and feel better.
- Diverse opportunities: You’ll be able to work in various settings like hospitals, clinics, schools, and community centers.
- Flexibility: You may be able to enjoy flexibility in work schedules, including part-time, freelance, or remote work options.
- Career growth: You’ll be able to advance your career, including specialization in areas such as pediatric, geriatric, or sports nutrition.
- Personal health: You’ll continually learn valuable information about healthy lifestyle choices, which you can apply to improve your own health and well-being.
Cons of nutrition nursing:
- Workload variability: Your workload can fluctuate, leading to periods of high intensity and stress.
- Scope limitations: Your scope of practice may be restricted compared to dietitians, limiting certain interventions.
- Salary disparity: Your salary may be low compared to other nursing specialties.
- Resistance to change: You’ll encounter patients who may be resistant to dietary modifications, making it challenging to achieve desired health outcomes.
- Emotional toll: You’ll need to prioritize self-care, since witnessing patients’ struggles with chronic conditions can be emotionally taxing and may lead to burnout.
How to Become a Nurse Nutritionist
Entering this specialty involves specific steps, including meeting educational requirements and gaining relevant experience. Here’s a guide on how to get started:
1. Get a Nursing Degree
Start with obtaining a nursing degree — either an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) — from an accredited nursing program. Keep in mind that you may need to take prerequisite courses before your nursing education can begin.
2. Obtain a License
The next step after completing your nursing program is to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed registered nurse (RN). Learn about the most recent version of the NCLEX exam here.
3. Gain Experience
Acquire clinical experience as a registered nurse. You’ll be able to work in a range of healthcare settings, such as
- Acute care facilities
- Ambulatory care centers
- Community health organizations
- Corporate wellness programs
- Home healthcare agencies
- Long-term care facilities
- Schools and universities
4. Pursue Nutrition Nurse Certification (Optional)
Earning a nutrition certification for nurses demonstrates dedication to staying updated on best practices and gives you a competitive edge on the job market. Various certifications are available, tailored to different specialties and career paths:
- American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC)
- Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC)
- Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)
- Certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist (CKNS)
- Certified Nutritional Genomics Specialist (CNGS)
Career Growth Opportunities for Nutrition Nurses
There are several options if you’re hoping to advance your career in this field:
- Specialization: Choose a specialty area, such as parenteral nutrition or eating disorders. This can be done by pursuing additional certification, taking continuing education classes, and attending relevant workshops and nursing conferences.
- Advanced education: Pursue advanced education, like a master of nursing in nutrition and dietetics, a master of science in nursing (MSN) in a different specialty, or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree. Alternatively, you can become a nurse practitioner.
- Education career: Share your knowledge and experience by transitioning into an educational role, guiding aspiring nurses to become nutrition specialists.
- Leadership roles: You can pursue leadership roles in your organization, such as nurse manager or clinical nurse leader.
Frequently Asked Questions: Nutrition Nursing
Registered dietitian vs. nutrition nurse: What’s the difference?
Registered dietitians typically hold a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, dietetics, or a related field, followed by completion of a supervised dietetic internship and passing a national registration examination. On the other hand, nutrition nurses are registered nurses who specialize in taking care of patients with complex dietary needs.
How long does it take to become a nurse nutritionist?
Becoming a nurse nutritionist can take anywhere from two to four years. The fastest way to become a nurse is to pursue an ADN program, which typically takes two years. Pursuing a BSN degree and additional certification will extend the timeline, but can increase your job options.
How can I make more money as a nurse in this field?
There are many ways you can boost your nursing income. First, consider picking up extra work on the side and learning financial management basics. Additionally, as a nurse nutritionist you can explore entrepreneurship opportunities, such as meal delivery service for patients struggling with hypertension or other health conditions.
What barriers do patients face in following nutritional recommendations?
Patients deal with a range of challenges when trying to stick to nutritional recommendations, such as financial limitations, cultural food preferences, time constraints, and emotional eating habits. As a nurse, your role involves more than providing dietary plans; you’ll also assist your patients in overcoming these obstacles on their journey to embracing healthier lifestyles.
What are helpful resources for nutrition nurses?
As a nutrition nurse it’s important to read evidence-based guidelines from reputable sources such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to inform your practice and decision-making. Additionally, you can consider joining professional organizations like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) to gain access to networking opportunities and updates on industry trends.
What is the job outlook for nutrition nurses?
The overall job outlook for registered nurses, which includes those in nutrition nursing, is projected to grow by 6% in the next decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Ready to Become a Nutrition Nurse?
Ready to join this meaningful specialty or explore other nursing opportunities? Find out how IntelyCare can match you with nursing jobs that align with your goals.