Nutritionists and dietitians give advice on nutrition for treating specific conditions and can work in a variety of settings. Nutritionists can find employment in both the public and private sector. Some career opportunities for nutritionists require specific certification, such as the registered dietitian, or RD, certification.
Clinical Work
A clinical dietitian might be employed by a hospital or nursing home. She might work directly with the doctors and nurses to design meal plans for different patients and might work with a patient directly to give nutritional advice about how to eat for a specific medical condition. Clinical nutrition work might take place in an inpatient or outpatient setting. In most states, only a certified RD can work as a clinical dietitian.
Consultant
A nutritionist also might choose to open his own private consulting practice. This can be completely independent or affiliated with a hospital or doctor's office. A nutrition consultant often works with people who want to lose weight, offering advice and planning a menu to help the patient achieve his goals. Other private nutrition consultants specialize in patients with specific conditions or who fall into certain demographics, such as nutrition counseling for epileptic children or elderly patients with osteoporosis. Some nutrition consultants create their own opportunities by developing a specific diet plan, writing books about nutrition or becoming a public speaker.
Food Service
Some nutritionists work in the food service industry. In some cases, this means designing meal programs for organizations or institutions, such as schools, prisons, hospitals or senior centers. This type of nutritionist typically does not work directly with patients, but focuses instead on a general food plan that takes into account a large group of people. Other food service nutritionists might work for private companies, helping design new lines of food products.
Public Work
Nutritionists who work in the public sector might become involved in programs such as the Women, Infants and Children's Program, or WIC, and the Prenatal Care Assistance Program, PCAP. They also can work on community education initiatives, creating promotional materials about proper nutrition. A public service nutritionist also might give seminars or classes on proper nutrition for the general public or aimed at specific groups.
Nutrition Research
Someone with an undergraduate nutrition degree might choose to further her education and get an M.S. or Ph.D. degree. With higher education credentials, a nutritionist might choose to do research on nutrition instead of working directly with individuals or groups. A food researcher might find opportunities working at a university, research institute or private company.
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