What skills does a dietetic technician need?

A dietetic technician needs 26 essential skills including hygiene in a health care setting, counselling methods, health care legislation, calculation of food energy, nutrition of healthy persons. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace dietetic technician jobs?

The AI disruption score for dietetic technician is 39/100 (moderate risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

HealthcareHealth associate professionalsISCO 3259

dietetic technician

Dietetic technicians assist dietitians in planning nutritional programmes and in planning menus for patients as part of an overall treatment plan under supervision of a dietitian. Under supervision of a dietitian, dietetic technicians assist dietitians in patient reviews, enteral feeding discharge planning, and clinical auditing which includes nutritional screening.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (26)

hygiene in a health care settinghygiene in a health care settingThe procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipmen...counselling methodscounselling methodsCounselling techniques used in different settings and with various groups and individuals, especially concerning methods of supervision and mediation in the counselling process.health care legislationhealth care legislationThe patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.calculation of food energycalculation of food energyThe summing up of the total energy of food by adding together the energy provided by the proteins, total fat, carbohydrates and dietary fibers contained in one meal or food product.nutrition of healthy personsnutrition of healthy personsThe type of nutrition needed for healthy individuals of all ages.composition of dietscomposition of dietsThe planning, selection, composition and manufacturing of diets for healthy and ill persons.food hygiene rulesfood hygiene rulesThe set of national and international regulations for hygiene of foodstuffs and food safety, e.g. regulation (EC) 852/2004.human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...medical informaticsmedical informaticsThe processes and tools used for the analysis and dissemination of medical data through computerized systems.food preservationfood preservationDeterioration factors, controlling factors (temperature, additives, humidity, pH, water activity, etc., including packaging) and food processing methods to preserve food products.dieteticsdieteticsThe human nutrition and dietary modification for optimising health in clinical or other environments. The role of nutrition in promoting health and preventing illness across the life spectrum.use e-health and mobile health technologiesuse e-health and mobile health technologiesUse mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.empathise with the healthcare userempathise with the healthcare userUnderstand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence...identify nutritional properties of foodidentify nutritional properties of foodIdentify the nutritional value of food, including proportion of fats, carbohydrates, sugars, vitamins. Label products appropriately if required.monitor stock levelmonitor stock levelEvaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.use food preparation techniquesuse food preparation techniquesApply food preparation techniques including the selecting, washing, cooling, peeling, marinating, preparing of dressings and cutting of ingredients.communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...educate healthcare users on nutritioneducate healthcare users on nutritionHelp healthcare users and caregivers with choosing meals from a modified therapeutic selective menu, explaining nutritional principles, dietary plans and diet modifications, food selection and prepara...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.plan patient menusplan patient menusPlan menus for patients according to the specified treatment plan.adhere to organisational guidelinesadhere to organisational guidelinesAdhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.work in a multicultural environment in health carework in a multicultural environment in health careInteract, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.prepare infant formulaeprepare infant formulaeMix infant formula with water following specified proportions.work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

Optional (9)

medical terminologymedical terminologyThe meaning of medical terms and abbreviations, of medical prescriptions and various medical specialties and when to use it correctly.geriatricsgeriatricsGeriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.obesityobesityThe causes, pathophysiology and effects on health of the excess of body fat.pedagogypedagogyThe discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.european food safety policyeuropean food safety policyAssurance of a high level of food safety within the EU through coherent farm-to-table measures and adequate monitoring, while ensuring an effective internal market. The implementation of this approach...store raw food materialsstore raw food materialsKeep in reserve raw materials and other food supplies, following stock control procedures.manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.use foreign languages in patient careuse foreign languages in patient careCommunicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.