SCOPE AND STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
Scope of practice in nutrition and dietetics encompasses the range of roles, activities, laws and regulations within which nutrition and dietetics practitioners perform. For credentialed practitioners, scope of practice is typically established within the practice act and interpreted and controlled by the agency or board that regulates the practice of the profession in a given state.
The Standards of Practice (SOP) and Standards of Professional Performance (SOPP) are intended for use by credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners to assess their individual performance and determine if their practice is meeting the level of competence needed to assure safe, equitable, and quality practice for person-centered care and delivery of services. As a part of the Scope of Practice, the SOP and SOPP are tools for credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners that describe competent levels of practice. The SOP in nutrition care relates to direct care of individuals and the SOPP focuses on domains of professional performance. They serve as guides for self-evaluation and to determine the education and skills needed to advance a practitioner’s level of practice. Although not regulations, the standards may be used by regulatory and accreditation agencies to determine competency for credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners.
- Scope and Standards for the RDNs and NDTRs Collection
- Scope of Practice Decision Algorithm
- Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Why Do Practitioners Need to Read the Revised 2017 Scope/Standards Documents?
- History: Timeline of Scope and Standards Published
- Common Credentials held by RDNs and NDTRs
Each of the Scope or Standards learning modules are divided into two parts and include an informative webinar and case studies illustrating application of the information that offers an opportunity to earn a continuing professional education credit for each. After watching both parts of each learning module, submit the Critical Thinking Skills form and take a short quiz to earn 1.0 CPEU.
- Scope Learning Module
- Part 1: What Every RDN and NDTR Practitioner Needs to Know
- Part 2: Case Studies for RDNs and NDTRs
- Scope of Practice Learning Module Critical Thinking Skills Form and CPEU Quiz
- Standards Learning Module
- Part 1: Guiding RDN and NDTR Practitioner Competence and Advancement
- Part 2: Case Studies for RDNs and NDTRs
- Standards of Practice Learning Module Critical Thinking Skills Form and CPEU Quiz
Focus Area Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance are tools used by RDNs for self-assessment, professional development and advancement of practice. Learn more by reviewing articles from the Journal collections, or the available Highlights below.
Focus Area Standards with CDR Specialist Credentials Journal Collection
- Adult Weight Management
- Article
- Highlights
- Nephrology Nutrition (Joint Publication with the National Kidney Foundation)
- Article
- Highlights
- Oncology Nutrition
- Article
- Highlights
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Article
- Highlights
- Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Nutrition
- Article
- Highlights
- Sports and Human Performance Nutrition
- Article
- Highlights
Focus Area Standards for RDNs Journal Collection
- Clinical Nutrition Management (SOPP only)
- Article
- Highlights
- Diabetes Care
- Article
- Highlights
- Eating Disorders
- Article
- Highlights
- Education of Nutrition and Dietetics Practitioners (SOPP only)
- Article
- Highlights
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Article
- Highlights
- Management of Food and Nutrition Systems (SOPP only)
- Article
- Highlights
- Mental Health and Addictions
- Article
- Highlights
- Nutrition in Integrative and Functional Medicine
- Article
- Highlights
- Nutrition Support (Joint Publication with the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition)
- Article
- Highlights
- Public Health and Community Nutrition
- Article
- Highlights
- Sustainable, Resilient, and Healthy Food and Water Systems (SOPP only)
- Article
- Highlights