RD Exam Made Easy Podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, you'll get a review of common nutrition related medications. There are so many medications to be aware of but some have a bigger impact on nutrition than others. So this episode will go over some of the medications that not only will help you with the exam but will also help you in your career as a Registered Dietitian.  This review is for educatio...

We live in a diverse world with many different cultures and religions. Several religions follow religious dietary practices. Knowing these dietary practices shows respect and inclusivity for people from all backgrounds. It's also helpful to know this information if you work in a hospital or in foodservice where you have oversight of the menu provided to patients.  These are the religious dietary p...

In this weeks episode, you'll get a review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and hear about 5 areas in the world known as Blue Zones.  You'll also hear a story about a dear friend who knew the power of nutrition for healing. Food is medicine. This is nothing new, especially to dietitians. Hippocrates said in 400 BC: "Let medicine be thy food and let food be thy medicine". The story I...

Get ready to learn all about foodservice and tray delivery systems. My guest this week is Kendra Stoen, a Registered Dietitian with years of experience working in foodservice. She's also a good friend and has a lot of great stories - several she shares on this episode.  If you're not be exposed to all the different foodservice systems in your internship, this episode will fill in the gaps.  Whethe...

In this episode, you'll learn about the ebb and flow phase following injury and the metabolic response to trauma. You just might be asked a question like this on the RD Exam and if so, I got you covered.  Learning about this during my clinical rotation as an intern was one of the best lessons and prepared me for my role as a trauma dietitian. I wanted to share a case study and explain the ebb and...

Vitamins are oh so important but there's a LOT to learn. This episode breaks down the vitamins. The goal is to simplify vitamins so it's easier to remember the unique properties of each of these incredible micronutrients.  This is what you'll learn in this episode: The difference between fat soluble and water soluble vitamins A review of the fat soluble vitamins (ADEK) and some stories that make t...

In this weeks episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, you'll get a review of nutrition during pregnancy. In particular, you'll learn about the recommended weight gain during pregnancy as well as the recommended amount of calories and protein needed to promote a healthy pregnancy.  There's a lot of vitamins and minerals (the micronutrients). You'll get a review of some of the important ones durin...

This weeks episode was requested by a listener and current RD2Be studying for the RD Exam. You're gonna learn about dumping syndrome. This is a condition that affects people who've had GI surgeries. Fortunately, as dietitians, we can have a big impact on improving patients quality of life who are struggling with this condition.  I use a case study and review a story to reinforce concepts covered i...

Refeeding Syndrome is a condition that affects patients who have gone long periods of time without adequate nutrition or have malnutrition.  This episode breaks down refeeding syndrome so you'll be prepared to answer any questions that may show up on the RD Exam. But more than that, if you find yourself working with people at risk of refeeding syndrome, you'll know what it is and how to approach n...

In this episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, you'll learn about the Exchange List. This trusted tool is extremely helpful. You'll learn a general overview as well as a step-by-step breakdown of the exchanges. I also walk you through how to create a exchange list table for you to reference whenever you need it.  Writing things out is very helpful when studying for a big exam like the RD Exam. ...

In this weeks episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, you're gonna learn about the "Acts" - government acts that is. This episode was requested by a listener like you.  There's a lot of government acts but this episode reviews some of the most common ones regarding working conditions and expectations. I made a FREE cheat sheet for you that summarizes these laws. Download your cheat sheet here an...

Fire Safety and knowing how to protect yourself and others is something everyone should know. If you're a manager, you're responsible for making sure your staff understand how to stay safe at work - that includes Fire Safety.  In this episode, you'll learn: What RACE and PASS mean with regards to fire safety The different types of fire extinguishers What to do with food if the sprinklers are activ...

Case studies, stories, and learning from others are the best ways to learn which is why I decided to break down Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) through case study reviews.  Imagine never feeling full or satisfied. That's exactly what people with Prader-Willi Syndrome experience.  In this episode, I review this genetic condition that affects chromosome 15. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: What...

Studying for the RD Exam (or any exam for that matter) can be overwhelming and time consuming. It's much easier when you know what to expect and where you're going.  In this episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, you'll learn some helpful studying and test taking tips to help you feel empowered and ready to tackle the exam - the last hurdle before you can use the "RD" or "RDN" credential.  This...

Motivational Interviewing is a communication style to help people achieve their desired goals. It helps the individual overcome discrepancies and barriers in their life that interfere with the ability to get to where they want to be.  It's a client-centered approach used by dietitians to help their clients/patients meet their desired goals.  Not only does Motivational Interviewing help the client,...

The Nutrition Care Process or NCP is the process dietitians follow when documenting in the medical record. There are 4 steps to the Nutrition Care Process: Nutrition Assessment (A) Nutrition Diagnosis (D)  Nutrition Intervention (I) Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) These steps guide your documentation. The note format is called ADIME. In this episode, you'll learn:  The difference between...

Common roles in management are fair game on the RD exam. Dietitians often take on leadership and management roles therefore you have to understand the basics. This episode focuses on some everyday management responsibilities. In this episode, you'll learn: What job descriptions are, how they're used in the workplace, and the role they play in the recruitment process The different types of work sch...

Case Studies are the best way to put concepts into practice. That's exactly what we're doing in this episode.  Hyperthyroidism and Chronic Kidney Disease are two conditions that might pop up on the RD exam. Working in dietetics, they're also conditions you might come across more often which is why you should know the impact it has on an individual. Plus, many people have more than one medical cond...

Dietitians have a very important role in so many areas of nutrition. Keeping food safe is key when working in food service and one of the best ways to keep food safe is by following a HACCP plan.  The RD Exam is an exam that covers the vast areas of nutrition to make sure dietitians have a basic, entry-level knowledge in nutrition. Food safety and HACCP are fair game on the exam.  In this episode,...

Management theories and leadership styles are fair game on the RD exam. They're also good to know as you start your career as a Registered Dietitian.  This episode covers the differences between autocratic, democratic and bureaucratic leadership styles as well as Mintzberg's Managerial Theory.  No matter what you end up doing, whether you work for someone and have a boss or you own a company and a...

In this episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, you'll learn all about Nutrition Screening Tools. The role of the dietitian is so incredibly important. Having a screening tool in place helps identify patient's who are at high risk of malnutrition.  Your work as a dietitian matters. And to make things a little easier for you, I created a cheat sheet summarizing these tools for you. Get your free...

It's Q&A Tuesday where I break down questions to help you prepare for the RD Exam. This episode not only gives you the answer a fellow interns question, I also show you step by step how to break down questions using critical thinking skills that you can use when taking any exam.  The question today looks at 4 different conditions to determine which one is primarily dependent on diet modification....

Nutrition support is one of those topics that can be confusing for dietetic interns and new dietitians.  This episode clarifies the difference between tube feeding (enteral nutrition) and parenteral nutrition by breaking down key aspects of each type of nutrition support. While the abbreviations "TF" and "TPN" both start with the same letter, it doesn't mean they're the same.  Nutrition support qu...

Lactation and Human Milk is not only a topic that might show up on the RD Exam but it's also something that dietitians should have a basic understanding of especially if you want to work with moms and pediatrics. Even more than that, as dietitians, being an advocate for breastfeeding gives new moms the support they need while ensuring infants are getting the best nutrition.  When human milk isn't...

Learn why and how to create a study schedule that will keep you on track so you feel ready to pass the RD exam.  My process for creating a study schedule will help you stay focussed and motivated to keep going.  After you listen to this episode, you'll have everything you need to get started with your personalized study schedule. And to make things even easier for you, get your free copy on how to...