Monday I had the day off, meaning I didn't have to go anywhere, but there was work to be done. I used the day to catch up on folders and evaluations and to get my car's air conditioning fixed again.
Tuesday I went to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen. It is a small 80-bed hospital about 20 miles north of Dallas. My preceptor at Allen is the one and only dietitian on staff there. She sees all the outpatients and inpatients as well as gets involved in the community. I did a few assessments and a diabetes education on patients.
Wednesday and Thursday I was with an outpatient radiation oncology dietitian at Dallas. She is only there two days a week and catches patients as they are arriving or leaving from radiation. I was surprised to learn that many radiation clinics don't offer the services of a dietitian. A dietitian plays a huge role in the success of cancer treatment by helping with symptom and side effect management. Some side effects of radiation and chemotherapy include: loss of appetite, changes in sense of taste and smell, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, nausea, sore mouth, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and weight loss. During this time a patient can eat whatever they want as long as the can tolerate it. If they can't get enough calories by eating, tube feeding may be required. One of my assignments is to taste-test and evaluate two nutritional supplements. One is a vanilla flavored powder for weight gain. It says to mix with milk. I'm going to try mixing it with orange juice and hope that it tastes like a dreamsicle. All together it will equal 520 calories and 20 grams of fat, but only 8 grams of protein.
Friday was another day with the Allen dietitian. We spent the day in McKinney, TX at Collin College for their health fair. We had information on healthy eating, cholesterol, how to lower sodium in your diet, and tips for healthy grocery shopping. I was amazed by all the crazy questions that people had for me.
I spent the weekend resting up, baking, doing homework, and going for some longer runs...that 1/2 marathon is right around the corner!
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