The University of New Mexico Dietetic Internship aims to develop culturally competent, entry-level registered dietitians who are qualified to practice in the field of dietetics. The UNM DI has a clinical concentration and provides the experience needed to manage patients in a clinical setting, as well as foodservice management, community, and research areas of dietetics. The experience I gained during the 9 month dietetic internship helped me acquire critical thinking and decision making skills needed in both acute and ambulatory settings. I am confident and well prepared to apply the Nutrition Care Process to any area of dietetics I practice.
2019/2020 was an unforgettable time for the internship as it took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Near the end of my internship, the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics temporarily reduced the required supervised practice hours from 1,200 to 1,000 due to widespread suspension of supervised practice at clinical sites and stay at home orders across the country. Preceptors increasingly weren’t taking on new interns and it was a very difficult time for everyone to complete their rotations. Thankfully, I was able to finish my internship 3 weeks early with 1,137 hours so I had more than the required hours and a few extra weeks to study for the CDR RD Exam.
Please click on the underlined links below to view my experience with each rotation.
Hannah Contrucci, MS, RDN, LD 