Georgia Anderson - Region 4

Hello, my name is Georgia Anderson, and I am a Sodexo dietetic intern in region 4. 
 
I started my internship with a clinical rotation at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health in Hamilton, NJ.  This rotation was rewarding and educational and provided me with diverse experiences. This was my first clinical experience and it allowed me to utilize all of my prior learning and really make a difference in patients’ lives. Each patient’s health circumstances were unique, and I was able to learn how to individualize nutrition care for each patient while following the Nutrition Care Process.
 
A memorable experience that I had was being able to observe a barium swallow study with the speech language pathologists, to really understand what happens when a patient with dysphagia swallows and how important it is for nutrition intervention. This experience allowed me to develop an understanding of the various texture modified diets and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) framework. Another experience I had was observing and speaking with patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) on dialysis. This experience allowed me to understand why calorie, protein, and fluid needs are adjusted throughout the end stages of chronic kidney disease.
 
I have learned so much each day that I feel confident that my training will prepare me to start my career as a dietitian. I look forward to continuing my journey in the internship and will continue to learn, grow and develop my skills.

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