Hello fellow interns, my name is Marisa Sloterdijk, and I am a region 10 intern in Houston, Texas. My internship experience has been nothing short of amazing and has really confirmed my passion for the field of dietetics. I am currently in my last 2 weeks of the internship and so excited to start my career as a Registered Dietitian.
Although I have completed many memorable experiences during my internship, my favorite and most challenging rotation yet has been my NICU/Leadership concentration. During my NICU rotations, I had the most incredible opportunity to be an intern for one of the largest NICUs in the Houston, Texas Medical Center with 2 amazing Advanced Neonatal Registered Dietitians as my preceptors. During my time in my NICU concentration, I learned the ins and outs of being a RD in the NICU. From daily rounding with the neonatologists to calculating and ordering TPN after TPN, I left this rotation feeling more prepared to become a NICU dietitian. My preceptors provided me with all the necessary resources to successfully navigate the NICU. I was challenged daily to use my critical thinking skills to determine the best nutrition plan for premature patients in the NICU.
My goal after completing the internship was to become an entry level NICU dietitian, and to my surprise I was offered a position as the NICU and rehabilitation dietitian at the hospital I completed my clinical and food service rotations at. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a job lined up once I complete the internship, doing exactly what I wanted to do as an entry level RD. Sodexo’s internship has exceeded my expectations in preparing me to be the best RD I can be, and I hope every future intern has the same experience!
Although I have completed many memorable experiences during my internship, my favorite and most challenging rotation yet has been my NICU/Leadership concentration. During my NICU rotations, I had the most incredible opportunity to be an intern for one of the largest NICUs in the Houston, Texas Medical Center with 2 amazing Advanced Neonatal Registered Dietitians as my preceptors. During my time in my NICU concentration, I learned the ins and outs of being a RD in the NICU. From daily rounding with the neonatologists to calculating and ordering TPN after TPN, I left this rotation feeling more prepared to become a NICU dietitian. My preceptors provided me with all the necessary resources to successfully navigate the NICU. I was challenged daily to use my critical thinking skills to determine the best nutrition plan for premature patients in the NICU.
My goal after completing the internship was to become an entry level NICU dietitian, and to my surprise I was offered a position as the NICU and rehabilitation dietitian at the hospital I completed my clinical and food service rotations at. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a job lined up once I complete the internship, doing exactly what I wanted to do as an entry level RD. Sodexo’s internship has exceeded my expectations in preparing me to be the best RD I can be, and I hope every future intern has the same experience!
