CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR NUTRITION CPD: REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
‘Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an ongoing, structured combination of learning activities through which Registered Nutritionists maintain and extend their knowledge and skills for lifelong professional competence.’ (Association for Nutrition (AfN))
The amount of online CPD courses, e-learning events and webinars currently available is absolutely AMAZING, especially when so many are free of charge. However, it can sometimes feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to start.
CPD comes in many formats, from webinars and lectures, conferences and events to reading scientific journal articles or attending a talk from an expert. It can be delivered virtually or in person and be self-directed or as part of a structured course. This means you have to opportunity to be creative with your continued professional development as a nutritionist or dietitian.
Considering 2020 has been such a tech centric year with many interactions being moved online, it might be good to give yourself a break from the screen. But this doesn’t mean your professional development has to stop; reading is a great way to learn about a topic and gain insight.
WHAT’S THE KEY?
The essential aspect of nutrition CPD is reflective practice.
Reflective practice involves recording and evaluating what you have learned and importantly, identifying take home messages to influence your work going forward. Perhaps you have learned a new technique, become aware of nuances of a certain condition or gained expertise to allow you to deal with a wider variety of clients.
How to complete reflective practice:
DESCRIBE
What did you listen to, attend or read. What was the topic and how was it delivered?
THOUGHTS
What did you think about the topic and the information expressed?
EVALUATE
Assess some positives and negatives and compare opposing views.
RELEVANCE
How is this relevant to your practice or career in nutrition? Should you learn more on this topic?
ANALYSE
Analyse the conclusions you have drawn, what changes will you implement? How will this influence your practice going forward?
As a registered nutritionist, you should structure, document, evaluate and reflect upon your professional development keeping 3 important things in mind:
To remain safe to practice
To demonstrate commitment to your career
To enhance employment related knowledge, skills and understanding.
WHAT COUNTS AS CPD?
Reading nutrition related non-fiction books
Reading and annotating research papers
Listening to podcasts by an industry expert
Attending a conference or live event
Webinars led by other nutrition or medical professionals
Short courses
University modules
WHERE TO FIND APPROPRIATE CPD?
The AfN website is a great place to start. They have a list of endorsed CPD activities to choose from and AfN accredited courses.
These are a few of my favourite nutrition books by professionals in the nutritional science space:
Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison - Christy is an intuitive eating dietitian providing a radical alternative to diet culture in this book and her podcast, Food Psych.
Gut by Giulia Enders - this was the first nutrition book I read whilst studying my undergrad - absolutely loved it!
Re-Nourish: A Simple Way To Eat Well by Rhiannon Lambert - this book sets out the basics of nutrition in a few crystal clear chapters before diving into some delicious recipes. I love Rhiannon's approach to nutrition and the ethos of her Harley Street clinic.
Gene Eating by Giles Yeo - Giles is a geneticist at the University of Cambridge studying obesity and the brains control of food intake. Gene Eating unpicks the complex science of obesity and breaks it down into easy to digest chapters.
Thank you for reading this Nutrition Upon Tyne blog post on tips for nutrition CPD.
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Our article on Supporting Your Local Food Economy during lockdown may also be of interest to you!
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