Leveling Up: Innovative Dietetic Practice Placement Opportunities
If you're a student dietitian or University looking for diverse, innovative placement opportunities, you’ve come to the right place! Over the last few months, we've had the pleasure of hosting several student dietitians in various practice placements, offering them a taste of what it’s like to work in a variety of dietetic settings. From education and leadership placements to virtual clinical simulations, our placements provide rich, multifaceted learning experiences that help students build their skills, knowledge, and confidence.
Education & Leadership Placement: MSc Dietetics Year 2 Students
This summer, we welcomed two Year 2 MSc students for an education and leadership placement, where they immersed themselves in a range of projects. This placement allowed them to dive into the roles dietitians play in education, from applying educational theories to creating valuable content for dietetic careers.
One of the projects they found most exciting was organizing the PENG student webinar. Collaborating with the PENG student representative and educational lead officer, they
decided to focus on malnutrition, aiming to arm students with essential knowledge about malnutrition and nutrition support strategies—particularly relevant given the current cost-of-living crisis.
Learner Feedback:
One of our students Agatha wrote a blog post on her placement experience.
Peer Enhanced E-Placement (PEEP): MSc Dietetics Year 1 Students
Our Peer Enhanced E-Placement (PEEP) is a unique, virtual placement model that offers students the chance to develop their skills in nutritional analysis, behavior change, and communication through digital platforms. This placement focuses on building case management skills through group projects, presentations, and virtual consultations that simulate real-life dietetic scenarios.
Over two weeks, student dietitians worked on individual and group tasks, from conducting patient interviews to applying behavior change techniques in virtual clinics. They also collaborated to develop content like podcasts and social media posts, helping them hone their communication skills in a digital environment.
The peer learning aspect of PEEP gave students the responsibility for their own learning while encouraging constructive feedback, collaboration, and the sharing of ideas.
Student Feedback from PEEP
Our evaluations over the years show overwhelmingly positive responses from learners, with 100% recommending the placement. Here’s what some of the students had to say:
“The PEEP placement was incredibly useful in preparing for NHS placements, allowing me to practice the process of collecting evidence and reflecting on my learning.”
“It’s a great introduction to the world of dietetic placements and provides a safe space to practice skills like consultations and patient assessment.”
“The peer element was so valuable—I learned just as much from my fellow students as I did from the placement itself.”
“The PEEP placement was very useful for developing my teamwork and communication skills.”
There is of course always room for improvement & we use our constructive feedback from students to further develop the PEEP opportunity for future cohorts!
What Student Practice Based Learning Opportunities Do We Offer?
We pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of placement opportunities tailored to different aspects of dietetic practice. Here’s a look at some of the experiences we provide:
Freelance & Tele-health: Students gain first-hand experience working alongside freelance dietitians, including those who deliver patient care virtually. They also have the opportunity to create digital resources and manage social media platforms.
Education & Research: These placements give students insight into the educational and research roles of dietitians working in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Students apply teaching and educational theory to practical settings.
Simulated Placements: Through virtual clinical settings, students can explore simulated dietetic scenarios, gaining digital skills and real-life practice experience.
Leadership Placements: Leadership is a crucial pillar of dietetic practice, and these placements focus on developing students’ leadership skills through hands-on experience.
Peer Learning/Collaborative Placements: In a virtual setting, students work together on projects like presentations, podcasts, and simulated dietetic clinics, giving peer feedback and completing tasks designed to meet their learning outcomes.
Project Placements: These placements involve students completing impactful projects, either as part of a supervisor-led initiative or as a standalone group effort.
Our practice placements offer student dietitians a well-rounded, comprehensive experience, helping them prepare for clinical practice while developing crucial skills in leadership, communication, and collaboration. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your dietetic skills or explore new areas of dietetic practice, our placements provide the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in a supportive environment.
Looking for a placement that challenges you and helps you grow as a dietitian? Get in touch with us today to learn more about our upcoming opportunities!
