Can I have your firefighter job?

Sure can. I will give your name to the city as my replacement in a year. Sound good?

LOL,
S

Can you put OCTrigeek on the back of my turnouts?

Of course. The city bends over backwards for Firefighters. Not!
S

At least you have some city support... Out here they outsourced EMS so we all have to work for a private company now. No pension, almost no benefits, starting pay under $9/hr...

The University of Bridgeport in Conn. has a M.S. program in nutrition that is available online. If you wanted later to pursue a PHD you'd have to take their on campus program for the thesis part but if you're planning on stopping after the M.S. it is based mostly on course work on the online program.

Dietitians don't get any respect. There are too many "experts" like Suzanne Summers out there giving bad info. No one wants to listen to an RD (until it is too late, that is). RD's will tell them what they don't want to hear, like, no ther is no magic pill. I worked in Long term care and sub acute units for 7+ yrs. All the Dr's, nurses and specialists get all the credit and money. If you are a leader and a go getter, you can really do well as a nurse. There is a huge shortage of GOOD nurses. A decent sign on bonus will buy you a car.

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"injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" MLK

I just checked and the U of B program does not lead to the R.D. designation, so it may not be what you're looking for.

An RD you say? I went through a coordinated program so I finished all my classes and internship in two years so it wasn't too bad. I'm currently getting my Master's in Nutrition & Dietetics via distance education. My thoughts/advice:

1.) With a Bachelors in Finance, my guess would be that you do not meet the prereq requirements for entrance into a Masters program as you usually have to a.) have a nutrition degree or b.) have a science degree that contained some basic nutrition classes.

2.) Remember that even if you do an online Bachelors, you will still have to apply for an internship that typically lasts a year. And internships are competitive... I've met graduates who have waited 4-5 years before they get accepted into an internship. So that means that they aren't RDs either since they haven't taken the exam. Just something to keep in mind.

3.) If you are planning on going to Marketing/Advertising, you might make more money. But RDs around here don't get paid what they're worth. The money is certainly not a selling point.

4.) Even though my program is online, I've still run into scheduling difficulties. I've had classes that meet in online discussion/chat rooms at times that I wouldn't be able to make (different time zones and I had to work). One professor, didn't think that was her problem even though the class was meant for online/distance students. Result - I couldn't take the class I needed to that semester.

If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer them as I've gone through all of this...

"Dietitians don't get any respect. There are too many "experts" like Suzanne Summers out there giving bad info. ......RD's will tell them what they don't want to hear, like, no ther is no magic pill. "

You've hit the nail on the head. I've taught nutrition at the community college level part time. It amazes me how many people with no educational background in the subject still think they're experts because of some misinformation in some celebrity diet book (written by a ghostwriter). I imagine being an R.D. could get frustrating.

Very frustrating. It has taken the wind out of my sails. A sign of the times.

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"injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" MLK

Thanks for the advice so far.

Cerveloguy-
"The University of Bridgeport in Conn. has a M.S. program in nutrition that is available online. If you wanted later to pursue a PHD you'd have to take their on campus program for the thesis part but if you're planning on stopping after the M.S. it is based mostly on course work on the online program."
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I did see info. on the University of Bridgeport and will look into it. I am not necessarily set on becoming an RD. I am still in the early stages of researching everything. I do know I want to work in the industry. As a long time athlete and coach I am very passionate about health, enough to leave a nice job as a firefighter. I am looking at all job descriptions within the industry. As it seems a long road to become an RD.
S

For what it's worth, my wife just graduated with her Masters in Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State University. She is working on her RD now. Her internship is 6 months long and is basically a 9-5 job (that she does not get paid for and has had to pay about $5000+ in tuition.) She wants to specialize in sports nutrition and is currently a personal trainer and former collegiate cross country runner. Her internship is in a clinical setting and even though that is not what she wants to do, she is glad that she is doing it to get the experience. Be prepared getting your RD is a big time commitment. Between her internship and the homework she has to do for it, I get to spend time with my wife for only about an hour a night.

"For what it's worth, my wife just graduated with her Masters in Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State University. She is working on her RD now. Her internship is 6 months long and is basically a 9-5 job (that she does not get paid for and has had to pay about $5000+ in tuition.) She wants to specialize in sports nutrition and is currently a personal trainer and former collegiate cross country runner. Her internship is in a clinical setting and even though that is not what she wants to do, she is glad that she is doing it to get the experience. Be prepared getting your RD is a big time commitment. Between her internship and the homework she has to do for it, I get to spend time with my wife for only about an hour a night. "

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Thanks for the heads up. The more I research I am drawn to a M.S. in Sports Nutrition or a M.S. in Nutrition Communication. I would like a program that will allow me to tap into my B.A.A, interest in business as well as my passion and past education in endurance sports. I just need to find a distance learning program that will fit these interests. If not I am willing to go down the RD path to start out in a new direction from my current career.

Thanks for all the input,
S

I'll never try and talk another firefighter out of chasing their dreams. I applaud you for wanting to further your education and bettering yourself. But, you really want to leave the "greatest job in the world?"

I have a B.S. in Nut/Diet and worked in the healthcare field for Marriott which became Sodexho. This provided more oppurtunity for advancement and salary increase then most local RD's in a self op Acute Care or Long Term Care facility. I agree with what was mentioned in the other posts, that a lot of hacks out there spew out nutrition advice and it does not help R.D.'s. Also remeber that getting your RD and or degree is more clinical than anything so you better like healthcare. A great company that is doing well, from what I know, is Compass Group. I know several folks working for Compass and they are happy. Marriott was a great company, when we merged with Sodexho things started to change. After the completion of the merger you could really see the "european" influence trickle down and the company was just not the same. I left the field 4yrs ago to stay home with the kids (3 boys 1 girl) if I go back into the field Compass is the group I will look hard at.

Yea it is rare for anyone to leave this job. After 7 yrs my interests have changed. The city I work for also has changed. We have 72 guys on teh dept and in the 7 yrs I have been there we have had 7 leave on their own and over 10 fired or resigned. Seems to be high numbers for any dept. If I had been at another city things may have been different, same or worse who knows. All I know is I enjoy being fit and helping others. Pursuing this area of work will also help me in my coaching business.

Being a firefighter was the greatest job, for a single guy. Now with a family I find the amount of rules and the constant prying the city does into your personal business too much to deal w. anymore.
S

my wife works for Cornell Cooperitive ext.
every county of state has one i think
well not a Cornell but a cooperitive ext.
I would talk to someone their for ideas



good luck dirt

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Slowtwitch bitchist place on planet earth

Good luck to you, if I decide to finally buck up and get a coach, I think I'd go with someone who understands the job like you do and could write training schedules around it.
My dept. has lost a ton as well. A lot have been fired for various reasons. Some have taken disability retirements, some have flat out retired. I've been on shy of 4.5 years and we've had to hire 88 people since then (we are an approx 300 member dept)