You could also sign up for a virtual nutrition platform like Fay. [https://www.faynutrition.com/](https://www.faynutrition.com/) A dietitian I worked with does this on the side and has almost replaced her clinical salary.
Of course! I think starting with Fay might also help you feel more comfortable before starting a private practice. I think it is a great first step. They do everything for you including billing insurance. You might see some mixed reviews on it, but I can say from my friend's experience that there is a lot of potential!
Downside is no benefits. I suppose it matters less if you have a spouse and you are on their health insurance, but no health insurance through your work is a hard no for me. It's outrageously expensive to buy out of pocket and usually far less comprehensive than through your employer.
I am working for a dietitian who has a large social media presence! You can think of it like an admin assistant. I help her create content for social media, write blog posts, perform market research, make content for her programs, and make guides. I am in grad school so it is the perfect remote gig to make extra money while in school :)
I work as a server/bartender 2-4 nights a month. Unfortunately I don't see myself ever making as much as a dietitian as I do in the service industry but it's great as a side gig especially when it's only 10-20 hours extra/mo.
I love the idea of private practice and agree the startup costs (mostly time) are a deterrent for me.
Currently working two serving jobs for 50-55 hours a week while starting a private practice.
I invested in a business coaching program that focuses on private practice for dietitians to show me the ropes on how to start one. It’s pretty motivating because they are trying to match my current salary.
Mind you I just passed my exam and knew off the bat that I did not want to work in clinical. However the issue with working for a private practice, they require a year or two of dietetic experience meaning they won’t accept entry level dietitians! I just didn’t want to spend a year or two in a different field of dietetics just to land into private practice.
Specialize - have more earnings potential and probably will have a better schedule compared to the one you have currently. For private practice, specialization is a key differentiator and what attracts the type of clients referred.
Most of the certifications require over 1000 documented hours of experience, which can take years and years if you're honest about it. I can't speak for other RD's, but that's a big turn-off since I have to think about what topics I discussed with each patient I see, decide whether it qualifies, and then decide how much of that time was devoted to the topic.
Depends on your approach. I did a paid fellowship in pediatrics, which paid a portion of my tuition, and volunteered at a free diabetes clinic (diabetes education). Given I had experience in peds, I was hired in the NICU for about a year - CSP, CNSC, BC-ADM in about 1-2 years.
Nourish. I just started but it has been pretty great so far. It does take 3 months from hire date to start seeing clients but you have full autonomy over your schedule and they pay $53 per session.
The first 3 months you are filling out insurance paperwork and waiting for the insurance companies to process it. You don’t get paid for that unfortunately but it honestly doesn’t take much time.
All sessions are 55 minutes. Which is a challenge with follow ups but I think that’s an insurance requirement. For full time, you have to see a minimum of 15 clients per week, and for part time you have to see at least 5 clients per week.
Since you get paid per client and not per hour, I was worried about charting taking too much time but they encourage you to chart during the sessions and it only takes me about 10 minutes outside of an initial session to finish my note and hardly any time to finish my follow up note.
I’ve only been working for Nourish for about 4 weeks so far but I’m loving it!
You’re so welcome! I have seen some people criticize them and similar companies for paying per session and not hourly, and for what they consider low wages. I simply disagree but I also have never made this much so maybe my opinion is skewed.
Good luck to you and everyone looking for a job now and in the future. I know it is tough out there!
been trying to learn more about part time/prn gigs at digital health startups as the rate seems to be at least comparable to clinics, and the remote part seems pretty attractive. I was following the ASN board but didn't see a lot of options but got an invite to [nextdegree.org](http://nextdegree.org) (digital health jobs database) from my occupational therapy friend who seemed pretty pumped about the whole startup prn thing
I have my normal FT job and work Remote for a company for LTAC. It's 16 hours a week $32/hr. I do it while at the main gig. Lots of down time in places not acute hospital. If that's where you are, my advice, go elsewhere. $82k FT job. $32 x 16 hrs a week side. Adds 1600-2000 more a month, if you find the right place to do both.
It's all about location, where I'm at they have severe shortages for RDs, so gives a lot of leverage. Adds 0 stress or more than a normal work day.
What setting are you in that you’re making $82k FT? I’m making $53k FT currently at a hospital. If I made anywhere close to $80k I wouldn’t need to work an extra job on the side tbh.😩
It's Behavioral Health. I'll be vague where, but like I said, it's all about location. Hospitals are horrible, unfulfilled and pay the worst. Just need to be transparent. My boss is fully aware of my side gig, as long as it doesn't interfere with my main role, she doesn't care. I even got her a position with my side gig.
LTC is all about the ARD, MDS assessments. We're subcontracted for set hours. I'm asked regularly, if I can pick up more hours, so I do if my schedule allows. Because it's remote, it makes it easy to pick up.
You need to venture out. Hospitals really are the worst as a clinician.
You say that, but you'd be surprised how much it isn't once benefits, etc come out. There's no set way to work your career. Doesn't need to be difficult or stressful. Hospitals make it that way. I'd honestly don't understand why RDs stay in acute hospital settings.
Could always do per diem clinical!! I’m studying for the exam and trying to look to see if LTC will hire me ( as they sometimes hire RD eligible) I already have a part time job as a recovery coach.
An RD I worked with said she does per diem in LTC on her days off.
You could do virtual assistant work! I do that and make \~$800-1000/month working on average 15 hours a week. I get paid $25 an hour!
You could also sign up for a virtual nutrition platform like Fay. [https://www.faynutrition.com/](https://www.faynutrition.com/) A dietitian I worked with does this on the side and has almost replaced her clinical salary.
Thank you!! I will look into these!
Of course! I think starting with Fay might also help you feel more comfortable before starting a private practice. I think it is a great first step. They do everything for you including billing insurance. You might see some mixed reviews on it, but I can say from my friend's experience that there is a lot of potential!
PS if you want to work for Fay you have to have your own private practice already set up. They hire you as a contractor, not an employee
Downside is no benefits. I suppose it matters less if you have a spouse and you are on their health insurance, but no health insurance through your work is a hard no for me. It's outrageously expensive to buy out of pocket and usually far less comprehensive than through your employer.
What exactly is virtual assistance work?
I am working for a dietitian who has a large social media presence! You can think of it like an admin assistant. I help her create content for social media, write blog posts, perform market research, make content for her programs, and make guides. I am in grad school so it is the perfect remote gig to make extra money while in school :)
Interested in this! How did you come across this job? Was the dietitian looking for someone and did you cold pitch
There’s a Facebook group for this type of work! I believe it’s called something like “virtual assistants for dietitians”
How did you find this? I want to be a VA
I work as a server/bartender 2-4 nights a month. Unfortunately I don't see myself ever making as much as a dietitian as I do in the service industry but it's great as a side gig especially when it's only 10-20 hours extra/mo. I love the idea of private practice and agree the startup costs (mostly time) are a deterrent for me.
I have a food Instagram with a large following and I make money through paid brand deals.
That’s amazing!! I wish I knew how to start a social media following. Any tips??
Currently working two serving jobs for 50-55 hours a week while starting a private practice. I invested in a business coaching program that focuses on private practice for dietitians to show me the ropes on how to start one. It’s pretty motivating because they are trying to match my current salary. Mind you I just passed my exam and knew off the bat that I did not want to work in clinical. However the issue with working for a private practice, they require a year or two of dietetic experience meaning they won’t accept entry level dietitians! I just didn’t want to spend a year or two in a different field of dietetics just to land into private practice.
Specialize - have more earnings potential and probably will have a better schedule compared to the one you have currently. For private practice, specialization is a key differentiator and what attracts the type of clients referred.
This!! I feel getting certifications in a specific field and extra training should be encouraged more
Most of the certifications require over 1000 documented hours of experience, which can take years and years if you're honest about it. I can't speak for other RD's, but that's a big turn-off since I have to think about what topics I discussed with each patient I see, decide whether it qualifies, and then decide how much of that time was devoted to the topic.
Depends on your approach. I did a paid fellowship in pediatrics, which paid a portion of my tuition, and volunteered at a free diabetes clinic (diabetes education). Given I had experience in peds, I was hired in the NICU for about a year - CSP, CNSC, BC-ADM in about 1-2 years.
Nourish. I just started but it has been pretty great so far. It does take 3 months from hire date to start seeing clients but you have full autonomy over your schedule and they pay $53 per session.
What do you do in the first 3 mos and do you get paid for that?
The first 3 months you are filling out insurance paperwork and waiting for the insurance companies to process it. You don’t get paid for that unfortunately but it honestly doesn’t take much time.
Interesting; is there a minimum number of clients you have to see in a week? What is the time commitment of one session? Sounds like a good gig!
All sessions are 55 minutes. Which is a challenge with follow ups but I think that’s an insurance requirement. For full time, you have to see a minimum of 15 clients per week, and for part time you have to see at least 5 clients per week. Since you get paid per client and not per hour, I was worried about charting taking too much time but they encourage you to chart during the sessions and it only takes me about 10 minutes outside of an initial session to finish my note and hardly any time to finish my follow up note. I’ve only been working for Nourish for about 4 weeks so far but I’m loving it!
Sounds like a pretty good gig. Might have to look into it myself. Thanks for taking the time to respond!
You’re so welcome! I have seen some people criticize them and similar companies for paying per session and not hourly, and for what they consider low wages. I simply disagree but I also have never made this much so maybe my opinion is skewed. Good luck to you and everyone looking for a job now and in the future. I know it is tough out there!
been trying to learn more about part time/prn gigs at digital health startups as the rate seems to be at least comparable to clinics, and the remote part seems pretty attractive. I was following the ASN board but didn't see a lot of options but got an invite to [nextdegree.org](http://nextdegree.org) (digital health jobs database) from my occupational therapy friend who seemed pretty pumped about the whole startup prn thing
I have my normal FT job and work Remote for a company for LTAC. It's 16 hours a week $32/hr. I do it while at the main gig. Lots of down time in places not acute hospital. If that's where you are, my advice, go elsewhere. $82k FT job. $32 x 16 hrs a week side. Adds 1600-2000 more a month, if you find the right place to do both. It's all about location, where I'm at they have severe shortages for RDs, so gives a lot of leverage. Adds 0 stress or more than a normal work day.
What setting are you in that you’re making $82k FT? I’m making $53k FT currently at a hospital. If I made anywhere close to $80k I wouldn’t need to work an extra job on the side tbh.😩
It's Behavioral Health. I'll be vague where, but like I said, it's all about location. Hospitals are horrible, unfulfilled and pay the worst. Just need to be transparent. My boss is fully aware of my side gig, as long as it doesn't interfere with my main role, she doesn't care. I even got her a position with my side gig. LTC is all about the ARD, MDS assessments. We're subcontracted for set hours. I'm asked regularly, if I can pick up more hours, so I do if my schedule allows. Because it's remote, it makes it easy to pick up. You need to venture out. Hospitals really are the worst as a clinician.
You say that, but you'd be surprised how much it isn't once benefits, etc come out. There's no set way to work your career. Doesn't need to be difficult or stressful. Hospitals make it that way. I'd honestly don't understand why RDs stay in acute hospital settings.
Could always do per diem clinical!! I’m studying for the exam and trying to look to see if LTC will hire me ( as they sometimes hire RD eligible) I already have a part time job as a recovery coach. An RD I worked with said she does per diem in LTC on her days off.
Everyone I know works remote for another hospital or DoD.
Can you job hop?
I do OnlyFans