RDN Scope of Practice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization is primarily responsible for setting credentialing standards for the RDN credential in the United States?
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)
- Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) (Correct answer)
- American Dietetic Association (ADA)
- National Board of Dietetic Examiners (NBDE)
Correct answer: Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
CDR is the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and administers the RDN examination and recertification.
Question 2: How many continuing professional education units (CPEUs) must an RDN complete in each 5-year recertification cycle?
- 50 CPEUs
- 75 CPEUs
- 100 CPEUs (Correct answer)
- 150 CPEUs
Correct answer: 100 CPEUs
CDR requires RDNs to complete 75 CPEUs every 5 years to maintain their credential.
Question 3: An RDN is practicing in a state that does not have licensure laws for dietitians. What does this mean for their practice?
- They cannot legally practice nutrition counseling in that state
- Anyone can legally use the title 'dietitian' in that state (Correct answer)
- They must obtain a temporary federal license
- They are automatically licensed through CDR credentialing
Correct answer: Anyone can legally use the title 'dietitian' in that state
Without state licensure laws, title protection and practice restrictions may not apply, allowing unlicensed individuals to use protected titles.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT a competency domain on the CDR's Professional Development Portfolio framework?
- Nutrition Assessment and Diagnosis
- Communication and Application of Evidence
- Financial Management and Business Development (Correct answer)
- Leadership and Advocacy
Correct answer: Financial Management and Business Development
CDR's competency domains focus on clinical, scientific, and professional practice skills, not financial business development as a standalone domain.
Question 5: An RDN employed by a food company is asked to create marketing claims for a new product. What ethical consideration is most relevant?
- Whether the claims will boost company revenue
- Ensuring all claims are evidence-based and not misleading to consumers (Correct answer)
- Whether a physician has approved the product formulation
- Checking if the product is sold in other countries
Correct answer: Ensuring all claims are evidence-based and not misleading to consumers
RDNs are bound by the Code of Ethics to provide truthful, evidence-based information and must not create deceptive marketing claims.
Question 6: When an RDN writes a nutrition diagnosis, which standardized format is used?
- SOAP note format
- PES statement (Problem, Etiology, Signs/Symptoms) (Correct answer)
- ADIME format only
- ICD-10 diagnostic coding
Correct answer: PES statement (Problem, Etiology, Signs/Symptoms)
Nutrition diagnoses are written as PES statements that link the nutrition problem to its cause and the evidence supporting it.
Question 7: A client asks their RDN for advice on which herbal supplements to take. What is the most appropriate RDN response?
- Recommend widely marketed supplements without research review
- Assess the client's situation and provide evidence-based information within scope (Correct answer)
- Refuse to discuss supplements as they are outside all RDN scopes
- Refer the client exclusively to a pharmacist with no further involvement
Correct answer: Assess the client's situation and provide evidence-based information within scope
RDNs can and should provide evidence-based guidance on dietary supplements while staying within their scope and collaborating with other providers when appropriate.
RDN Scope of Practice 3
Which organization is primarily responsible for setting credentialing standards for the RDN credential in the United States?