Edited January 18, 2021

So, you’re about to start your dietetic internship? I am sure several dietitians and RD2Bes have given you ideas of what you need to be successful.

Between the immunizations, internship handbooks, eNCPT, and everything else in between, I wanted to share some of my dietetic internship must-haves with links.

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. I recommend you read or listen to this one before you start. While it takes the whole book to see how everything is tied together, I thought this was an important read to learn how to communicate with people who are from different backgrounds than myself.

Clever Fox Planner Premium Edition. This is seriously the last planner you’ll need. I’ve ALWAYS been a pen & paper type of gal. I like how Clever Fox has un-dated calendar pages so you can start your planner any time of the year. During clinical rotation, I like to write down how many patients I see each day so I can see how much I’ve improved day-to-day. Clever Fox helps guide you to set goals every quarter, reflect each month, and track progress.

Clarks Women’s Sharon Dolly Loafer. Do you like walking on clouds? Because the only answer is yes. The style I purchased is out of stock, but these are my everyday clinical shoes because they are equally comfortable and functional! I get so many compliments wearing them.

The Essential Pocket Guide for Clinical Nutrition” target=”_blank”>The Essential Pocket Guide for Clinical Nutrition. This is a great reference guide for interns. I keep this on my desk and it helps guide my ADIME notes. It fits perfectly in my lab coat pocket and I love that each chapter includes sections on disease process, treatment and nutritional intervention, and patient education.

Lintelek Smart Watch. You need a watch! Don’t rely solely on your phone because… you’re the intern and being on your phone is kind of a faux pas. So, just get a watch and save yourself the trouble. This is not as fancy as an Apple Watch, however, if you’re on a tight intern budget, it’ll do. This watch gives you the capabilities to receive text notifications and calculates your steps.

Fruit Lanyard. Who doesn’t need a cute fruit lanyard?

Hydro Flask Tumbler Cup. I need coffee every morning to get me going, and my Hydro Flask keeps my coffee hot for up to 6 hours.

Other Essentials:

Calculator

Uni-ball Signo Inks Pens

Face Masks depending on the hospital, these may be provided, but sadly, I wouldn’t count on it (interns aren’t always privy to “employee benefits”)

Notebook – You won’t remember everything. May I suggest, writing it down? I like to use the notebooks with blank pages so I can draw pictures and diagrams, if I need to.

Shoe In-soles – You need these for management rotation.

Best of luck on this fantastic journey! What are some items you would add?