Planning Your Continuing Education in the New Year: A Realistic Guide for Nutrition Providers
Meg Bowman MS CNS LDN CHES
As we approach the new year, it's time to spice up your professional journey and take your nutrition expertise to the next level! Continuing education is the secret ingredient to staying fresh, expanding your knowledge, and unleashing your full potential as a nutrition provider (sorry, I’ll try to stop with the food puns). Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out on your journey, planning your CEs is critical. If you don’t, you’ll be doing last-minute Tuna of the Sea CE’s like a friend of mine. Yes, that does exist.
Assess Your Learning Style: I will admit to neglecting to get a significant amount of CE’s over Covid lockdown and the two years after. Why? Because though I may purchase online CEs, I literally NEVER watch them. And Covid had shut down many of the in-person opportunities out there. This resulted in a massive CE scramble for me this fall, which I’m going to try to avoid next time! So if you’re like me and get challenged in listening to recorded audio, embrace that and find live sessions. For those who actually can sit through a recording, please tell me how.
Assess Your Current Skill Set and Identify Gaps: We all have areas we’re not so awesome at. Let’s just embrace it and lean in - find those places where you need support and investigate opportunities to improve your skills. Consider not just nutrition education but also coaching and behavior change CEs related to food.
Figure Out What You’re Interested In: Years ago, I went to EVERY training on mental health and GI nutrition. These days, I’m more interested in learning about medicinal mushrooms and chronobiology as it relates to nutrition. Lean in to your curiosity, and don’t feel like you have to know everything to be a good nutrition provider.
“Consider not just nutrition education but also coaching and behavior change CEs related to food.”
Create a Continuing Education Plan: This fall, when I realized just how far behind I was on CE’s (cough), I grabbed a calendar, opened up an internet browser and made a plan which included both paid and free CE events. If you make a plan and put it on your calendar, you’re much more likely to get the stuff done. Struggling with a plan? Download our free CE planner for CNSs.
Allocate Resources: Continuing education comes with a cost, both in terms of time and finances. Evaluate your budget and determine how much you can allocate for CEs. Look for scholarships, grants, or employer-sponsored opportunities that can help offset the expenses if you need to. Determine whether you will get 1-2 CEs at a time, or commit to conferences where you’ll get a larger bank all at once. What works with your life?
Research Available Opportunities: There is a wealth of options when it comes to continuing education in the nutrition field. Explore reputable websites, professional organizations, and educational institutions that offer CEs. Look for courses, workshops, conferences, and webinars that align with your interests and professional goals. Read reviews, ask for recommendations from colleagues, and verify the credentials of the providers. If you haven’t thought about getting CE’s through a new credential, you should! Nested Health Coach Certification comes with 25 CE’s in the program, and an additional bank of CE’s with the included bonus module on mental health nutrition.
“This year, I attended two trainings that I went to 8 years ago!”
Stay Current with Trends: The field of nutrition is constantly evolving, with new research, trends, and approaches emerging regularly. As a nutrition provider, it's essential to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. This year, I attended two trainings that I went to 8 years ago! Things had changed enough that it was worth it for me to invest in a refresher. Keeping your knowledge current will not only benefit your clients but also enhance your professional credibility.
Planning your continuing education in the new year is a crucial step in your professional growth as a nutrition provider. Assess your learning style, identify skill gaps, and focus on your interests. Create a comprehensive plan, allocate resources wisely, and explore a variety of CE opportunities. Stay current with trends, stay accountable, and evaluate the impact of your CEs. By following these steps, you'll set yourself up for success in the new year and beyond.
And if you see any good ones, for goodness sake let me know!
XOXO, Meg