[Dietitian-nutritionist intern resident (D-NIR) - A need light years away from occurring in Spain].

Abstract

Introduction: The dietitian-nutritionist (D-N) is a health professional with a university degree in human nutrition and dietetics in charge of the correct nutrition according to the physiological and pathological needs of people, as stated in the Law on the Regulation of Healthcare Professions since 2003. Various national and international societies, supported by numerous studies, point to the need to incorporate the D-N in the National Health System (NHS) to improve healthcare in the context of multidisciplinary teams. However, despite the importance of the functions of the D-N within the NHS portfolio, and unlike the rest of the health professions, there are many regions in Spain that still do not have the figure of this professional. Likewise, there is no specific system of Specialized Health Care Training (SHCT) for this professional, which is a need that impedes his or her own official training and specialization. Therefore, the creation of an SHCT for the dietitian-nutritionist intern resident (D-NIR) is proposed with the aim of improving their comprehensive training, competencies and responsibilities, thus improving the quality of care in the NHS in the context of multidisciplinary teams.