Abstract
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy) is frequently asked about staffing ratios or models for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in clinical settings, but has been unable to definitively answer this question. 1 In order to begin to fill this major gap in the literature and in management practice, the Clinical Nutrition Management Dietetic Practice Group (DPG) and the Dietetics Practice Based Research Network conducted a cross-sectional study of RDNs employed in acute care hospitals across the United States. The primary study goals were to determine time required per inpatient encounter, controlling for RDN, facility, and patient characteristics; to describe other activities RDNs frequently complete; and to determine the ratio of direct to nondirect patient care time in an average day. A secondary goal of the study was to establish research methodology that could be expanded in a future study linking RDN time to patient outcomes. This article describes the design and results of the Registered Dietitian Staffing and Productivity Benchmarking Study and how this staffing model could be applied in acute care facilities across the country.