Long Term Care

I am doing my Long term care rotation at the same location I did institutional food service at the Long Island State Veteran's Home. I actually really enjoy this rotation and have learned more than any other rotations. I have only been there for 4 days and I am already writing assessments/notes on my own. It also helps that all the dietitians there are VERY helpful and nice. I love working with them... which i believe is important when i find a job. Long term care is nice because you can get to know the residents and follow their prognosis as opposed to a hospital where the turnover rate is much faster. Although clinical has not been my top choice (besides outpatient) I am enjoying long term care. Perhaps because I am actually applying what i have learned in the past few years to my work.

Institutional Food Service

Institutional Food Service is food service at a hospital or nursing home. I already did School food service but they are pretty different. At institutional, all the residents are served 3 times a day. In order to make 1000 meals a day, there are many staffs and tray line. During my rotation, I watched some of the staffs/cooks prepare meals, watched tray line, participated in tray line, and supervised tray line. I watched them make pureed foods and had to taste them as well. I did CQI(continuous quality improvemtn) of tray accuracy and presentation. Personally I dont like food service and i did not particularly enjoy this rotation either. However, I am now during long term care clinical at the same location so it is nice to have the background of the kitchen so I understand how the food is prepared and handled for the residents.
For the module I had to plan a 1 week cycle menu for breakfast/lunch/dinner, make a standardized recipe, create a production sheet (for a meal), and make an order sheet for one meal, and choose a kitchen equipment to purchase. Although I did not enjoy this rotation, i think the experience will help me somewhat for the RD exam.