Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 46 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
Part LXIX - Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists
Chapter 1 - Dietitians/Nutritionists
Section LXIX-101 - Definitions
A. As used in this Chapter, the following terms and phrases, which have not already been defined in the Practice Act, and R.S. 37:3081-3094 are defined as following.
Academy-Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), formerly the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)-the accrediting agency for educational programs preparing students for careers as dietetic or nutrition practitioners. It is recognized by the board as the approved credentialing evaluation agency for licensed dietitians/ nutritionists.
Act-Louisiana Dietetic/Nutrition Practice Act of 1987.
Applicant-any person who has applied to the board for a regular license or provisional license to use the title dietitian or nutritionist to engage in the practice of dietetics/nutrition in the state of Louisiana.
Application-any person who has applied to the board for a license or permit to engage in the practice of dietetics/nutrition in the state of Louisiana.
Application-a request directed to and received by the board, upon forms supplied by the board, for a regular license or provisional license to practice dietetics/nutrition in the state of Louisiana, together with all information, certificates, documents, and other materials required by the board.
Board-Louisiana Board of Examiners in Dietetics and Nutrition (LBEDN). The entity created by the legislature of Louisiana in 1987 to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public by providing for the licensure and regulation of persons practicing the profession of dietetics and nutrition.
Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)-a commission that authors the licensure exam that the board accepts.
Consent Agreement and Order-an agreement between the board and applicant or licensee to resolve disciplinary action. This document may be public and reportable to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).
Degree-a degree of baccalaureate or higher received from a college or university granted by a U.S. regionally accredited college or university, or foreign equivalent with a major course of study in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management.
Diet Instruction-deleted.
Dietetic Nutrition Practice and Medical Nutrition Therapy-deleted.
Dietetic Practice, Nutrition Counseling, and Medical Nutrition Therapy-deleted.
Dietetic/Nutrition Practitioner-dietitian/nutritionist licensee practicing dietetics and nutrition according to R.S. 37:3081 to R.S. 37:3094, of the Louisiana Dietetic/Nutrition Practice Act.
Direct Supervision-supervision provided by a Louisiana licensed dietitian/nutritionist, who is available for real-time consultation in order to guide and direct a provisionally licensed dietitian/nutritionist.
Examination for Licensure-the examination administered by CDR. The board recognizes the passing score set by CDR.
Incidental to the Practice of their Profession-deleted.
Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist-a person licensed under R.S. 37:3081-3094. The terms "dietitian", "dietician", and "nutritionist" may be used interchangeably.
Louisiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (LAND)- formerly known as Louisiana Dietetic Association (LDA), an affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
Medical Nutrition Therapy-nutritional diagnostic, therapy, and counseling services for the purpose of disease management which are furnished by a licensed and registered dietitian.
Nutrition Care Process-a systemic approach to providing high-quality nutrition care through assessment, nutrition diagnosis, intervention/plan of care, and monitoring and evaluation.
Nutrition Counseling-a therapeutic approach to treating medical conditions and their associated symptoms via the use of a specifically tailored diet devised and monitored by a licensed and/or registered dietitian/nutritionist. Nutrition counseling provides individualized guidance on appropriate food and nutrient intake for those with special metabolic needs, taking into consideration health, cultural, socioeconomic, functional and psychological facts from the nutrition assessment. Nutrition counseling may include advice to increase or decrease nutrients in the diet; to change the timing, size or composition of meals; to modify food textures; and in extreme instances, to change the route of administration.
Nutrition Education-deleted.
Nutritional Assessment-the evaluation of the nutritional needs of individuals and groups based upon appropriate biochemical, anthropometric, physical and dietary data to determine nutrient needs including enteral and parenteral nutrition regardless of setting, including but not limited to ambulatory settings, hospitals, nursing homes and other extended care facilities. Assessment also includes establishing priorities, goals and objectives that meet nutritional needs.
Provisionally Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist-a person provisionally licensed under the Louisiana Dietetic/ Nutrition Practice Act, who must be supervised by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist.
Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist-a person registered by the CDR.
Scope of Dietetic/Nutrition Practice-the integration and application of principles derived from the sciences of nutrition, biochemistry, food, physiology, management, behavioral, and social sciences to achieve and maintain client health through the provision of nutrition care services, which shall include:
a. nutritional assessment;
b. nutrition counseling;
c. developing, implementing, and managing nutrition care systems; and
d. evaluating, making changes in, and maintaining standards of quality in food and nutrition care services.
e. Within a healthcare facility licensed by the Department of Health, ordering appropriate nutritional intake, including enteral and parenteral nutrition, and ordering appropriate laboratory tests to monitor the effectiveness of the dietary plan, subject to the approval of and authorization by the licensed healthcare facility's medical staff or bylaws.
Telenutrition-as authorized by and consistent with, R.S. 40:1223.4 ("Telehealth"), is the interactive use, by a licensed dietitian/ nutritionist of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to implement the practice of dietetics/nutrition with patients or clients at a location within Louisiana. The practice of telenutrition takes place where the patient or client is located at the time of the dietetic practitioner-patient encounter. Real-time communication, the primary method of telenutrition, consists of a dietetic/nutrition practitioner and the patient present at the same time, but in different locations. The practice of telenutrition is subject to applicable provisions of the Louisiana Dietetic/Nutrition Practice Act and within the same standards of care as if the dietetic/nutrition services were provided in person. The practice of telenutrition requires the application of board rules and regulations §117, Code of Ethics for Professional Conduct, including but not limited to patient's or client's consent for telenutrition services and protection of patient or client confidential information. The practice of telenutrition does not include the consultation of a Louisiana licensed dietitian/nutritionist with an out-of-state dietitian/nutritionist.
Terminology-interchangeable terms related to scope of practice may include, but not be limited to: dietetic nutrition practice, dietetic practice, nutrition counseling, nutrition practice, nutrition therapy, and medical nutrition therapy (MNT).
Title-any use of the titles "dietitian", "dietician", or "nutritionist", or any abbreviation, cannot be used unless the person is licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Louisiana Dietetic/Nutrition Practice Act.
Unprofessional conduct-for purposes of R.S. 37:3090 A(2) includes, but it not limited to any act or omission which is contrary to honesty, justice, good morals, patient safety, or the best interest of the patient, whether committed in the course of the practitioner's practice or otherwise and specifically includes the departure from, or the failure to conform to the standards of acceptable and prevailing professional practice of the Code of Ethics for Professional Conduct as specified in §117 of these rules, whether the act or omission occurred within or without this state.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:3081-3093 and R.S. 36:259(Q).
