Regional West Partners with the University of Northern Colorado and Western Nebraska Community College to Offer Remote Dietetics Program Options

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― Students can pursue a degree in the growing field of dietetics while working at Regional West, thanks to a partnership with the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado, and Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) in Scottsbluff.

As health professionals who are experts in nutrition and diet, dietitians promote health and shape dietary choices by blending nutrition, behavioral science, social science, and scientific research. High school students, college students, or people looking to make a career change can explore options that allow them to complete their education remotely while working in Regional West’s Food & Nutrition Services Department.

Students interested in taking the first step toward a career as a registered dietitian nutritionist can enroll in the Health Sciences, Dietetic Emphasis Associate of Science (AS) degree program at WNCC. The program focuses on the mechanics of the human body and the application of this knowledge in a clinical setting.  

The Health Science AS degree includes 33-34 credits of general education courses and 33 credits of core courses. Core health science courses include biology, nutrition, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, general chemistry, algebra, and statistics. Students completing the Health Science AS degree are eligible to transfer to UNC to complete their Didactic Program in Dietetics.

UNC offers a distance-based track of their Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The distance program is designed to be accessible and flexible for students finishing their Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics while continuing to work. Successful completion of the distance dietetics program enables students to apply for dietetic supervised practice and graduate school on the path to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). 

The undergraduate online dietetics track requires completing 30 courses/75 credits through a combination of transfer courses and online nutrition and dietetics coursework through UNC. Additional required classes may be transferred in or taken locally. 

Regional West Lead Clinical Dietician Karen Johnson, RD, CSO, LMNT, said this option is a great way for students to earn their degree and earn a living at the same time.

“Regional West is a great place to work, learn, and grow, with patients of all different disease states and ages to help foster your learning experience,” says Johnson. “We have great teamwork amongst all the disciplines of healthcare to provide exceptional care to our patients and their families. Being a dietician at Regional West is a rewarding career.”

Regional West offers a skilled nutrition staff of registered dietitians who work with members of the medical team to create personalized nutrition plans and provide education, focusing on areas like oncology, diabetes, critical care, pediatrics, and gastrointestinal disorders. Regional West benefits include health, vision, and dental plans; competitive wages; and a sign-on bonus up to $10,000.

Click here for more information on remote dietetics degree program options. To see Regional West’s career opportunities, visit RWHS.org/careers.

About Regional West 
Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Nebraska is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, the only advanced trauma center in Nebraska west of North Platte. Since 1924, Regional West has served the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming through innovative healthcare services. As the region’s sole tertiary medical center, Regional West offers an expansive array of medical specialties and numerous physician clinics.