Janelle Y Morris

Dignity Health: Mercy Medical Center, Redding

Skill Area: Community Nutrition/Nutrition Education/Clinical Nutrition

What I learned: I learned how to write a monthly newsletter to seniors using online resources, text books, and research articles. 

Reflection to assignment: Newsletters must relate to the specific target audience who will receive the article for it to be effectively received.  I had to write each newsletter so that it would relate to an older population who has unique needs, barriers, and motivators than a younger demographic.  Becoming comfortable writing upbeat, interesting articles, using language suitable for low-income, elderly audience was a challenge in the beginning months.  As I became more familiar with the needs of the participants at Shasta Senior Nutrition, I began to increase my level of comfort and confidence in the development of my own writing style and deliver of nutrition education.

Relevance to profession:  Shasta Senior Nutrition is affiliated with Mercy Medical Center, Redding.  Funding for this program is contingent, in part, on monthly nutrition education and quarterly seminars.  This education is to be provided by Registered Dietitians.  My work writing these monthly newsletters was reviewed by a Registered Dietitian in order to meet the requirement of funding agencies.  Registered Dietitians are frequently asked to provide education to groups who are at risk for nutritional deficiencies. After a year of writing for Shasta Senior Nutrition, I feel confident that I can effectively fulfill this aspect of the job as a Registered Dietitian.