title: Dietetic students' understanding of what becoming a dietitian means.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explored dietetic students' beliefs about what becoming a dietitian means.
  
  
  METHODS
  A phenomenological approach to inquiry was used. Thirteen undergraduate students enrolled in a dietetics program were interviewed, and data were analyzed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overarching theme was students' expectations of what being a dietitian means and how those expectations change throughout their education. Exposure to a variety of dietitians in practice helped shape participants' understanding of being a dietitian.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For dietetic students to develop a strong identity as dietitians and to strengthen the profession, they must be exposed to practising professionals early and often.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacLellan
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lordly
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064686:Nutritionists; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students