The purpose of this study was to determine: (a) the level of disagreement/agreement (role consensus) between skilled nursing facility administrators and consultant dietitians on the activities, responsibilities, and guilities which compose the ideal role (role expectations) of the consultant dietitian; (b) the extent to which administrators and consultant dietitians perceive discrepancies/consistencies between ideal (role expectations) and actual (reality) performance of the dietitian at present; and (c) the common deterrents, which consultant dietitians perceive as the basis for the dichotomy between ideal (role expectations) and actual (reality) role performance. The one most significant inventory item for both disagreement and discrepancy was "attends utilization review meetings". The deterrents most frequently indicated were "time" and "administrative policies". Both administrators and dietitians indicated low affirmative response for the dietitian's attendance at department head meetings, applied to both "expectations" and "reality". Administrators generally indicated lower levels of consensus as to functions appropriate to the role of the consultant dietitian, which may be expected whenever one group evaluates another’s role. However, administrator’s affirmative responses to the role inventory items would indicate their acceptance of the consultant dietitian as a full and equal member of the health care team.
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Dietetics; Allied Health Personnel
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