Burnout and Turnover Among Program Directors in ACEND-Accredited Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Programs
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
Background: Knowledge about program director burnout in ACEND-accredited registered dietitian nutritionist programs is severely limited. Objective: To measure the changes in program director burnout and turnover over a two-year period. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to program directors via e-mail in 2021 and 2023. The validated Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES) was used to measure burnout, which had three scales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Demographic and program information was also obtained. Results: Over the two-year period, program directors scores for emotional exhaustion (p < 0.001) and depersonalization (p < 0.001) significantly worsened. Interestingly, personal accomplishment scores significantly improved (p < 0.001) during the same time frame. Sixty-six percent of program directors in 2023 reported consideration for leaving their position in the next 5 years, which increased from 58%. Since 2021, 29.9% Didactic Program in Dietetics directors, 28.8% Dietetic Internship directors, and 37.5% Coordinated Program in Dietetics directors have resigned. Conclusion: Program directors show increased signs of burnout. Efforts are needed to investigate ways to support program directors to reduce burnout and increase retention of program directors.
DOI
10.26890/sncs7081
Recommended Citation
Frazier, H. & Grace-Farfaglia, P. (2025). Burnout and turnover among program directors in ACEND-accredited registered dietitian nutritionist programs. Journal of Dietetic Education, 3(2). Doi: 10.26890/sncs7081
