consultant dietitian in nursing homes. II. Functions and change effectiveness

Consultant dietitians and nursing home supervisors differ somewhat in their perceptions of the consultant's responsibilities, but agree on the consultant's most important activities. Data from 297 nursing homes indicate that most activities were joint responsibilities of the consultant and food service supervisor. Administrators viewed changes in menus and modified diets as the consultant's most important activities. In nursing homes where supervisors were rated as low performers, the consultant's work was rated more highly than in homes where supervisors were rated as high performers. Differences in the responses of consultants and administrators suggest that administrators may not clearly understand the consultant's role.