Importance of selected competencies/responsibilities for hospital food and nutrition services department directors as rated by current hospital food and nutrition services directors and hospital administrators

A list of competencies/responsibilities for hospital food and nutrition services directors was compiled from literature. A Delphi panel reviewed the list; the resulting 39-item questionnaire was piloted with a group of hospital administrators and directors. Data were collected from 153 administrators and 193 directors (31% and 39% response rate, respectively) who rated the importance of each competency and the competency level of registered dietitians on a four-point scale. Administrators and directors rated all but six competencies as important or very important. Being an effective team leader was rated as the most important and conducts research as the least important competency by both groups. Registered dietitians were often rated as less competent for more important responsibilities and most competent for those that were less important. Those who had experience with a registered dietitian rated the competency of registered dietitians as higher than those who had no experience with a registered dietitian.