Construction of professional identity in undergraduate courses for nutritionists

This study aimed to find how nutritionists' professional identity is developed during undergraduate courses, based on statements from coordinators and students of nutrition courses in the municipality of Sao Paulo. Professional identity was seen to be a subject of concern, albeit non-systematically, developed through discussions on nutritionists' specific attributes and ethical concepts. The coordinators believed that debate and research on the topic were important and should be conducted during the course in interdisciplinary form, within the classroom routine. They proposed going into this subject more deeply and warned about the need for teacher training. The students were concerned about immediate professional practice, which is clearly diversifying, and about social recognition. It was concluded that this subject is important because of the great expansion of the science of nutrition and the activities of nutritionists, within a context conditioned by current public polices. It was seen that nutritionists' identity has been undergoing a formation process.