6 Tips To Prepare For Your Medical Internship
Suppose you’re about to start your medical internship. In that case, you’re probably worried about how the work environment will be, how you’ll put the knowledge you gained in medical school into practice, and whether you’ll be able to balance it all.
Coming straight out of medical school and entering a new world where you have to put all of your theory into practice can be difficult. It would be best to prepare yourself for many highs and lows because you will almost certainly make mistakes. Medical internships will be rewarding, especially if you get to do it abroad, but you have to be prepared for its demands. To prepare better, below are some tips and techniques you must take note of:
- Be Meticulous
When you’re just starting as a medical intern, you must make a schedule and a to-do list for yourself. This schedule will help you understand your responsibilities and remind you of what you need to do next. By maintaining your schedule, you will be on top of every important assignment that your supervisor may have given you. However, don’t be too hard on yourself because, at some point, you will make mistakes. But it is your responsibility to learn from those mistakes and perform better next time.
- Review Your Lessons
Consider conducting extensive research before your internship year. So, before starting your internship, you have to review everything you’ve learned in medical school. You may also start asking your supervisor or colleagues about the most common medical issues that are being handled in the hospital, clinic, or medical department you’re about to work in. Also, you have to study smart. If you are going to be assigned to the maternity ward, for example, you have to brush up on your knowledge about childbirth and basic pediatric care.
- Be A Keen Observer
Prepare to do a lot of observing if you go for an internship. One of the best qualities a medic intern should have is the ability to make decisions quickly. This is because, through observations, you will be able to learn a variety of things and pick up on medical protocols rather easily. Make a point of writing down all of your observations so that if you need clarification later, you can ask your supervisor for it.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
It may seem uncomfortable and awkward to ask a lot of questions—especially in the first few weeks of your medical internship. However, you must be brave enough to express your doubts and even ask about things that you really don’t know of.
Remember, it could be a matter of life or death, so it’s better to ask your supervisor or a resident doctor to be on the safe side. If you have a colleague that you can trust or approach more comfortably, then make him or her your point person when it comes to crucial questions and concerns.
Better yet, if you know someone who is already working in the hospital or clinic you’re going to intern in, you can ask questions ahead so you’ll be more acquainted with their protocols and practices.
- Always Think Of The Patient
During your medical internship, your patients would rely on you to be able to do something about their health concerns and even expect you to be able to answer questions. To do so, you must first teach yourself how to interact with your patients. Educate your patients as best as you can and explain their medical condition in the simplest terms, and always be mindful of their medical history. As you begin your first rotation as a medical intern, make your patients’ trust in you worthwhile.
- Keep Calm
Make sure you’re not putting too much pressure on yourself. After all, you’re not expected to know everything. And remember, your supervisor was once an intern like you, so there’s no reason to be afraid. Instead, enjoy the process and pace yourself. Being tense and anxious might only affect your performance, so try to remain calm and focused so you can properly apply your theoretical knowledge during your internship.
Conclusion
Preparing for your medical internship can be nerve-racking because you’ll be thinking about a lot of things and even doubt everything you’ve learned in medical school. However, you don’t have to worry about it because you are precisely there to learn. After all, that’s the whole point of the internship—to let you apply your medical knowledge in the real world This article has provided you with some tips that can help you start your medical internship more confidently.
