Any Sub-Internship Advice?
Started my Medicine Sub-I today; anyone have advice for the sub-intern (or intern, for that matter)? Tips and tricks appreciated.
or
Started my Medicine Sub-I today; anyone have advice for the sub-intern (or intern, for that matter)? Tips and tricks appreciated.
This is a medical weblog--a collection of thoughts about medicine, medical training, and health policy--written by a fifth-year medical student.
I recently stopped blogging, as I graduated from medical school and I'm now a physician in my residency training in New York City. But feel free to read and enjoy!
(To get rid of this thing, just wave your mouse over it. Ta da!
Nothing you probably don’t already know:
1. Write everything down. Your brain can only hold so much.
2. Figure out a patient tracking system that will work for *you*. Some people use PDAs; some people use notecards; some people use Post-its. I used a sheet of 8×11″ paper divided into rows. (And then refer to #1.)
3. Be nice to the nurses. They have the power (and are not afraid to use it) to *really* help you with patient care. They can also make your life miserable if you are a jerk.
4. Be concise. In your presentations, notes, and consults. Don’t repeat yourself, be repetitive, or say the same thing twice.
5. Help your fellow (sub)intern. Altruism works.
6. Carry a snack on you at all times. And learn the codes to the pantries on the wards so you can sneak crackers and cheese when the hypoglycemia kicks in.
I should just write my own blog entry for this.
Be enthusiastic, but don’t be a prat. You’ve met med students – you know the difference. Take as much responsibility as they’ll let you have – the more adept you become at making a decision now (while you’re still well-protected), the better off you’ll be next year. Have fun – especially if this is what you really want to do – no matter how hard you’re working, it should still be fun underneath it all.
3. Be nice to the nurses. They have the power (and are not afraid to use it) to *really* help you with patient care. They can also make your life miserable if you are a jerk.
Excellent Advice!
Be aggressive, not only with procedures but with taking as much responsibility as you can for your patients.
Don’t be afraid to ask: for help, for clarification, for anything. So many times we see these young interns and residents who don’t know, and won’t ask, and the patients suffer for it.
A few days ago, I was standing near a few interns when the attending told them to write an order, gave them exactly what to write. Cardizem, 30mg PO, Q6, I believe it was. They agreed with him. He asked if they had questions. They denied any. The attending left, and both interns turned to me and said, “Now, what medicine was that for, again?”
Ask questions.
dehydration is the enemy!
your resident is your friend. (or at least needs to be).
eat when you can, sleep when you can, sit when you can, sh$t when you can
and be VERY nice to the nurses…do not forget for even one second that you are a medical STUDENT, not a doctor, and many of them have been in medicine for longer than you’ve been alive. (the same holds true during residency, especially early on)
Please future healer…always keep in mind that MANY irregularly and insane appearing patients, do not have …. ‘a bad attitude’ are not ‘choosing to act unstable, but rather have a medical condition that as a secondary reaction to an undiagnosed primary illness, ie parathyroid disorders, ie hypercalcemia, ie pancreatic conditions, that after long misdiagnosis leaves them lost in a ‘move em in, move em out ‘medical businness…I know as I am being CHASTIZED MYSELF FOR MY OWN MENTAL ILLNESS, THAT AS IT TURNS OUT WAS SHOVED TO THE WAYSIDE FOR SO LONG THAT THOUGH MY MIND IS FINALLY FUNCTIONING BETTER IT IS 34 YEARS OF OSTERCIZING FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY, MY KIDNIES,ARE FAILING AND PACKED WITH STONES AS ARE MY PANCREAS, my brain and spinal cord…etc, etc.,…I HAD/have PARATHYROID HYPERPLASIA….NOT FUN…NOW I SADLY WILL LEAVE THIS WORLD AGAINST MY WISHES….IRREPERABLY HARMED IT HAS BEEN DONE AND THE COVER UP CONTINUES…. OUR ALMIGHTY FATHER WILL EXACT JUSTICE FROM THE self righteous and pompous of these murderers. Mine and others broken bodies and spiritS…Amen that he reads the thoughts and intentions of the hearts of mankind…please remember we are not just your yacht, or car or home payments…we are your sacred trust!GOING TO CHURCH DOES NOT SAVE YOU…YOUR LOVE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD DOES! Be a healer…please concern yourself. What it took doctors(over 150) of them to neglect TO FIND THE SOURCE OF MY at AGE 30 DIAGNOSIS OF OSTEOPOROSIS, MY STONE FILLED KIDNIES,My childrens tenuous births and my 8 miscarriages… MY INTENSE PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THE DOCTORS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE TECHNICIANS ABILITY TO CONDUCT AND INTERPRET TESTS ETC. I myself was able to dig up the truth with a computer and the same info I had given the doctors…Now, I have had to move in hopes a finding “a truly christian(means christ like) physician. I am saddened but by the strenght and love of Our father in heaven…I will be healed!!!! Agape love brother, God be with you, please anyone who has any way to find me the help i need i plead please help me and my 5 children that most likely have inherited the mens1 GENETIC PREDISPOSITION….please help!!!!! lgy
Mistakes will happen, and unfortunately it can mean anything from extra day in the hospital to death. No matter what a prior doc or nursing home or ER doc or the RN tells you -always look at the pt with fresh eyes, and you will catch things that everyone else misses.
PS – even though everyone says be nice to RNs, no one ever says they have to be nice to you, and many won’t so it is OK to remind them, however you may choose to…