I was pre-med a long time ago but ended up going a different route. I thought getting into medical school meant you were set for life, but it’s actually just the beginning of the journey. The medical internship is an important step along the way, and landing the one you want is less challenging if you know what to do.
Here are some thoughts on how to prepare for a medical internship:
Review Your Lessons
Learning should be continuous to be a cut above the rest. Learn as much as possible about the medical field you’ll get into by revisiting what you’ve learned in school. You can also access various resources for pre-meds for more insights.
Remember, you’re about to implement the skills you’ve garnered in a real-world setting. You should know that being in this field means interacting with patients and sometimes helping critically ill people who depend on your expertise and knowledge.
Do Not Be Afraid to Ask Questions
To ensure a seamless start, take the time to acquaint yourself with your new environment. Ask your colleagues and supervisors questions as you did during your college admission interview. By doing so, you can gain valuable insights and become more independent as the days pass.
Observe
You may have to make quick, life-saving, and critical decisions in your med internship. Be alert to what is happening around you. Excellent learners absorb information and knowledge through observation and paying attention to small details.
Prepare for Long Hours
Your medical internship will consist of long hours and tiring work. Your patients will need you to be present and accessible, not exhausted and fuzzy-brained. Your team and supervisors will want you to be available to help with patient care and paperwork.
Dealing with emergencies and critical situations needs your undivided attention and sheer commitment. But more importantly, you should be ready to work long hours. You can do this by engaging in regular exercises for physical fitness, which will help you work for extended periods without getting exhausted too quickly.
Improve Your Listening Skills
You’ll be able to focus on patients during your medical internship, and a good bedside manner is essential in building trust with patients. You may want to practice active listening with your friend or sibling while implementing the following tips:
- Maintaining eye contact
- Avoiding being judgmental
- Allowing the other party to speak without interrupting
- Waiting for them to pause before asking questions
- Empathizing with the speaker to show concern about their predicament
- Watching out for nonverbal cues
Active listening makes patients trust you to help them with their health concerns.
Be a Team Player
In critical medical situations and emergencies, time is of the essence. In these high-pressure scenarios, you must understand your role within the team your supervisor assigns you to. Being prompt and attentive is essential to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
During your initial weeks of the internship, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what’s happening around you. Working alongside a team with a mix of experts and novices can help you quickly adapt to new situations and navigate challenging scenarios.
Final Thoughts
Preparation is key to success in a medical internship. By reviewing past lessons, asking questions, observing keenly, preparing for long hours, improving listening skills, and being a team player, you can gain valuable experience that will serve you well in your future career. It may be challenging, but with the right mindset and attitude, you can overcome any obstacles that come your way.
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
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