I would like some advice about what I should do. I started as an intern last year in a small community program and failed my first rotation (general surgery) because I didn't know enough and was asked to do too much without supervision. I lost a bit of confidence because I've always been a good student, and my second run suffered as a consequence. I started performing for my third and fourth run (which I passed well), and just completed my last run which I need to become fully registered.
But now my attendent has told me he failed my run because he doesn't think I can make good clinical decisions. This is going to really put my career into limbo because I'm going to have a big blemish - how am I going to find another job? He gave me one example where, when I started covering nights solo, I didn't call the paediatrician about a new admission. I mean, it was a Saturday night, I had a full ED, patients sick on the wards, and this child who nobody handed over to me that the paediatrician wanted to be notified when he came in. He had a fever so I gave him antibiotics and fluids, called the paediatrician in the morning when his vitals stabilised.
And I'm not even a bad intern- I'm punctual, polite, thorough, I document everything, do what I can and ask when I don't know, arrive early and leave late if I have to. I do everything that my attendent asks of me. I don't feel apologetic to anyone because I've done the best job I could - yet I'm going to fail my run - something isn't right here, I don't have residents to turn to when there is something I am not sure about, my surgical attendents expects me to manage often medically unwell orthopaedic patients, and only wants to know if a patient requires urgent orthopaedic review (eg. major trauma, open injury, fracture dislocations etc). When he doesn't turn up for ward rounds I'm expected to do my own rounds on these patients. I have to be in theatre and preadmissions as well as look after the patients on the ward. I just don't think there is enough support in a small community hospital where an intern is doing his/her best yet it's still not enough?
But now my attendent has told me he failed my run because he doesn't think I can make good clinical decisions. This is going to really put my career into limbo because I'm going to have a big blemish - how am I going to find another job? He gave me one example where, when I started covering nights solo, I didn't call the paediatrician about a new admission. I mean, it was a Saturday night, I had a full ED, patients sick on the wards, and this child who nobody handed over to me that the paediatrician wanted to be notified when he came in. He had a fever so I gave him antibiotics and fluids, called the paediatrician in the morning when his vitals stabilised.
And I'm not even a bad intern- I'm punctual, polite, thorough, I document everything, do what I can and ask when I don't know, arrive early and leave late if I have to. I do everything that my attendent asks of me. I don't feel apologetic to anyone because I've done the best job I could - yet I'm going to fail my run - something isn't right here, I don't have residents to turn to when there is something I am not sure about, my surgical attendents expects me to manage often medically unwell orthopaedic patients, and only wants to know if a patient requires urgent orthopaedic review (eg. major trauma, open injury, fracture dislocations etc). When he doesn't turn up for ward rounds I'm expected to do my own rounds on these patients. I have to be in theatre and preadmissions as well as look after the patients on the ward. I just don't think there is enough support in a small community hospital where an intern is doing his/her best yet it's still not enough?
