Intern knowledge level

[jackets5]

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God willing I will find out that I will be an intern in July. I hear from all my attendings how they hate being on service in July because the new interns are all "clueless", "incompetent" etc. How does one not become the "clueless" intern for all that felt like the "clueless" intern how long did it take for everyone to find their way.

 

[emboli]

I think Pocket Medicine will be invaluable. Uptodate as well.

 

[Rendar5]

you will be the clueless intern regardless. accepting it makes it get better faster. For medical fields, just go in with your head down, be humble, absorb everything, and come up with your own A&P for everything including thinking ahead to how the plan will vary based on responses to treatment and lab results. compare your plan for the current status and the what-if scenarios with what your seniors do. and try to find up to date blogs and resources on your own fields.

 

[Dral]

A lot of it is 'learning the system'...the EMS, where things are in the hospital, how to call consults, etc. It's stuff you pick up very quickly. My first month was on floors and tbh, it was one of my best months (I had great teams/attendings for that month also).

 

[survivordo]

Your medical knowledge will increase expodentially with time. The hardest thing about the early part of intern year is learning what the heck you're supposed to be doing and learning the system within the hospital. Remember how as a medical student every attending seemed to want something different? It's even worse as an intern. But you will get through it and I can say I have honestly enjoyed my intern year.

Survivor DO

 

[EmergencyMonkey]

There is absolutely no way to avoid being "that intern". The keys are learning from it and as stated above, learning the system and what you are supposed to be doing. Also, take responsibility for yourself and your actions. As an attending I can't stand residents, students, interns, housekeeping, nurses, you name it making excuses. Fess up if you didn't know or if you make a mistake. It takes a lot to kill someone. Believe me, I thought I had a few times. Yep, that's right, I thrombolysed a dissection (they lived) and who knows what else, but you learn and move forward. You will be great. Just keep learning. Congratulations on becoming a doctor, but that's just the begining of the journey.
The EmergencyMonkey
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[gutonc]

Agree with what all have written here. Just accept that you will be clueless and resolve to do what you can to improve it once you get there.

But there's a big difference between being the clueless intern (i.e. virtually every single intern) and "that" intern. The former just means that you graduated from med school a week prior. The latter means you just graduated from med school but you think you know everything there is to know and are a douche about it.

The clueless intern will be taught. "That" intern will be spending a fair amount of time discussing his failures with the PD.

If you really feel like you need to read something before you start (and you don't), read one or two solid review articles on whatever your first month's rotation will be.

 

[jackets5]

Agree with what all have written here. Just accept that you will be clueless and resolve to do what you can to improve it once you get there.

But there's a big difference between being the clueless intern (i.e. virtually every single intern) and "that" intern. The former just means that you graduated from med school a week prior. The latter means you just graduated from med school but you think you know everything there is to know and are a douche about it.

The clueless intern will be taught. "That" intern will be spending a fair amount of time discussing his failures with the PD.

If you really feel like you need to read something before you start (and you don't), read one or two solid review articles on whatever your first month's rotation will be.

Thanks for the reply's. I definitely do not have a problem saying I dont know something to an attending and looking it up later. What do most interns read during the year to study. I've heard everything from Harrison's to MKSAP/Medstudy.

 

[gutonc]

Thanks for the reply's. I definitely do not have a problem saying I dont know something to an attending and looking it up later. What do most interns read during the year to study. I've heard everything from Harrison's to MKSAP/Medstudy.

Depends on your specialty (which you haven't told us yet).

The Path interns are reading different stuff than the ortho interns, who are reading different things than the OB interns who are.... I think you get the point.

 

[jackets5]

Depends on your specialty (which you haven't told us yet).

The Path interns are reading different stuff than the ortho interns, who are reading different things than the OB interns who are.... I think you get the point.

Internal Medicine.

 

[EmergencyMonkey]

I think coming from me it would only be appropriate that I suggest the Pocket Monkey.

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[Psychiatrized]

In addition to what others have said you need to be organized. A ton of information is going to be coming at you about the medical systems and about patients and you need some way to keep track of that knowledge. You will probably be carrying more patients than you have as a student so keeping track of things in a way that works for you will be important.

 

[badasshairday]

day 1 of internship, know nothing.

 

[konRAD 1]

I did a transitional year and I had very few clinical rotations at the end of med school so I was worried about it, but you will pick it up pretty quickly. I think knowing your way around the hospital helps immensely! If you know how the EMR, orders, labs, etc work thats half the battle. You're gonna have tons of supervision most likely from your senior residents and attendings.

 

[Daiphon]

Agree w/ gutonc... there's a big difference betwixt being a brand-spanking-new intern (who in all probability has knowledge, but not the ability to apply it) and "that" intern (who thinks he/she is already an attending).

I can teach the former, the latter is a much tougher bag of worms.

Your most invaluable skill in your first month is the following statement: "I don't know/am not sure, but I will find out."

A lot of "cluelessness" is simply navigating a new system... which comes easier with a willingness to work hard.

Good luck!
-d

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[gutonc]

your most invaluable skill in your training and future career is the following statement: "i don't know/am not sure, but i will find out."

ftfy.