Intern Scheduling First Year

[chigrl08]

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Hi,

Anyone have advice on how you would schedule your ward months, NICU, ICN, call months, and vacation during your intern year? Is there any thing you would recommend doing or more importantly not doing?

Thanks!

 

[Freibi]

That really depends on what your ward/ICU months will be like (supervision etc - do you want to have NICU before ICN? Etc). I personally liked having one of each kind of inpatient service in the earlier months of the intern year and concentrating the adjustment phase early on. I had the call free months spread out somewhat, coinciding with family birthdays, so that I could take vacation at those times. If you can take vacation in small blocks, why not take advantage of that?

 

[14022]

Having worried about this just like you prior to my intern year, I can say that I think this is one of those things that every incoming intern worries about that really turns out to be nothing to worry about. Just like finding a "strategy" for making your third year medical school schedule, this is just as ambiguous. Someone will argue the benefits of making your schedule each and every way possible, but it really isn't worth worrying about it, with the exception of a few things.

-Try to anticipate important events in your life (vacations, weddings, etc) and try to schedule call-free months or vacation during that time
-If you have a thought about what you may want to do for fellowship, especially those with matches that are earlier in your second year of residency (eg, cards, honc, allergy, and a few others) try and do electives in these your intern year if your program has elective time allotted in your intern year.

But scheduling wards vs nicu and trying to figure out which one to do early vs late, it really is pointless to waste your time strategizing since each service will be difficult regardless of your previous experience. I did a NICU sub-I my 4th year of med school and scheduled it early my intern year thinking I would have an easier time. I was wrong. It was still very difficult and I really didnt think I had too much of an advantage over my fellow interns.

So don't worry too much about this, and enjoy the short time you have before starting intern year. Intern year will be the most fun you will never want to have again!

 

[oldbearprofessor]

Hi,

Anyone have advice on how you would schedule your ward months, NICU, ICN, call months, and vacation during your intern year? Is there any thing you would recommend doing or more importantly not doing?

I would recommend avoiding adolescent medicine wards, outpatients, etc.

First year schedule really doesn't matter much. Second year can be a bit more important depending on your program. If you are interested in a fellowship, you may want to try to get the relevant months early in your second year.

Besides, as I've said many times, all pedi attendings will say they started in the NICU as an intern regardless of where they actually started. So, why not actually START in the NICU? 😛 No point in dipping your toes into pedi residency, take a dive!