interns and residents

[byeh2004]

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i was watching grey's anatomy, and im so confused, what the difference between interns and residents? are you first an intern coming out of med school and then your a resident, how long are you an intern?

 

[MWillie]

1st year residents are called interns.

 

[0T6]

interns are also called PGY1s, so yah, you're an "intern" for a year.

 

[byeh2004]

do they really treat you like crap, lol i was watching grey's anatomy last night on my comp

 

[OSUdoc08]

do they really treat you like crap, lol i was watching grey's anatomy last night on my comp

they do if you screw up, but those TV shows embellish quite a bit

 

[beanbean]

Please don't rely on Grey's Anatomy for any factual information re: medicine. It is a fictional TV show and many aspects of medicine are exaggerated for entertainment value.

There will always be people who treat you like crap no matter what job you do.

 

[frank51]

Compared to residents, are interns limited with respect to what they can do (write prescriptions, procedures, etc.)?

 

[OSUdoc08]

Compared to residents, are interns limited with respect to what they can do (write prescriptions, procedures, etc.)?

Well only on the basis that you take step III of your boards in the middle of your intern year, meaning you won't be a licensed physician until towards the end of that year. You cannot moonlight until you are a licensed physician.

 

[alhkim]

Compared to residents, are interns limited with respect to what they can do (write prescriptions, procedures, etc.)?

In fact, compared to residents, interns are supposed do much "more" than residents. At most hospitals, the interns are the only ones that write orders, with the upper level residents supervising them. The same goes for procedures...the intern or junior resident usually has first crack, then if difficulty arises, the senior resident steps in.

 

[alhkim]

Well only on the basis that you take step III of your boards in the middle of your intern year, meaning you won't be a licensed physician until towards the end of that year. You cannot moonlight until you are a licensed physician.

True, one cannot moonlight until receiving a permanent license, but temporary licenses are granted to interns so they can write orders, etc.

 

[Skichic56]

True, one cannot moonlight until receiving a permanent license, but temporary licenses are granted to interns so they can write orders, etc.

What is moonlighting? Does that mean to write orders?

 

[vikaskoth]

moonlighting, is working at other healthcare places to supplement your income on your free time, working er shifts, clinics. extra money

 

[frank51]

Well only on the basis that you take step III of your boards in the middle of your intern year, meaning you won't be a licensed physician until towards the end of that year. You cannot moonlight until you are a licensed physician.

True, one cannot moonlight until receiving a permanent license, but temporary licenses are granted to interns so they can write orders, etc.

Thanks for the info. BTW, I had no idea that interns actually had time to work for extra money.

 

[alhkim]

Thanks for the info. BTW, I had no idea that interns actually had time to work for extra money.

Just to clarify--to moonlight you need to be licensed. To be licensed, you have to pass Step III. Most interns take step III in the middle or late intern year, and the licensing process can take months to finish. So interns DO NOT moonlight, and definitely do not have the time to moonlight. Interns though do "run" the nuts and bolts of the hospitals by being the primary caregivers for the patients, with attendings, fellows, and senior level residents advising/recommending therapies, etc.

 

[cwy]

Just to clarify--to moonlight you need to be licensed. To be licensed, you have to pass Step III. Most interns take step III in the middle or late intern year, and the licensing process can take months to finish. So interns DO NOT moonlight, and definitely do not have the time to moonlight. Interns though do "run" the nuts and bolts of the hospitals by being the primary caregivers for the patients, with attendings, fellows, and senior level residents advising/recommending therapies, etc.

Actually, to be licensed, you need to pass Step III AND finish a year of internship. That's why even if the interns take step III early in the year, they still can't get licensed until they have finished the entire internship.

 

[Blue Scrub]

interns are also called PGY1s, so yah, you're an "intern" for a year.

What does PGY stand for by the way? I never knew...

 

[Biscuit799]

What does PGY stand for by the way? I never knew...

Post Graduate Year

i.e. PGY 1, PGY 2

 

[Blue Scrub]

Post Graduate Year

i.e. PGY 1, PGY 2

ahhh...thanks!

 

[SteelEyes]

Just to clarify--to moonlight you need to be licensed. To be licensed, you have to pass Step III. Most interns take step III in the middle or late intern year, and the licensing process can take months to finish. So interns DO NOT moonlight, and definitely do not have the time to moonlight. Interns though do "run" the nuts and bolts of the hospitals by being the primary caregivers for the patients, with attendings, fellows, and senior level residents advising/recommending therapies, etc.

Many programs will let PGY-1's 'moonlight' at their own institution, as in filling in extra shifts for supplemental income. Interns are often busy with the 80 hour work week but most will have time for moonlighting, especially on electives and ambulatory months.

By the way, in my opinion, Scrubs is the most 'real' medical fiction show out there. ER sucks and Grey's anatomy is not much better.

 

[njbmd]

do they really treat you like crap, lol i was watching grey's anatomy last night on my comp

Hi there,
As an intern or PGY-1, in a good program, you are not treated "like crap" even if you make a mistake. I am a General Surgery resident and I was never treated with anything other than total respect by my colleagues. Grey's Anatomy is a telly show for your entertainment. There is very little reality to this show.
njbmd 🙂

 

[Biscuit799]

By the way, in my opinion, Scrubs is the most 'real' medical fiction show out there. ER sucks and Grey's anatomy is not much better.

BTW...Anyone else notice how greys anatomy is a total rip off of scrubs? you have the horny guy who treats women like crap, the loser main character guy who loves the girl, the pretty/smart girl who falls for someone else, and the minority female with an attitude. if grey's anatomy were a comedy, you could call it scrubs and nobody would know the difference.

 

[fullefect1]

So for moonlighting... does that mean that they would have to be in a ER program to moonlight in the ER. Lets just say someone who is going for a Internal medicine program can they do it??? Does this extra income equal to the hourly pay of a normal doctor who has already finished their residency???

 

[Biscuit799]

So for moonlighting... does that mean that they would have to be in a ER program to moonlight in the ER. Lets just say someone who is going for a Internal medicine program can they do it??? Does this extra income equal to the hourly pay of a normal doctor who has already finished their residency???

No, you do not have to be in an ER program to moonlight. Any licensed doctor can moonlight. And no, the pay is much less.

 

[rotatores]

Also concerning Grey's anatomy...if you noticed...the author is a minority as are 3/4 of the attendings. Where as the interns are 5/6 white. Not that this really matters...just something I picked up on.