What are questions you wish you would have asked about internship programs?

[Cephal0pod]

Greetings and salutations! Currently in the process of formulating my list of small animal rotating internship programs to reach out to. For those who have gone through the Match, what are some questions that you asked or wish you would have asked interns in the programs you applied to?

I want to get a good sense for what life is really like as an intern in these programs, but I'm not entirely sure what all I should be asking in order to accomplish this. I don't want to waste the time of the interns who are gracious enough to consider responding with questions that are too vague, not well thought out, etc.

Any thoughts ya'll are willing to share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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[racccjlm]

Support when working emergency shifts. To expand on that - Will you have a technician? Two? How experienced are they? Or will you be with students only (if in academia)? Or on your own with owners holding for blood draws, catheters, etc? Also - to what extent will you have clinician back up?

Do not assume you'll have support. I would prioritize internships where the interns relay solid/consistent support by technicians and clinicians throughout the year.

Other than that, if you're looking to specialize, make sure that specialty has a presence where you apply and that you're guaranteed time with them (ideally early on for letter of recommendation purposes).

 

[pinkpuppy9]

1. Will I have access to patient care/record software remotely, or even on my own personal laptop?
*Reasoning: During fully staffed days, it can sometimes be hard to get access to a desktop in our hospitals, which means you basically cannot keep up with record writing until people start leaving for the day. If I had access on my laptop, the problem would be solved. Some people also really value not having the chance to take any work home with them, but I also value sitting on my couch writing records until midnight instead of sitting in the hospital until midnight.

2. How is elective time (if any) structured? If you slap me on elective early in the year, will you tell me before my first day so I have an actual chance of scheduling off-site rotations?
*We didn't get our schedules until day 2. I was one of the unlucky few who was assigned elective time very early on, despite the intern director (who is an exotics guy, so in the know) knowing I wanted to book time at a zoo. Literally impossible to get into a zoo with weeks notice, which sucked.

3. How much ER is really scheduled?

4. Can I get time with my desired specialty before the match?

5. How much on-call is scheduled?

6. Where do interns tend to live? (then go look at the rent for that area)

 

[Minnerbelle]

Or will you be with students only (if in academia)? Or on your own with owners holding for blood draws, catheters, etc?

Wut? Is this really a thing?

 

[racccjlm]

Wut? Is this really a thing?

In some programs the staffing is abysmal - yes. Due to high turnover, lack of funds, etc. There were many nights in the latter portion of my internship that I was without a technician for part or all of the shift, with only students to help (albeit hard working, but not the same as techs). I have friends that recount times in their internships where they had no one but themselves on overnights. I am hopeful that this is representative of few and far between programs, but nonetheless - not something I had thought to question going in, as I assumed adequate support staff was a given.

 

[Minnerbelle]

In some programs the staffing is abysmal - yes. Due to high turnover, lack of funds, etc. There were many nights in the latter portion of my internship that I was without a technician for part or all of the shift, with only students to help (albeit hard working, but not the same as techs). I have friends that recount times in their internships where they had no one but themselves on overnights. I am hopeful that this is representative of few and far between programs, but nonetheless - not something I had thought to question going in, as I assumed adequate support staff was a given.

Omg that is super unfair for both the interns and the students. This is supposed to be a learning experience.... that is deplorable. I wouldn’t have thought to ask that either. I’d think that at absolute minimum you’d have 2 staff members to support you overnight. Students don’t count. Seriously **** that.

 

[SocialStigma]

As others have mentioned, most of your time during your internship will be spent on ER, so it is important that you are comfortable with how each institution runs the ER service.

- Clinician supervision while on ER? - I matched to an internship where interns were never alone while on ER, there was always at least 1 other ER vet. Which I was eternally grateful for because I started my internship on ER overnights, and my first night I had a DKA and HBC come in at the same time.
- If you will be the only vet while on ER - do you have a clinician available as backup?
- ER shift schedule? How many days/weeks will you be on days vs. nights? How many days off in between?
- Elective time? Is the elective time protected? (I know some internships where interns still have to work ER on weekends even if they are on an elective week)

 

[JaynaAli]

I’d ask how case transfers go. In more than one way...how are ER to specialty service transfers handled and (probably more importantly for your work life balance) what happens on your days off, like are you still expected to come in and check on inpatients or do you transfer them to someone else on the same service or ER and thus have your entire day off truly “off”.

 

[deleted498041]

- Clinician supervision while on ER? - I matched to an internship where interns were never alone while on ER, there was always at least 1 other ER vet. Which I was eternally grateful for because I started my internship on ER overnights, and my first night I had a DKA and HBC come in at the same time.

My internship had us alone after Labor Day on overnights (with another intern) which I actually really enjoyed. So, in that vein, if you ARE alone on some shifts, ask at which point during the internship you're kicked out of the nest.

If you're in a busy internship: is there a limit to the number of inpatients someone has before they're divvied up to share the load?

I also asked their success rate for people matching to the next stage of their career, such as specialty internships or residencies. Most places couldn't give me solid numbers, but they could give me a general idea. Also, can you get time off for interviews? I was unable to do so during my internship, which was fine because programs either didn't interview in my specialty or were okay with phone/Skype interviews but that isn't the case for all specialties.

 

[pinkpuppy9]

Elective time? Is the elective time protected? (I know some internships where interns still have to work ER on weekends even if they are on an elective week)

I'm in a program where we get the elective time, but we are also on call for ER the entire time. Even if you're offsite (but local, at least) there is a chance you will get called in and have to leave your elective. It's dumb.

 

[pyrate]

Omg that is super unfair for both the interns and the students. This is supposed to be a learning experience.... that is deplorable. I wouldn’t have thought to ask that either. I’d think that at absolute minimum you’d have 2 staff members to support you overnight. Students don’t count. Seriously **** that.

At my academic internship, I'm lucky if I get 1 technician at night, and I'm on my own from 4 am to 6 or 7 am. And by alone, I mean I'm the veterinarian, technician and receptionist. I hope multiple things don't need immediate care during those hours because I am but 1 person. We're also the only ER for several hours and have a decent caseload. I would not have thought to ask those questions on the match, because I assumed 90% supervision meant something else, and I would never have expected this from an academic institution.

 

[Minnerbelle]

At my academic internship, I'm lucky if I get 1 technician at night, and I'm on my own from 4 am to 6 or 7 am. And by alone, I mean I'm the veterinarian, technician and receptionist. I hope multiple things don't need immediate care during those hours because I am but 1 person. We're also the only ER for several hours and have a decent caseload. I would not have thought to ask those questions on the match, because I assumed 90% supervision meant something else, and I would never have expected this from an academic institution.

That’s awful. The academic institution near me is much bigger and better staffed but the interns do get the shaft, and I’m generally terrified for my patients when I send them to the ER overnight because there have been so many cases that were FUBAR’d by interns. For my staff’s pets and very few of my favorite patients, I will come in at any time of the night/day as long as they are not in critical enough condition to truly need a criticalist/specialist right away. I don’t need an overwhelmed intern who is in way over their heads (not their fault so don’t take this the wrong way), who has been a doctor for just months barely supervised to care for the animals I feel personally responsible for.

 

[VetMedSurvivalGuide]

I also asked their success rate for people matching to the next stage of their career, such as specialty internships or residencies. Most places couldn't give me solid numbers, but they could give me a general idea.

You can see this information on the program description.


It is important to keep in mind what to ask the interns and the program contact person. Some of the comments on the posts above, while important considerations, would likely not be seen in a good light by the program contact person.

On the other hand, ask anything you want to interns - they will give you the good, the bad and the ugly. And will be honest about it.

 

[deleted498041]

You can see this information on the program description.


It is important to keep in mind what to ask the interns and the program contact person. Some of the comments on the posts above, while important considerations, would likely not be seen in a good light by the program contact person.

On the other hand, ask anything you want to interns - they will give you the good, the bad and the ugly. And will be honest about it.

This is all self-reported and so institutions can choose to omit it from their program description. Also, it doesn't break down those that applied for/were accepted to residencies by specialty. When I interviewed, I asked specifically for my specialty.

 

[VetMedSurvivalGuide]

This is all self-reported and so institutions can choose to omit it from their program description. Also, it doesn't break down those that applied for/were accepted to residencies by specialty. When I interviewed, I asked specifically for my specialty.

To my knowledge, they can't omit it. It's part of the program description. Sure you can say they can write down whatever they want but that would completely go against the spirit of the Match and in such a small world, someone will call them on it.

You are correct regarding the different specialties. That is something that you must ask.

 

[Squeaksmom]

To my knowledge, they can't omit it. It's part of the program description. Sure you can say they can write down whatever they want but that would completely go against the spirit of the Match and in such a small world, someone will call them on it.

You are correct regarding the different specialties. That is something that you must ask.

Last year I definitely looked at postings that didn't include it.

 

[deleted498041]

To my knowledge, they can't omit it. It's part of the program description. Sure you can say they can write down whatever they want but that would completely go against the spirit of the Match and in such a small world, someone will call them on it.

You are correct regarding the different specialties. That is something that you must ask.

I'm not the person responsible for submitting information to match, and likely never will be, but there are definitely listings that do not have the information such as "applicants that applied for residencies/applicants that accepted residencies" and similar information. I always assumed it was because the program did not send forth that information to match, but I'm honestly not sure. I could always ask some of the residency and internship coordinators at my institution, I suppose.

 

[cohen2000]

Seems like a lot of the academic internships don't post residency match statistics. Also, that stat often includes match rate to residencies and specialty internships.

 

[stealthoscope]

I agree with a lot of the recommendations made so far!

Definitely find out how much ER you will be scheduled for, how long the shifts /really/ are (this is a question that is better asked to current interns rather than during your interview, as you don't want to come off as if you're trying to get out of work, but you also should know what you're getting into if there is a reputation for interns having to keep seeing cases after their shifts are technically over), and how many days off you get, especially when transitioning on or off overnights.

I would also ask current interns about what the housing options are and whether the rent is feasible with your (low) salary. This is important when moving to a city, particularly, as the cost of living may be much higher than you expect.

 

[pinkpuppy9]

I'd also ask current interns how the general vibe of the internship is, don't be afraid to ask this. Are interns really treated poorly, or are they treated like part of the hospital family? I like my internship in that most (key word) of the clinicians give a crap about you, ask you questions about your life, and a couple check in on you when they know you're on a rough rotation. My dad just got a lung transplant. Word spread around the hospital and I've had more people than I expected checking in on me and asking me how he was doing.

I've got a friend doing an internship where is seems they just exist to get roasted during morning rounds every day...I can honestly say that doesn't really happen in my program unless you really dropped the ball (and even then, it's all constructive).

An internship is hard work, long hours, and little pay, but you shouldn't feel the urge to vomit before you walk in the building every day.