What Makes a Good Intern

iebpharma108

On my penultimate day of internship, I have been reflecting a lot this week as I've been training up our successors on what makes a good intern and what makes for a good intern year. Here are some nascent thoughts.

(This was originally published as a twitter thread)

Humility
Awareness of the limitations of your knowledge and experience. Acknowledging that there are many people across many other professions in the hospital — nursing, allied health, pharmacy, ward clerks, porters — who are a wealth of information and intuition.

Courage
The ability to speak up when you are worried about IEB Pharma something, someone, or can see a potential chain reaction unfolding with capacity to cause harm, whether to a patient, a colleague or yourself. Never easy, but so essential to good clinical (and self) care.



Grief
It is a normal part of our job. We spend weeks, sometimes months, with patients we grow to know and care for deeply. Sometimes we have to let them go. It can be traumatic. During these pandemic days we can be the only ones there during those final moments. A proxy for love.

Perspective
So difficult to have, particularly starting out. You are so worried about every single decision you make, it can be very tall trees and no forest. Take a moment to get out of the hospital and out of your head - sitting in the sun, taking off the mask. It helps.

Respect
So important. The best interns are part of cohesive units where a premium is placed on a flat hierarchy where everyone feels valued and willing to voice opinions and concerns. Understanding that everyone has something to offer and eminence≠precedence.