Good luck interns!

Amnesiac_ie

Just want to wish all the people starting their internship tomorrow the very best of luck! July 1st is always an exciting, challenging and daunting they for freshly qualified doctors and I think they guys starting tomorrow have it harder than ever with so much uncertainty over what exactly their jobs will entail as negotiations over EWTD continue.

It's a difficult year but it's great fun and never be afraid to say "I don't know." In fact I hope you say it quite a lot over the next six months! The best doctors are thos who recognise their own limitations and have the confidence to admit when they are unsure. Your teams are their to help you and look out for each other as well; your former classmates and now your fellow interns are the best resource you have this year.

Good luck to everyone changing hospital, grade or specialty as well tomorrow. I'm leaving clinical medicine and a hospital I really loved in Dublin to start an SpR scheme "down the country."

We don't work in an ideal world and we all use this forum to vent a lot but I hope the year ahead is an enjoyable and productive one for us all and that the disillusioned rediscover some of the more enjoyable aspects of our work.

RobFowl

+1
It's a daunting, frightening but also extemely exciting time. This new 48 hour week will ultimately benefit you as well.

tallaght01

Amnesiac_ie wrote: »

J
It's a difficult year but it's great fun and never be afraid to say "I don't know." In fact I hope you say it quite a lot over the next six months! The best doctors are thos who recognise their own limitations and have the confidence to admit when they are unsure. .

Top advice there.

I remember starting as an intern on 3 weeks of nights. Me and the other guy who were on jut worked as a pair. Try to stick close to the other interns and support each other.

You don't have to be nice to people who aren't nice to you. You just have to be professional.

It's scary. But it's do-able.

Good luck to anyone who's reading this.

And good luck to amnesiac on your new job. Well done on getting onto an SpR scheme!

Dr Galen

If any of you interns out there are reading this and your going to one of the largest Dublin teaching hospitals and working in an care of the elderly type situation, well please be nice to the nurses, one of them could well be my wife, and the hassle your bad mood or such could cause me when she gets home is just chronic.......


On a more serious note, good luck lads. Seriously, do be nice to the nurses, it will stand you in good stead on that messy ****ty night when you really need a hand or a cup of tea and a smoke. In saying that, if any of the nurses give you crap for no reason, don't rise to it, be the bigger person, and walk away. Some of them do it for fun and its not nice and not clever!

Dozen Wicked Words

I don't envy the interns starting out and wish them the best of luck and hope they are courteous even when the other person (possibly an obnoxious nurse?) is not. It does get noticed.

Also good luck the patients, how many other trades have virtually the entire staff change over every six months.

New interns, shos, regs together with consultants that barely know their way to the hospital.

Insane system nurses get to look forward to every six months.

Vorsprung

Having finished Intern Year today, I can offer the following:

1) It's ok not to know. In fact, it's expected. A medical reg bleeped the interns about 3 weeks into July last year to check if they were ok, they hadn't bleeped him for a few hours.

2) Remember the basics. If you're facing a patient who's desaturating, it's history (look at the notes and the kardex), examination, ECG, ABG, CXR +/- bloods. If you do the simple things in your first year youve done your job well.

3) Practice! Lines, ABGs etc - they're crap to learn, but the only way to learn is to practice. Despite your fears, try to get stuck in.

4) Support - your SHO, Reg, SpR have all been there before and know the pain. A good intern knows that they are the most junior member of the team, and if he/she feels out of their depth in any way, you ring for help.

Best of luck, it's a great year. Be nice to everyone. It'll pay you pay in spades.

ChewChew

I love this time of year! Working in bed management I deal alot with the interns, sho's, reg's and spr's. looking forward to seeing who arrives tomorrow, and its always so exciting to see if we get any old faces back!

Dr Galen

Agreed there's always a few hotties

ChewChew

Mystik Monkey wrote: »

Agreed there's always a few hotties

hahaha. tis great fun sitting back and watching the hook-ups and f*ck-ups

drzhivago

ChewChew wrote: »

hahaha. tis great fun sitting back and watching the hook-ups and f*ck-ups

very entertaining when happening at the same time

Enjoy
Be well
Rest and remember as they say in the house of Zog

"they can always hurt you more"

sam34

drzhivago wrote: »

very entertaining when happening at the same time
QUOTE]

oh we've all been there!:p

all i can say to the interns is what others above have said - ask for help if you're unsure, stick with your classmates, they'll be a great support, and enjoy the year!

DrIndy

Best Of Luck - and in that dark hour on saturday night when you have a bleep constantly ringing and someone really sick in front of you - remember we've all been through it and survived it. Your seniors have been through it. That means you will too.

If a muggins like me can become a doctor - ANYONE can.

Traumadoc

Good luck and if you need help dont be afraid or too embarassed to call your seniors.

tech77

Is it still 6 mths medicine/6 mths surgery?

Or have they introduced bits of GP/paeds/obgyn as well.

Dr Galen

Traumadoc wrote: »

Good luck and if you need help dont be afraid or too embarassed to call your seniors.

i heard that there is this really really sound consultant somewhere in Dublin. Doles out his mobile number to his interns, doesn't mind if they ring at 4am or anything.

anyone else heard of him?

ChewChew

Mystik Monkey wrote: »

i heard that there is this really really sound consultant somewhere in Dublin. Doles out his mobile number to his interns, doesn't mind if they ring at 4am or anything.

anyone else heard of him?

hahaha!

I know one or two who give them out to clerical staff too reg's and sho's more so though

DrIndy

I know him and worked with him! One true legend - also buys his team drinks all the time and won't let you get a round in edgeways.

You are also as likely to get a call from him at 4am!

Dr Galen

wouldn't it be great if posted on boards

ChewChew

DrIndy wrote: »

I know him and worked with him! One true legend - also buys his team drinks all the time and won't let you get a round in edgeways.

You are also as likely to get a call from him at 4am!

Where you working now then? Have ya moved on since the last time I saw ya?

DrIndy

Townsville, Australia - decided I needed warmer weather and a temporary change of scene!

drzhivago

DrIndy wrote: »

Townsville, Australia - decided I needed warmer weather and a temporary change of scene!

what are you doing there
hospital/gp

how big is the place

its not one of the places getting flooded is it

DrIndy

ED actually - not flooded - we've got bush fires from the last 2 months of no rain, clear skies and 25C! Its 270,000 but feels a bit smaller than that - not bad all the same - ozzies do medicine differently and I hate medicare/PBS prescribing!

ChewChew

DrIndy wrote: »

Townsville, Australia - decided I needed warmer weather and a temporary change of scene!

:eek: :eek: :eek:

ok totally was NOT expecting that! Well done! Hope you are enjoying it, although if I do remember correctly, was it not you that was slaggin Tallaght01 for effin off to work in oz? lol

AmcD

Back to the interns!
My main advice:
1. Enjoy yourselves. This is the first and last time that you and all your friends will work in the same hospital.
2. Nobody expects you to know anything (appreciate this while it lasts).

I remember being paralyzed by fear when I first got my bleep. I didn't realize I was more likely to bleeped to chart paracetamol, than to review a deteriorating patient.
And yes, I checked with the nurses what the dose of paracetamol was.