Internship in Healthcare Matters More Than You Know

 

Interns in hospitals are often belittled for their work and experience. It is a transitional phase between student life and that of a registered practitioner, positioning them in a ‘no-one’s’ zone.

 

You have completed your course—medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, or a technician, whatever it may be—and are anticipating the upcoming internship. The internet is flooded with guides on how to survive internships in healthcare. Our question is, why just survive? Why not rock the internship? Internship in healthcare matters more than you know, and here’s why.

 

What is Medical Internship?

An internship in healthcare is a work experience program integrated into healthcare courses. Internships provide students the opportunity to work alongside expert professionals in real-world settings like hospitals, clinics, or research labs, allowing them to observe medical procedures, ask questions, and perform tasks under supervision.

 

Internships in healthcare for college students extend beyond the institution's premises. Can you intern at a hospital? Yes, students are allowed to opt for external internships too for added experience. Many students from private colleges opt for internships in government hospitals for expansive and diverse exposure to cases. 

 

Can I do my medical internship in another country?

 

Many medical students and graduates research international internships or electives to experience different healthcare systems, cultures, and medical practices. But you won't get the complete internship transferred to a foreign nation—you can only select electives for international internships.

 

 

Here is an Unorthodox Take on Internship Opportunities in Healthcare

Healthcare students may feel ready after finishing med school to jump-start their careers. Just then, internship comes along as an uninvited guest. As experts in careers in healthcare, we guide healthcare interns through their professional journey. 

 

Based on the personal experiences of experts onboard Anastomos, this is what we think works:

 

Internship Strategies

We’ve had some of our medical college mates call internship as internsh*t. As funny as it may sound, an internship in healthcare can be a blend of long working hours, unreasonable seniors, backstabbing colleagues, and many other things of that sort. The choice is yours. 

 

You can either feel overwhelmed by all of those or approach every possibility as an opportunity, systematically. The learning curve is steep initially but slowly hits a plateau where you are comfortable, learn something new every day, and enjoy the journey.

 

Background Reading

The 8–9 hours of internship follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of your time will be spent on 20% of common tasks. For medical students, this looks like taking blood samples, ABGs, referrals, clerking cases, catheter inserting, CPR, and potassium correction. Master these 20% and focus on completing them efficiently and effectively—and fast.

 

While you do that, do not forget to do some background reading. Medical studies rarely involve in-depth research and reading high-impact journal articles and publications. You may have the headspace and time to do this now. Did you witness a new procedure today? Read more about it and keep yourself updated. 

 

This is one of the intern healthcare benefits. It is a large window to learn, clear doubts, and grow endlessly. In case you are preparing for residency programs, post-graduation studies, or international licensure exams, micro-preparations such as these will come in handy. 

 

Get Your Hands Dirty—Be Proactive

In a high-stakes hospital environment, realigning perspective is crucial. Doing tasks like pushing patients, evacuating bowels, and repairing printers are essential tasks. Being useful tends to be more valuable than being intelligent; being accountable for small tasks will lead to more important work. Being responsible for small tasks will prepare one for more important tasks in the future.

 

It also makes you noticeable among the batch of interns. The next time, you may have a resident doctor ask you to assist him or glove up for a minor procedure. 

 

To effectively learn a medical procedure, begin by observing it performed once. Then, review the indicators and problems several times and mentally rehearse the methods to gain confidence. When the opportunity arises, discreetly notify your senior that you are available to assist with the pending process. During the preparation, acquire the courage to recommend that you take the initiative and carry out the procedure yourself.

 

Ask Questions, Be Clear

A clear thought process is powerful and can help identify real issues, differentiate between manageable and unmanageable tasks, and solve problems one step at a time. It's achieved through introspection and questioning. Junior officers often struggle with case presentations due to a lack of clarity. 

 

Ask questions when in doubt. It is better to bombard seniors and colleagues with queries than to make mistakes in healthcare. An internship medical doctor is not expected to know everything. Leverage this ‘idea’, shed uneasiness, and clarify all hiccups. 

 

Be Malleable and Flexible as Water—Networking is Key

It's best to be prepared and keep your team, seniors, and colleagues in the loop. Be flexible, jovial, and social, and take the first step towards networking. Food can be an excellent social lubricant and could be your modus operandi. Meeting peers and experts during lunches or coffee breaks can be a great way to initiate conversations and network. 

 

Anastomos: Adding Real Internship Meaning in Healthcare

Anastomos, India’s first healthcare providers’ network, founded and run by healthcare professionals, has taken the internship game seriously. Our founders and managers are healthcare experts who recall their internship journeys to compile this article. 

 

We have a curated section for medical students, where you can access upskilling courses, certifications, career coaches, mentors, observerships, overseas internships, and guidance on how to write CVs and cover letters to prepare for upcoming job opportunities. 

 

If you are interested to coach an internship in healthcare, or are looking to take that extra step to upskill as an intern, feel free to sign up with us for free!