Dun Dun Dun!

With the first day of internship just around the corner, many are pooping in their pants just thinking about the start of the end of their normal existence for the next three plus years. Don’t worry, you are in good company. Patients are probably also shifting uncomfortably in the beds of teaching hospitals across the US. Here are some helpful (hopefully) tips to keep in mind:

1. Make sure you know the location of all the bathrooms, this is very important. Don’t hold your pee; go if you have to.

2. Don’t go to the gym in your scrubs. You just look like you are showing off.

3. Don’t lie. If your senior resident or attending asks if you did something but you forgot, say you forgot. Don’t say that you did it, and certainly don’t make up anything because eventually you will get burned.

4. Remember you are an intern. You job is to learn and people are even expecting you to make mistakes. Don’t avoid things you aren’t good at or don’t know how to do because you might feel embarrassed. It’ll be much worse when you still don’t know when you are a senior.

5. Be nice to the nurses. They know much more than you how things work.

Just a few excerpts from the practical tips section of my book. My prayers go out to all who are starting this journey. It may not feel like it, but the next years will go by so fast so make the most of the experience!

The most reassuring thing someone said to me before I started? “Don’t worry. The human body is resilient. It’s actually pretty hard to kill someone accidentally.” I guess that’s true. You shouldn’t push your luck though.