Being an intern in a teaching hospital in India has taught me countless of lessons that I would remember throughout my career.
1) Gain respect not instill fear
"Respect is earned not demanded for" - Unknown
I've always believed in this unknown quoted quote for all my 4.5 years in Medical School. Main reason for this being seniors demand juniors for respect for being a seniors. Their method ranges from ragging and bullying to making juniors do petty things for them like writing record. The juniors was made to call the seniors Sir/ Mam. ( Which I never followed as a junior). I was and never will be in favor of this.
As a medical student I can proudly say I had two great professors that was great doctors and great teachers too. They can be respected for many reason ranging from their age to their experience but sadly they choose to gain respect by instilling fear to their students, and others who work with them. From my point of view that is never true respect. Yes many show that they respect them in front but I hear all sort of complaining and back talking.
I've learned that one day when I be a good doctor like them I want to be good human too. I want people around me to respect me for what I deserve and not for the fear of me or authority.
There is no joy when seeing everyone run away from you the moment they see you. I want people to greet me wholeheartedly when they see me. Hope good doctors be good human being too.
2) A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way
A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.
There are leader doctors (aka boss/HOD/HOU) aspects to be praised as God and treated as supreme of all in hospitals (sometimes outside too.) The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably INTEGRITY. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army or in a hospital.
So my question is where is the integrity of a doctor when he orders the interns to fetch lunch box out of his car? Where is the integrity of a doctor when he aspects his interns, post graduate student, masters students and colleagues to follow his rounds to a coffee shop?
Leadership is not about a title or designation. It's about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire team-mate and patients
"The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves". - Ray Kroc
Even
"illness"
Becomes
"wellness"
When there is a team work and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.
The harsh reality everyone needs to realize. There is no work an individual can achieve successfully especially in a hospital setting. Many a times intern take internship as a time to celebrate their success of finishing medical school, little did they know that internship forms the stepping stone for their future endorsers.
Basically we can notice two types of interns in the hospital. One that comes everyday, does all the work assigned, always on the run, yet being caught for being not good enough and another type that comes in to punch in attendance (sometimes rather late - to avoid morning hour working rush), attends rounds to show off their obedience to specialist and before you know it, they are not in sight anymore.
If you had or having a co intern like the second type. Brave yourself. I'm with you.
Internship is a phase where as a fresh graduate you learn teamwork in a hospital setting. There is no where else, you will be tolerated for your behavior and mistakes if not in internship.
The whole aim of teamwork is to lessen the burden of the task that should be carried out by the interns. Its very unethical and unprofessional to leave your co intern working alone in hospital just because you have done with your previous work. You have nothing to loose helping out you co intern and the rules applies to all. No one leaves behind their co intern.
Don't expect your co intern to help you when you never helped your co intern. And there is no rational in blaming, complaining and making a chaos over it. You are just degrading yourself as a professional doctor.
Never leave your duties half way and just disappear and switch off the phones so that no one could reach you. You will never know what kind of emergency it could be from the hospital and how much your irresponsibility can cause damage.
Don't ask your co intern to do your work when you're out of hospital for your personal works. Duty comes first. You might not know how busy your co intern can be dealing their own work.
Hence the teamwork between the co-interns plays a vital role.
*Examples are based on true stories*
A specialist saying " you think the hospital can't run without intern" has become a common sight. And an intern preaching that " who would do the running around?'.
A suture not opened or a dressing that is not changed causes infections and more troublesome to be treated. A undone discharge would mean the patient would not be able to leave the hospital in time. A not written reference could delay the treatment patient should be getting. Unchecked blood pressure would probably miss an early hypertension, hypertension emergency or urgency. These are just few simple and basic duties that are expected as an intern as fresh med graduate which is often taken lightly as interns. They do not realize their importance and responsibility as an intern.
Do you think the specialist are there at their place now if not for them doing these jobs as an intern before. They knew the basic skills that they had to know and master before having hands on treating a patient. You will never be a good doctor if you never realize how important basic are, in medicine.
Interns, remember internship is not a time for you to enjoy (and leave your duties to others) as a celebration of completing med school but time to practice what the theory books has thought you.
I've seen first year post graduate has minimum to nil basic clinical skills, sometimes worst than a final year student. They could probably explain the theory behind it but not practice it.
Just because the eligibility for a post graduate seat is only to score a good marks in the entrance exam does't mean you can neglect basic clinical skills that will be used throughout your career.
Unless you just want a degree and a post graduate title behind your name. You shall pass.