advice for new interns

[interntobe]

Hi everyone,

I will be starting my internship in july and wanted to get nurses' perspectives of "do's and dont's" for new doctors. Any anecdotes illustrating the kinds of behaviors/practices of new interns that work or don't work (for the team) would be really helpful. I would really appreciate your input and advice!

Thanks,

L.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

If you don't know something, just say so! Ask one of the nurses or the Senior. Don't try and fake it. And if we queston an order, don't get offended. We are just trying to cover our butts as well as yours.

And if you are going to take a 15 minute nap, make a quick round and ask if anyone needs orders for anything (ie, sleeping meds, pain meds) or has any concerns so we don't call you 5 minutes after your head hits the pillow for a Colace order.

Good Luck!!

[Cascadians]

¥ Be polite to nurses.

¥ When you write an order, make it VERY legible.

¥ Learn to use the photocopy machine, and if it is important or STAT orders, photocopy it and physically take it to the nurse. The Unit Secretary may get so flustered with "multitasking" that s/he may not get to it.

¥ Anticipate your pt's needs ahead of time and write orders before middle-of-the-night calls.

¥ Do not think DNR discussion re a terminal patient is an insult to you.

¥ Please go into a pt room if terminal and gently level with the patient, with compassion.

¥ Listen to the nurses. To helplessly witness suffering that can be alleviated is a terrible stress.

¥ Bookmark this Forum! :)

[blitz]

Hi Doc!

You're a breath of fresh air! I've been a nurse for 15 years and I don't ever recall any intern ever asking advice like this! You've got the game half won! The advice you've been given from my fellow posters is wonderful, and I wish to emphasize the handwriting; please be legible. We have to know what it says to legally follow it and if we, not to mention the pharmacists, can't decipher it, we have to hunt you down whether it's 1400 or 0200. Another thing I'd recommend is getting to know some of the nurses with whom you'll be working. The help you'll get, not to mention their effort to go the extra mile for you will be well worth it. Niceness pays! A sense of comraderie among nursing and medical makes a great working environment. Personally, I just don't function on intimidation and rants :-(

All the best, let us know how you're doing...

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Amen to all of the above. One more thing.

When I came across this 4th year med student I was impressed.

So when he came on as a resident in our facility:

He always said please and thank you.

He returned calls in a timely manner.

His writing was legible.

He flagged orders and brought STATS to the nurses' attention.

He listened to that "nursing intuition" we all have.

The last day of his residency he came to the floors and thanked the nurses for teaching him and working with him.

When he went into private practice, I chose him as my internist.