Working with interns...can you help?

[maddiecat]

I will be starting a new job at a teaching hospital and have never worked with interns. They have just hired a ton of new ones. Will you give me some pointers on how best to work with them/what I can expect? Thanks a million in advance.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

it's probablysomething to ask us brits aobut as unless we work in private areas only a lot of our time is pent interacting with juniors, epsecially given that the shortest speciality training i nthe Uk is the GPVTS for primary care docs and that's sually at least 2 years ontop of the foundation years - other specialities are at least 4-6 years on top of the 2 foundation years and historically due to various log jams i nthe system a lot longer with people spending extra years as SHOs or having none training programme middle grade posts while waiting for a higher specialist training 'number'

dealing with FY1 / interns is about supportign them in an unobstrusive manner anf making sure they seek w hlep when they need it ... most FY1s realise quickly that staying o nthe right side of the nurses is a good idea as doctors need nurses more than nurses need doctors ...

[EmmaG, RN]

When I started the travel job, my first assignment was at a university hospital. I've never worked with residents/interns except sporadically as one or two would shadow an attending; nothing like what I experienced at this place. My biggest problem was figuring out who to call. Seems I wasted more time being shuttled from one to the other until I finally would find the right one to talk to. That was very frustrating.

[EmmaG, RN]

This is a great opportunity to teach someone that nurses have a valuable role in patient care. Running interference for them, letting them know you are a team player and providing helpful information will teach them a lot. Yes, you are a teacher. They are very insecure. Just imagine getting out of nursing school with the authority to write scripts and not having any patient care experience. Scary.

I encountered that alot too. I called once because a patient had a simple headache and requested some plain tylenol (there were no contraindications for the med). The resident practically froze and told me he had to call his 2nd year for the dose. Try as I might, I couldn't convince him the dosage was two tabs :stone

[JaneyW]

Our OB residents stay for 4 years. Some are better than others. Most are really nice--and really stressed. It is terrific having them with us all the time--no waking someone up at home or waiting for them to call back in between patients in the office. C-sections take forever until around January. I learn so much from them and I hope I teach them a thing or two as well. Stay professional.