For all the interns starting new

There is an easy formula to follow to be a good intern. It’s just adaptability and attitude. As an intern, you need to be adaptable. For example, your rotation at the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital affiliated with your university may involve a completely different set of process flows as opposed to what you had to follow at your university teaching hospital. But the rotations lasting a month each may be back to back. You are expected to adapt to the VA process flows as soon as possible, although the process flows were different from your previous rotation at the university hospital. The process flows are going to be conceptually similar but may vary in the nitty gritty. You will rotate with different attendings, each of whom may have different styles. Adapting to these styles is key to survival.

You may have to cover for your colleague or stay later than usual to finish up your work. Attitude is key, and can be a saving grace in many situations. Everyone is trying to get by, and it never helps having the wrong attitude. Building a fund of knowledge is equally important, and a good way may be reading up about patients you see.

Self care may take a back seat for the first few weeks, but checking in with yourself every so often is important too.