It's about 10 days to go before your "normal" life takes a twisted turn.
I'm sure that most, if not all, are anxious on how JI or CC life, as how some of us call it, is like. The life of a junior intern, also known as a clinical clerk, is not as daunting as you might expect, and it is not as wonderful as you might imagine.
To go straight to the point, let me share to you 10 things you need to carry on once you start wandering the hallways of the hospital and start becoming the future doctor that you are:
1. Love what you do
- You will be scattered throughout the corridors of your hospital for the next 365 days. Loving what you do will give you the motivation to work hard and do your best. Do not perform tasks with a heavy heart. There will be times that you will regret doing what you are doing every single day. Just remember: loving your work is like loving your patient, and also loving yourself. So show some heart and work that ass off!
2. Learn from each patient
- When you are decked with a patient, treat each patient with utmost care, like how you would like to take care of your loved ones. But, most importantly, learn from them, like you're reading a textbook. Each patient carries a unique case that you might have read from your previous years. Internship is the time to reinforce those tiring coffeehouse sessions with real-life scenarios.
3. Take criticisms in a constructive way
- Being a JI/CC isn't all glitz and glamour. There will always come a time when you will be subjected to criticism and embarrassment. When that inevitable moment comes, try not to frown. Though it is human nature to be sad, just do so for a while. Then, when you get back to your senses, take it as a means to improve yourself. Almost all of us went through that phase, so don't think that you're alone.
4. Be nice to everybody
- Like what I've said, you will be scattered throughout the corridors of your hospital for the next 365 days. And with that comes a good attitude. Remember to be nice to everybody: from your friendly janitor up until your terror consultant. Show some love to your co-JI's, residents, nurses med techs, and a whole lot more. Your attitude will speak of how you will be seen by everybody for one whole year, so don't risk being a jerk and acting like one.
5. Treat demerits as life's painful lessons
- When life gives you accolades, it also gives you heartbreaks. That is how it goes with demerits. A demerit is life's big bitch slap to your face, telling you to man up and do better next time. Don't sulk over a demerit, because you WILL have to serve them eventually. Take it with a grain of salt: don't take it literally. Instead, learn from it, and let it teach you to become a better doctor.
6. Do not be late
- Gone were the days when we can go to class 30 minutes before it ends, and get away with it smooth and clean. It NEVER works that way in JI-ship. When attendance is at 7:00AM, do come earlier than that. Trust me, you won't like being crossed out. Three (3) strikes is equals to a 24-hour demerit. Succeeding lates is tantamount to additional 24 hours. Ain't that a bitch.
7. Know your role, and stick to it
- When you are given a role, or a certain function, live with it, and don't go overboard. When they tell you to monitor a certain patient, don't go doing other stuff not related to your assigned task. Going overboard incurs certain consequences that, mind you, you do not want to face. Know your job description, do it, and if they give you another task to do, make sure it is justifiable, and do it. Don't work on something that will implicate you into something bad. 'nuf said.
8. Know what to prioritise
- Patients are always first priority, no doubt about that. But in between patients, there will always be a #1 priority. Know who and what to prioritise. Identify tasks that are needed to be done immediately, and know which patient needs closer monitoring. It helps you save time and effort despite the unbearable load of patients that you will be having.
9. Share what you know, and learn what you don't know
- There will always be rounds with either residents or consultants. Stay alert: if you know something, and the senior asks something about it, share it with everybody. It will not make you less of a person if you get it wrong. If you don't know what is being asked, don't let it slip through your head. Learn what is lacking, and take it as a golden opportunity to learn something new.
10. Treat every single day as a blessing
- JI-ship is a roller-coaster ride. There will be days that you will love what you're doing, and there will be days that you would wish you would've quit while you still can. Take each day in JI-ship carpe diem: seize each day and treat it as a blessing. Don't treat each day as a "this again?!" moment. Each day is a blessing, so never forget to thank God for each and every day that you will live as a JI, because as a day passes by with you feeling fine, there will always be someone who's life is on the thinnest line.
Our batch's run throughout this whole JI-ship thing has been unforgettable. It taught us how to become better than what we were before. We started out as zombies, knowing nothing and treating everything as hieroglyphics. Now, we can say that we are confident to be exposed to the world of the sick and suffering. We do hope that you will become better JI's than we are. It's just a mix of a good attitude and positive outlook that will take you to better places in the near future.
Good luck, incoming JI/CC. See you in a few days! :)
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