Life Beyond Text Books: Patience, Self-Care, and Relationships
Hi all! My name is Kamala and I am currently embarking on the tenth and final week of my clinical rotation! Looking back on the last nine weeks, it has been quite the journey. For various reasons, I’ve found that many interns entering the dietetic internship are most nervous for the much-anticipated clinical rotation—myself included!
As I reflect on this rotation, oddly enough, the most important things I’ve learned as an intern aren’t all the clinical details and the ins and outs of charting. Instead, it’s all of the experiences I’ve gained, the relationships I’ve built, the lessons I’ve learned—all the things you just can’t get from a textbook or learn in a classroom—it’s the real-world experience that has made this rotation and the overall internship so far, so valuable.
You won’t know everything, and that’s okay.
No matter how good your intentions are of trying to be as “prepared” as you can for this rotation—reviewing medical terminology and disease states, brushing up on medical nutrition therapy, you can’t prepare for every situation that you’ll experience—and that is OK! Remember, as an intern, you are still a student—it’s expected that you won’t know everything. I mean, how can you? Ask any clinical dietitian, even the ones who have been in the field for 20+ years, and they will tell you—you can’t, and you won’t know it all. So relax, take a deep breath and know that you have the resources and tools at your side to be successful.
Be understanding and flexible.
Once settled in your rotation, you’ll notice that there are a lot of moving parts that make each rotation happen. A long list of people helped make this internship the important experience that it is, so be grateful for their efforts. Realize that your preceptors agreed to take you as an intern, and their daily obligations and work don’t suddenly stop when your rotation begins. In fact, their load of work actually increases! So be understanding and gracious of their time, and flexible in what they ask of you. Some days you may not always be doing what you had expected, but nothing is permanent and there honestly is value in any assignment that is tasked to you.
Give yourself a break! Take time to yourself.
It’s easy to get lost in all that is the dietetic internship (it is, after all, the reason why we are all here). But don’t forget about yourself. For whatever reasons, this field tends to attract more type A personalities—you know, the hard worker go-getter types, those who set high expectations of themselves, and the ones who are more likely to burn themselves out first before saying no to any opportunity. But make sure to take time for yourself. Do things outside of your rotations and the internship that make you happy, keep your spirit thriving and ultimately make you, you! The balance that you will get is something that you’ll look back on and be thankful for. And don’t forget about your friends, family and support systems that helped get you to this point in your life. Reach out to them and let them know you are there! Which brings me to my next point…
Lean on your cohort for support!
This undoubtedly is the group of people who will understand you the most when it comes to the ups and downs of the internship, needing a shoulder to lean on, celebrate successes with, or just relate to about that complicated patient you had today. Utilize this group! You won’t regret it.
Above all, stay grateful, humble and positive. This internship is a journey and you’re in the driver’s seat. So, buckle up, and look forward to the exciting road ahead!