Growth and Gratitude

Despite the fact that I had been eagerly looking forward to my clinical rotation at Marian Regional Medical Center and my preceptors were warm and welcoming, it was definitely challenging to be an intern. Here is what I have learned about being an intern:

Attitude

Give 100% each day. I’ve show up on time, ready to go, with a positive attitude. The RDNs are very busy and have a full-time job taking care of patients. My preceptors were patient teachers who never seemed bothered to be interrupted. I did my best to use the resources I had so that I did not abuse their goodwill, but even my last day when I was feeling more confident I relied on their guidance when I was unsure. To me it is a beautiful aspect of the profession that preceptors are so selflessly willing to give their time and share their knowledge and expertise to help me grow in my clinical skills.

Be vulnerable

Ask questions. If you don’t know what to do and you’ve done your best to try to figure it out, definitely ask. One aspect of dietetics I love is that it is complex and there are gray areas where experience is tremendously valuable. The RDNs understood that I was just starting and would need a lot of guidance. Overall, they preferred that I ask a question rather than just wing it.

Ask for help. Completing a Nutrition Focused Physical Exam was challenging for me at first. Asking a patient’s permission and checking for muscle and fat loss seemed invasive. My preceptor Gina gave me the best advice – start with a patient’s hands. Holding someone’s hand seems natural because we are used to shaking hands to greet someone. You can check for interosseous muscle loss and I found it put both of us, me and the patient, at ease.

Mistakes are expected and accepted as part of the learning process. This was the most challenging aspect for me. I am attempting to balance a lot of commitments in my life as I complete the internship. Each clinical nutrition note I completed was reviewed by my preceptor before it was signed off. I was worried that if I made too many mistakes, that somehow everything I have been working toward could crash down. What I found was that my mistakes were taken as an opportunity to teach me. There was no personal condemnation – just an explanation to help me do better. The internship is a unique opportunity to practice and gain knowledge and skills.

Maintain a support system

Any experience this challenging and transformative is going to have highs and lows. At Marian I had the unique opportunity to work with RDNs with a wealth of experience and two relatively new RDNs, Sarah and Lauren from last year’s Cal Poly Dietetic Internship cohort. Lauren and Sarah provided me with the, “there is light at the end of the tunnel” perspective that helped tremendously. It was such a pleasure to be in such a warm, but highly professional environment.

When my 12-week clinical rotation at Marian recently ended I didn’t want to leave. I am grateful to my preceptors for all that they taught me. Now as I continue with other rotations, I have gained not only strategies, but also confidence that helps me navigate the challenges of being a dietetic intern. Later this year I am looking forward to attaining my dream of becoming an RDN and hopefully working in a clinical setting similar to what I experienced in this rotation.