Hello, everyone! I’m Karina Chiddo, an intern of the New York/New Jersey campus and a part of the URI MS cohort. Recently, I completed Basic Clinical and will be starting Intermediate Clinical at NYP Lawrence in Bronxville, NY.
Personally, I was nervous about speaking to patients. It didn’t help to feel I was being put on the spot with the preceptor watching and listening. However, with time and multiple patient interviews, I became more comfortable. I cannot deny that I still fumble with my words trying to ensure most, if not all questions are answered, but the CNM reminded me that it takes time to come into your own.
One experience I’m grateful for is to perform Nutrition Focused Physical Exams. You may have thought becoming an RDN didn’t require touching patients, but these physical exams help the patients. Depending on your location, NFPEs may not be utilized, but I would urge you to suggest starting them as part of your assessment. If you aren't comfortable touching a patient, you can at least take into account the temple and orbital regions.
Lastly, I've learned the importance of balance and being flexible. We can all plan out our day, week, or month, but we must be able to roll with the changes. If you are relocating for your sites, it's a good idea to find or create a hobby that allows you time for yourself. I've been fortunate enough to find a weightlifting gym to continue my training and a great coach who understands my situation. Whether it's lifting weights, going for a run, finding a yoga class, find something that allows you to step away from the internship. If you can do it with friends or make friends along the way, the better.
During Basic Clinical, I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a great learning environment, have great preceptors, and a chance to grow. Before we walk into the doors of our sites, we wonder if we lack the knowledge and skills to be there. That’s okay. Like Gayanne Wolset, NY/Philadelphia Director, and one of the RDNs said, if we already knew how to do this, we wouldn’t need to be in an internship. The internship is truly a learning experience and you should take it as such. You just need to remember you were selected for this internship and you have what it takes to make it through.
Personally, I was nervous about speaking to patients. It didn’t help to feel I was being put on the spot with the preceptor watching and listening. However, with time and multiple patient interviews, I became more comfortable. I cannot deny that I still fumble with my words trying to ensure most, if not all questions are answered, but the CNM reminded me that it takes time to come into your own.
One experience I’m grateful for is to perform Nutrition Focused Physical Exams. You may have thought becoming an RDN didn’t require touching patients, but these physical exams help the patients. Depending on your location, NFPEs may not be utilized, but I would urge you to suggest starting them as part of your assessment. If you aren't comfortable touching a patient, you can at least take into account the temple and orbital regions.
Lastly, I've learned the importance of balance and being flexible. We can all plan out our day, week, or month, but we must be able to roll with the changes. If you are relocating for your sites, it's a good idea to find or create a hobby that allows you time for yourself. I've been fortunate enough to find a weightlifting gym to continue my training and a great coach who understands my situation. Whether it's lifting weights, going for a run, finding a yoga class, find something that allows you to step away from the internship. If you can do it with friends or make friends along the way, the better.
During Basic Clinical, I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a great learning environment, have great preceptors, and a chance to grow. Before we walk into the doors of our sites, we wonder if we lack the knowledge and skills to be there. That’s okay. Like Gayanne Wolset, NY/Philadelphia Director, and one of the RDNs said, if we already knew how to do this, we wouldn’t need to be in an internship. The internship is truly a learning experience and you should take it as such. You just need to remember you were selected for this internship and you have what it takes to make it through.
