Hello everyone! My name is Katie Escobar and I am a Region 10 (Texas) intern. I am just wrapping up my clinical rotation at the Corpus Christi Doctors Regional Medical Center with eight days of staff relief to go! I cannot believe how fast time has flown. It seems like yesterday I was at orientation eager for my internship to even start and now I am almost halfway through!
Like many, I was nervous going into my clinical rotation. I had never worked in a hospital prior to starting my internship and I had no idea what to expect. My first day was filled with questions about how I was supposed to navigate the hospital, muster up the courage to talk to the nurses and doctors, and learn what I initially thought was the complicated task of charting patients.
Luckily, I was fortunate enough to work with an amazing preceptor who believed in me since day one of my internship. With her guidance and support, I quickly learned the ropes of clinical. Within one week of starting my rotation, I began seeing patients on my own and was loving every second! Talking to patients came naturally to me, and I was pleasantly surprised by the positive feedback I was receiving from my preceptors, the nurses, and even the physicians, all of whom I became close with. My confidence only continued to grow throughout my time at the hospital as I got experience working with more critically ill patients. Now going into my staff relief rotation, I am in awe by how much I have grown in such a short amount of time.
During my clinical rotation, I gained invaluable experience working with a diverse range of patients. One of my key roles was overseeing the ortho floor and taking part in rounds. If patients met certain criteria, I provided diabetes education. It was during this time that I was able to connect with patients and empower them to make changes in their lifestyle. It was fulfilling to see the direct impact I could have on them and show them that small changes could make a huge difference.
Another meaningful experience I had was in my advanced clinical rotation where I attended ICU rounds with the critical care team. My enteral and parenteral nutrition skills were strengthened working with patients with complex diseases. I was not treated as an intern, but instead I was treated as a valued member of the interdisciplinary team.
Below I share my top 5 tips for surviving clinical.
1.Stay prepared!
Although the clinical assignments can feel overwhelming, they are incredibly helpful. Every night I would review parts of the assignments, refresh on current MNT, and look up things I didn’t know during the day.
2.Find what works for you!
Your preceptor will most likely give you a lot of tips and resources. However, I encourage you to find what works best for you and your individual learning style. For example, I created my own nutrition assessment template that helped me to outline my conversations with my patients and obtain pertinent information.
3.Strive for progress not perfection!
I am sure many of you can relate to being a Type A perfectionist, but one thing I’ve learned during my clinical rotation is that you are not going to know everything. You are going to be challenged and you are going to make mistakes at times. But hey, that is OKAY! The internship is a learning experience and you shouldn’t hold yourself to the standard that you need to be perfect. Make sure to ask questions and look at each day as an opportunity to improve as a future RD.
4.Have confidence!
Although you are not supposed to know everything, have confidence in what you DO know! You worked hard to get to this point. Time to show it off!
Also, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and talk to the nurses and physicians. I will be the first to say that I am an introvert and this part was scary for me, but establishing good relationships with all members is key. Remember, they were in your shoes once, and most of them are welcoming and eager to help (It helps if you remember their names too!).
5.Take time for YOU!
Long days at the hospital can be exhausting, especially when you are pouring yourself into your patients all day. That in combination with assignments can be a lot to handle sometimes. It’s important to make time outside of the internship to fill your own cup. Whether that’s spending time with friends or catching up on sleep, be kind to yourself and make yourself a priority.
I am so grateful for my time here in Corpus Christi. Next up, foodservice management!
Like many, I was nervous going into my clinical rotation. I had never worked in a hospital prior to starting my internship and I had no idea what to expect. My first day was filled with questions about how I was supposed to navigate the hospital, muster up the courage to talk to the nurses and doctors, and learn what I initially thought was the complicated task of charting patients.
Luckily, I was fortunate enough to work with an amazing preceptor who believed in me since day one of my internship. With her guidance and support, I quickly learned the ropes of clinical. Within one week of starting my rotation, I began seeing patients on my own and was loving every second! Talking to patients came naturally to me, and I was pleasantly surprised by the positive feedback I was receiving from my preceptors, the nurses, and even the physicians, all of whom I became close with. My confidence only continued to grow throughout my time at the hospital as I got experience working with more critically ill patients. Now going into my staff relief rotation, I am in awe by how much I have grown in such a short amount of time.
During my clinical rotation, I gained invaluable experience working with a diverse range of patients. One of my key roles was overseeing the ortho floor and taking part in rounds. If patients met certain criteria, I provided diabetes education. It was during this time that I was able to connect with patients and empower them to make changes in their lifestyle. It was fulfilling to see the direct impact I could have on them and show them that small changes could make a huge difference.
Another meaningful experience I had was in my advanced clinical rotation where I attended ICU rounds with the critical care team. My enteral and parenteral nutrition skills were strengthened working with patients with complex diseases. I was not treated as an intern, but instead I was treated as a valued member of the interdisciplinary team.
Below I share my top 5 tips for surviving clinical.
1.Stay prepared!
Although the clinical assignments can feel overwhelming, they are incredibly helpful. Every night I would review parts of the assignments, refresh on current MNT, and look up things I didn’t know during the day.
2.Find what works for you!
Your preceptor will most likely give you a lot of tips and resources. However, I encourage you to find what works best for you and your individual learning style. For example, I created my own nutrition assessment template that helped me to outline my conversations with my patients and obtain pertinent information.
3.Strive for progress not perfection!
I am sure many of you can relate to being a Type A perfectionist, but one thing I’ve learned during my clinical rotation is that you are not going to know everything. You are going to be challenged and you are going to make mistakes at times. But hey, that is OKAY! The internship is a learning experience and you shouldn’t hold yourself to the standard that you need to be perfect. Make sure to ask questions and look at each day as an opportunity to improve as a future RD.
4.Have confidence!
Although you are not supposed to know everything, have confidence in what you DO know! You worked hard to get to this point. Time to show it off!
Also, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and talk to the nurses and physicians. I will be the first to say that I am an introvert and this part was scary for me, but establishing good relationships with all members is key. Remember, they were in your shoes once, and most of them are welcoming and eager to help (It helps if you remember their names too!).
5.Take time for YOU!
Long days at the hospital can be exhausting, especially when you are pouring yourself into your patients all day. That in combination with assignments can be a lot to handle sometimes. It’s important to make time outside of the internship to fill your own cup. Whether that’s spending time with friends or catching up on sleep, be kind to yourself and make yourself a priority.
I am so grateful for my time here in Corpus Christi. Next up, foodservice management!
