Hello everyone! My name is Rachel Kramer and I am a Sodexo dietetic intern with the Philadelphia campus. I am nearing the end of my clinical rotations and have spent the majority of my time at Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown, PA. I can truly say it has been an incredible journey thus far, and I am amazed at how much I’ve learned in such a short time.
I am currently in the midst of my concentration, which is medical nutrition therapy. I chose this concentration because I’m extremely interested in nutrition support and learning how to treat those that are critically ill. One of the most interesting things I get to participate in every day is ICU rounds, where I get to collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team including the intensivist, pharmacist, respiratory therapist, and nurses. Don’t be afraid to speak up during rounds, as doctors really trust your recommendations, especially when it comes to tube feeds and TPN. I was even asked to sit in on an ethics meeting with a patient’s family to give my professional opinion on a patient’s status from a nutrition perspective. One piece of advice I have: Google is your friend! You are exposed to medical jargon all day long and understanding those terms will be make you look like more of a well-rounded professional when talking to nurses and doctors.
Besides my concentration, I have spent time at Fresenius dialysis center, Manor Care, and Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, an especially memorable week. I was fortunate enough to spend time with the dietitian who works in the bone marrow transplant center. I was amazed at her level of involvement in the patient’s course of treatment and loved spending time with the kids and their families. Another favorite experience was spending time at the outpatient oncology center at Capital Health. I was able to sit in on morning meetings where surgeons, radiation therapists, and other specialists reviewed cases and discussed plans of treatment. I also got to experience the dietitian giving education to people undergoing chemo and radiation, a rewarding job that I am now interested in pursuing in the future.
Now more than halfway through my internship, I feel more like a competent professional and less like the overwhelmed and unsure intern I was at the beginning. My biggest piece of advice for new interns is to recognize and accept the fact that you will not know everything and that is ok and even expected. Also, take advantage of your resources and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. You might discover an interest for an area of dietetics you never thought you would have.
I am currently in the midst of my concentration, which is medical nutrition therapy. I chose this concentration because I’m extremely interested in nutrition support and learning how to treat those that are critically ill. One of the most interesting things I get to participate in every day is ICU rounds, where I get to collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team including the intensivist, pharmacist, respiratory therapist, and nurses. Don’t be afraid to speak up during rounds, as doctors really trust your recommendations, especially when it comes to tube feeds and TPN. I was even asked to sit in on an ethics meeting with a patient’s family to give my professional opinion on a patient’s status from a nutrition perspective. One piece of advice I have: Google is your friend! You are exposed to medical jargon all day long and understanding those terms will be make you look like more of a well-rounded professional when talking to nurses and doctors.
Besides my concentration, I have spent time at Fresenius dialysis center, Manor Care, and Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, an especially memorable week. I was fortunate enough to spend time with the dietitian who works in the bone marrow transplant center. I was amazed at her level of involvement in the patient’s course of treatment and loved spending time with the kids and their families. Another favorite experience was spending time at the outpatient oncology center at Capital Health. I was able to sit in on morning meetings where surgeons, radiation therapists, and other specialists reviewed cases and discussed plans of treatment. I also got to experience the dietitian giving education to people undergoing chemo and radiation, a rewarding job that I am now interested in pursuing in the future.
Now more than halfway through my internship, I feel more like a competent professional and less like the overwhelmed and unsure intern I was at the beginning. My biggest piece of advice for new interns is to recognize and accept the fact that you will not know everything and that is ok and even expected. Also, take advantage of your resources and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. You might discover an interest for an area of dietetics you never thought you would have.
