Thread by @DrMelanie_MD

It’s tough to be an intern!
As a resident, 1st priority is to provide quality care for our patients & 2nd our interns.
Here is a series of tweets on ways residents (and staff) can take care of our interns 💛
#medtwitter #loveourinterns
#HappyTuesday #tweetorial

1. Give credit where credit is due. When your intern does a good job it’s best to give them props in front of the team! But if you give them props just to the attending make sure you tell them that you told the attending what a great job they did and that you appreciate them👏

2. Fall on the sword. The flip side of this is if you make a mistake as a resident make sure it’s clear to the team that it was your mistake, not your interns. This keeps morale high, and it’s honest. Nobody wants to get blamed, especially for something they didn’t do. ⚔️

3. Be an open door. Intern year can be isolating. Let your interns know early that you’re there for them w/ all issues regarding patient care, but also w/ other issues that arise. Let them know you’re dedicated to teaching & supporting them in being the best intern they can be!🌟

4. Debrief after codes/RRTs and difficult patient convos. These are often stressful for everyone involved. Afterwards, debrief with your intern(s) & med stud(s). This is a good time to get feeedback, give feedback & check in w/ everyone after a stressful occurrence.💗

5. Give them autonomy whenever possible. You will be looking up the vitals, labs, imaging etc. for the patients. As long as results aren’t critical, give your interns time (w/in reason) to see the results and form a plan. They don’t need to know that you already have a plan. 👍

6. Keep ‘em fed! Manage the team so they have time to get lunch & go to academics. When we’re especially busy & my interns don’t have time to place orders, get food & attend conference, I grab us all food while they finish orders & we meet at conference, so nobody misses out 🥗🥪

7. Get to know them on a personal level. Ask about their families, where they’re from, their hobbies. This might be obvious, but I always felt the most supported by my residents who did this. It let me know they cared about me as a person, and it brings the team closer. 💁🏼‍♀️

8. Help them to define their goals. At the start of the rotation set specific timelines and measurable endpoints so that you can support them in reaching their goals! These can be educational, professional and/or personal goals. 📝✔️

9. Provide them timely feedback. Give them feedback directly after rounds and/or patient encounters so you can emphasize what they did well and they can continuously improve throughout the rotation. 👎👍👌

10. Set the tone. If you come into work everyday with a positive attitude, thirst for knowledge, curiosity & enthusiasm, your team will naturally mirror your approach & mindset. 😆

Disclaimer: These are all things I am continuing to work on in striving to serve my interns, team, residency & patients the best way I can. 🤩
#medtwitter please reply if you have other tips on how to #loveourinterns ! #internalmedicine #residencylife #MedEd