The Real Tales of an Intern Part 2

“Damn you are too slow. Don’t you remember all those patients we walked past? They are ours and we have not got all day. Very soon, the orderlies and cleaners will stand hounding us as they need to clean up and go home.” Samantha was flustered. In school, the teachers had been very emphatic about taking good histories. In reality, her supervisor said she was wasting time. They hadn’t told her what to expect in a setting of patient overload.

At first, as she took down the patients’ complaints, she felt good applying taught knowledge. With her supervisor hounding her, that feeling gave way to confusion and frustration. At first, she worried about making the right diagnosis. With time, she realized that the focus was to see as many clients as possible as many had come from far. Not only that, a lot of the diagnoses were generic. Hypertension, poorly managed diabetes, hernias, dyslipidemias. Most clients had these or something related.

Then Samantha thought: “What if something else was wrong?” “A good clinician always approaches clients with an open mind.” One of her professors in school had once taught. After six long hours, the clinic ended. Sam was numb. Her supervisor had run off an hour earlier saying she needed to pick her kids from school. Her supervisory role was spent most of the time yelling at Sam. For the rest, she listened and spoke with the clients.

“Hey, how was your first day?” Fabian asked “Is that a trick question? You saw how the day was.” “Yes, I did. Don’t feel bad about our boss. You won’t be here forever.” “Today is my first day so that is not very comforting.” “Ok let me rephrase, don’t let it get to you. You still have 89 days with us.” Sam looked at Fabian. That was not comforting either. “Where do we get food around here?” “It depends on what you like. There are many fast food joints and there are street food joints. Which do you prefer?” “Let me try the fast food today, tomorrow I’ll try something else.” “Sounds like a plan.”

With that, they left the hospital. “What do we have tomorrow?” “We will meet in the ward like yesterday and then we cover the emergency afterward.” “What’s that like?” “It’s gangster-like, never a dull moment, and all hands are on deck.” “I won’t thrive there.” “Don’t worry Sam, your adrenaline would take over.”

They had arrived at the fast-food joint. Sam ordered a chicken fiesta. Fabian had rice with salad. “You have to find a way to be happy here. The workload ain’t a joke neither are the patients. Create your fun. Our boss won’t create it for you and it does not get better.” “How long have you been here?” “Six weeks.” “Hmm, then you must know what you are talking about. What’s her deal by the way?” “I don’t know. She has always been that way. You know what? This place can make you that way. It is a stressful environment. The government keeps telling people healthcare is free. Meanwhile, the caregivers are at the receiving end. If they took care of us better, it would not be so bad.”

After lunch, they bid each other goodbye and agreed to meet in the ward by 7 am the next day. While in the taxi, Sam remembered what Chad said to her about interning at the hospital. If she called him now, all she would hear is “I told you so”. She doubted he had a replacement for her either. Besides, she was too crushed in her spirit to have that conversation. As Sam walked into the living room, her mum was chatting with a friend. “Samantha, how was your first day?” “Mum, let’s talk about it later. I want to take a shower and go to bed.”