By Dr Kieran Allen
As an intern you will likely experience a range of tricky situations, from working with people displaying challenging attitudes, beliefs and behaviours to being put on the spot, asked to do something you’re not ready for, or that you don’t think is part of your role. How you respond can shape the type of professional you become and supports your duty to protect yourself – and your patients.
Escalate and ask questions – Interns may be thrown in the deep end, in situations that exceed their skillset. Communication around responsibility is not always clear, and interns sometimes feel they must make difficult calls that in fact, shouldn’t fall on their shoulders alone. Remember, you can always escalate. There's always someone you can talk to. Speak up, ask questions, and seek guidance from registrars, consultants, or senior colleagues. No one will ever be as upset with you for whatever you're about to ask than whatever you should have.
Don’t feel you have to be performative – The medical hierarchy has long functioned by encouraging those more junior to mimic and adopt the attitudes, beliefs, or behaviours of more senior staff. Adaptability is important but should never pressure you to compromise your values to survive. Sometimes things just don’t feel right or go against our own moral compass.
Collective advocacy is powerful – You have more power than you might realise, but change is rarely achieved alone. Lean on co-interns, registrars, mentors and peer groups to raise concerns about unsafe practices, misdiagnosis or unfair treatment. When multiple voices speak up, the system is compelled to respond. Make connections early. Make them everywhere! If there are several people whom you can lean on, flagging the same issue to the same person, the likelihood that they're going to feel compelled to act is significantly improved.
Supporting yourself is a professional obligation – Seeking help early is the most effective way to head off a potentially serious problem. No one should navigate the pressures of medical training alone. You can make use of your hospital’s Employee Assistance Program, and then externally there are several free and confidential services and organisations you can reach out to:
Dr Kieran Allen is a Psychiatry Registrar at Monash Health and a Doctors’ Mental Health Advocate.