What Is a Medical Intern?
A medical intern is a doctor who has graduated from medical school, but is not yet licensed to practice medicine without additional training.
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Types
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In the United States there are two types of medical internships: transitional and specialty.
Transitional Internship
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A transitional internship is when the doctor goes into medical practice at the end of the internship. Doctors who only do one year of internship become general practitioners.
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Specialty Internship
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A specialty internship is longer than a year and provides training in a specialized field of medicine such as cardiology. Specialty interns are usually called residents.
Function
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Medical interns are an integral part of the care team, and the internship allows them to use what they learned in medical school as well as acquire clinical skills. Interns care for patients under the supervision of more senior doctors.
Day in the Life
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Interns work long hours and overnight shifts are not uncommon. Interns do rotations in each medical specialty. They order and review labs, perform medical procedures and coordinate patient care. Interns also continue to attend lectures and learn medicine via the maxim "see one, do one, teach one." When not on duty at the hospital, interns must review medicine and health to prepare for their rotations and licensure exams.
Time Frame
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Medical interns start in June or July every year.
Benefits
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The medical internship benefits everyone. The intern learns while staffing the hospital. The financial model of the hospital system depends on medical interns' manpower and low salaries.
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- Photo Credit Dean Jenkins
