1 year of Internship

 1 year of Internship..

MBBS results out.

College sends notice to report after 1 week for Internship.

As an Intern,I now become a part of Hospital. 

In my time,Medical Doctors wore scrubs only in Operation Theatre. 

As an Intern,I can get to wear SCRUBS for 1st time. 

We,Interns,were few in my Medical college. 1 Intern per unit.

I am the youngest member by age and designation as part of that unit.

You enter a unit in any department....

It's like a newlywed bride entering a big Indian household. 

Each member is familiar with one another and they have a bonding for long time and they laugh at common jokes.....and the new member feels awkward,clueless and uncomfortable initially. In due course of time,the new member gets welcomed into the family and becomes a part of the big household.

An Intern gets a very similar situation to face...in the 1st week of Unit posting. 

Absolute clueless about everything around.

Fortunately, I was in Pre NEET generation. 

The Post graduates were all Undergraduate from same college. 

I knew them well right from 1st yr MBBS. 

The senior year Post graduates were 1st year Pist grads when I was in my Final yr MBBS. Hence,being always in wards in evening examining patients and preparing for next day's clinics,I had great rapport with them.

The first time signing my initials under a prescription.....I had practised a short signature. 

The first time wearing the stethoscope around my neck and entering the ICU as an Intern...made me enjoy the feeling of a Doctor on mission. 

The first time washing my hands with Betadine solution, doning the Operation gown and being helped to wear the gloves which rightly fit into my small hands....and being addressed as " Doctor" by our HOD and nursing staff.....standing near the Operating table as 2nd assistant....though not given much work other than holding the retractor.....

This moment itself made me feel very important member of The Team.

Sunday Grand Rounds.....

Being a part of the Big Team....though at the end of the big Entourage.....

The HOD ,at the end of Grand Rounds or at times in between....would look at me....." So ,Doctor,....( at times.. Madam....if I wore a saree...)what do you think??????"

The moment I felt like a Consultant....

The whole entourage on Sunday,would head to the Canteen. Case discussion and many other topics...leg pulling of the junior Post graduates or someone who recently got engaged or married or became a parent......

Internship was fun...exciting....

Challenging.

On Emmergency days.....managing so many admissions,withdrawing milliliters of blood....sending them to laboratory.....lots of paperwork.....

Hectic and tiring.

Labor room duties were chaotic.Lot of screaming and shouting. 

Burns posting was an eye opener.

Awareness of another world...where a girl of my age was burnt for Dowry after marriage.It sent me shivers.

Internship was the 1st step to enter the Medical Field as a Doctor. 

A student initially for 4 and half years...

The world now looked upto me as a Doctor- Responsible and Accountable- for my actions and words.

Suddenly, I felt matured and important....

Henceforth, I need to be careful about everything I do ....and what I say.

The first day in the Unit of every department....I entered as a Daughter in Law entering her new household.....scared,tensed,anxious.

The last day ,I left as a Daughter....on her " Bidaii" or send-off....sad,tearful and cherishing each moment spent with the dear Unit members which had become close family.

My last day of Internship was my last day in MGIMS, an institution which groomed me to be a Doctor....and also my last day in Sewagram...which instilled Gandhian principles in me.....

A very tearful goodbye to my seniors,my friends, Teachers,juniors....my hostel and my Alma Mater....on 1st January 1998.

I went to Sewagram for 2 days.....only after 25yrs.....

- Dr Tripti Milind Galgali. 

Hubli.