How to Prepare for a Medical Internship

So, you’ve booked your medical internship and are wondering how to prepare properly before jetting off to a new country. First off, congratulations! Internships are an ideal blend of rewarding and meaningful that will shape your future career in healthcare. Spending some time preparing for your internship helps ensure you get the most out of the experience and impress your peers enough to build and maintain your professional network. 

Once you’ve chosen your internship abroad, the next step is to prepare so that you feel confident and ready to tackle whatever lies ahead. This article will take you through everything you need to know about getting ready for your next adventure. 

Prepare Yourself Mentally and Physically

The most important thing to do when planning for your internship is to prepare your mind and body. As a medical intern, you’ll be exposed to physically and emotionally demanding challenges, which is why it’s so important to know how to look after yourself. Here are some tips on supporting yourself through your internship: 

• Prioritize rest: Keep yourself on a good sleep schedule (as much as your internship allows!) and choose sleep over staying out late to improve mental and physical resiliency.  
• Eat healthily: While it’s tempting to lead a diet of sugary snacks when you’re so busy with responsibilities, eating well makes sure your energy levels remain steady and avoids blood sugar crashes.  
• Stay hydrated: Keep a water bottle handy and refill it as soon as it’s empty to make sure you always have a drink on hand. Internships are physically demanding, especially in hot climates, so consider adding electrolytes to replenish your body between meals.  
• Get outside: Most interns want to come straight home after a shift and lie down, but keeping yourself cooped up will only add to your lethargy and stress. Going for a walk outside boosts mental and physical health, and lets you explore a new country while making unforgettable memories.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions and Seek Help

Medical internships involve working in a fast-paced environment where there’s a lot to learn and remember. While it might feel like it at the time, you’re not the only intern who’s had questions regarding their program, hospital, or future experiences. Med Trips offers assistance from the initial booking of your internship to your flight to ensure you’re as confident as possible heading into your adventure. 

Practicing the art of seeking help will extend into your actual internship, should you have questions about certain medical procedures or terminologies. Asking for help when needed demonstrates your commitment to learning, improvement, and delivering the best possible care to patients. It also avoids mistakes, reduces stress, and helps you build relationships with healthcare professionals at your hospital. 

Research the Hospital for Your Placement

Researching the hospital or clinic you’ll be working with for the duration of your internship makes sure you’re prepared before your first day. Look for details on their policies, procedures and culture to help you feel more familiar and comfortable with your placement. This is incredibly useful for internships abroad, where the work environment will often be very different from what you're used to at home.  

There are several things to research before starting your internship, such as: 

• Hospital norms: Learn about the country’s healthcare system and its local customs, dress codes, departments, and more.  
• Local culture: Research the customs, etiquette, and social practices of your chosen country to better your communication with peers and patients.  
• Hospital departments: Focus on how the hospital works within the departments that you’ll be working closely with to get a more accurate depiction of your future internship. 
• What’s expected of you: Med Trips can help you understand what will be expected of you from your time at your chosen facility, so you can prepare accordingly.  
• Policies and procedures: You’ll likely have to read these before fully immersing yourself in your internship once you land in-country, but reading them beforehand can impress your supervisors and show your eagerness to learn. 

Network and Establish Good Relationships

Where possible, get to know your peers and mentors as early as possible. This helps you establish a good relationship with them, which is an excellent resource for your future career. Networking early ensures that you can spend more time working on your skills and learning rather than getting acquainted with everyone in your department. 

We also recommend reaching out to fellow interns, both past and present, to gain a better insight into who you’ll be working with and leaning on for support. Bonds between interns are incredibly important and beneficial, so initiating them before the program even begins is a wonderful way to kickstart your friendship.

Pack Appropriately

Packing for your internship abroad is extremely important! Especially when you’re visiting a country you’ve never been to before. Your free time should be spent exploring your new surroundings, not running to the shops to buy things you’ve forgotten to pack. We recommend creating a detailed packing list of everything you’ll need to make sure nothing remains forgotten as you head to the airport. 

While your packing list will depend on where you’re going, the duration of your internship, and your chosen elective, here are some things to remember: 

• Clothing: 

You should dress appropriately for the culture of your chosen country during your internship and free time. Research the hospital’s dress code and pack enough neutrals to last for at least a week, as this will prevent you from having to make frequent laundry trips. 

Check the weather and climate to pack accordingly based on the temperature. The last thing you want is to bring several heavy jumpers only to never wear any of them! Depending on the weather, you may need a sunhat, a lightweight rain jacket, or even gloves and scarves.

• Practical essentials: 

Practical essentials are often things you can’t go more than a day without. These include medication, your mobile phone and a charger, travel adapters, and important documents. We also recommend bringing earplugs and an eye mask, as living in shared accommodation can take some getting used to before you're comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep. 

• Toiletries: 

You’ll often be responsible for bringing your own toiletries, so make a list of everything you need beforehand. Consider how long you’re going abroad for and pack enough to last the entire trip, as there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to find what you need abroad. While travel-size bottles are helpful for conserving space and weight, they won’t last nearly as long as full-size alternatives. 

• Money:

Some countries charge foreign transaction fees for debit and credit cards, so we recommend bringing cash that you’ve exchanged at home. Not only does this ensure you always have money to pay for things without hassle, but it can also help you track spending and stay on budget. 

• Travel documentation:

If there’s one thing you absolutely need to remember when packing for your internship, it’s your documents. Passports, visas, and health documents are incredibly important. You may also need a letter from your chosen program organizer or hospital confirming your internship to obtain a visa or other necessary documentation for entry into the country. Med Trips can help facilitate this, should you need it before your flight.  

Some documents, such as a visa and Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), can be carried either electronically or in physical form. We highly recommend carrying both, so you’re never caught off guard should you lose one. 

• Specific equipment: 

Some internships require you to bring specific equipment, such as your own stethoscope or scrub cap. Make sure you know what’s expected of you to prevent having to rush and find the necessary supplies in-country before starting your internship.  

You should also bring enough things with you to keep yourself organized and entertained. A journal to jot down important things, a watch to keep yourself punctual, and an e-reader with books downloaded on it are just a few recommendations to make the most of your internship and time in another country. 

Review Relevant Notes and Practical Knowledge

Depending on your duties as an intern, we highly recommend reviewing training notes and refreshing your practical knowledge. This will all be explained to you during your internship, but being able to showcase your abilities without prior instruction is an excellent way to impress healthcare professionals in your chosen department. The more you impress them by being the best medical intern in a different country, the higher your chances of being given more opportunities. 

While reviewing your notes, look for areas where you think you need to improve and focus on them while abroad. Not only will this help hone your skills to create a more well-rounded skillset, but it will also demonstrate your initiative to your supervisors. 

Don’t Forget to Have Fun! 

When preparing for your internship, it’s easy to only focus on the work. While this is incredibly important and rewarding, you’ll also get time off from intern duties to explore your chosen country. To make the most of this portion of your adventure, research activities you can do, both locally and further afield. 

Whether that’s taking a safari in Africa, exploring temples and palaces in Asia, or simply unwinding on a white-sand beach in Europe, create a loose itinerary of what you’d like to see and explore. 

Ready to Plan Your Medical Internship Abroad Today? 

Interning in another country can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, full of meaningful experiences while making a lasting impact on local communities and healthcare systems. Preparing for your internship is the best way to keep the experience positive and stress-free, so you can enjoy your adventure rather than worry over it. 

Check out our incredible medical internship opportunities and find your newest journey today. One of our assistants will be on hand to help with any questions or concerns you may have, so don’t hesitate to give us a call on +44 020 3830 6000 (UK) or +1-888-694-9411 (US).