Better preparing Australian medical graduates: learning from the New Zealand model of trainee interns

Forbes, Malcolm, and Bersin, Dani (2011) Better preparing Australian medical graduates: learning from the New Zealand model of trainee interns. Australian Medical Student Journal, 2 (1). pp. 78-79.

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Abstract

[Extract] In New Zealand, the trainee intern (TI) year is a clinical apprenticeship year undertaken in a hospital under the aegis of a medical school. It is undertaken in the final year of medical school and comprises eight clinical attachments (Table 1). The year aims to provide learning in the work environment with limited clinical responsibility. Trainee interns are paid an annual stipend (60% of a house officer’s salary) from the New Zealand government via the education budget; however, the year remains under the jurisdiction of the medical school and thus retains an education focus. Although required to be supervised, TIs contribute to service (taking on approximately one-third of the patient load) and often stay on after graduation in their respective hospitals for postgraduate year one (PGY1). [1,2] Formal education and rotation assessment occur continuously throughout the year.

In Australia, there is no equivalent transition from medical school to internship and this transition may be overlooked. Medical graduates switch from enjoying little or no clinical responsibility to suddenly being accountable for the safety and management of a large number of inpatients. This precipitous change of role affords minimal time for satisfactory adaptation and preparation for the stress associated with internship. Some medical schools have attempted to soften this transition by introducing pre-internship terms into the curricula.

Item ID: 17385
Item Type: Article (Short Note)
ISSN: 1837-1728
Date Deposited: 29 Jun 2011 03:47
FoR Codes: 13 EDUCATION > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130209 Medicine, Nursing and Health Curriculum and Pedagogy @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9299 Other Health > 929999 Health not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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