Dietetics Internship 101:Words of Wisdom

Pearls of Wisdom

… On Knowing Everything

“I’m the type of person who needs to know what’s going on and be super prepared. But there are so many things that are out of your (or anyone’s) control that you can’t prepare for...things have a way of working out.”
- Anonymous

"you can't come in knowing everything, otherwise internship wouldn't be necessary"
- Tavia, Fraser Health Intern

"be ready to learn on the job you can't ever feel fully prepared"
- Sabrina, Vancouver Coastal Health Intern

“You don’t have to be an encyclopedia. Knowing how to learn is more important than having an encyclopedic knowledge”.
- Karol, Dietetics Education Coordinator, 2014

… On Counselling

“...one of my preceptors said, ‘just treat it like a conversation, let it flow and let the patient/client direct the session... Patients are just people and you shouldn’t be afraid of them.”
- Haeli, Interior Health, 2014

…On Struggling and Stress

“There is ALWAYS something you could be working on, but scheduling time for yourself to do something that is completely unrelated to internship. It can be easy to burn yourself out if you don’t take time for yourself. It may mean that you didn’t get to all the things you wanted to do for the next day, but your mental health will thank you.”
- Anonymous

"Biggest piece of advice is to maintain a curious mind, and a positive attitude towards learning, because as soon as your find yourself comfortable in one placement you are going to move on to the next one and do it ALL over again."
Kirsty, Island Health Intern

"The key to doing well is trying your best to be excited about it every day, as you probably are right now...and let yourself relax over the summer"
Kirsty, Island Health Intern

"Internship is not about weeding people out".
- Karol, Dietetics Education Coordinator, 2014