Integrative clinical experience: an innovative program to prepare for internship

Interns experience tremendous challenges on the transition from student to new physician. There is limited literature describing curriculum that enhances medical students' preparation for internship.

To prepare graduating medical students at our institution for the new responsibilities and stressors that they will face as interns, an elective course, Integrative Clinical Experience, was implemented. Over a 2-week period, participating medical students rotate through 1 to 3-hr modules that cover four major domains: managing acutely ill patients, teaching, communicating, and coping with stressors.

Participants evaluated the course qualitatively and quantitatively through verbal and written feedback. Students found the course useful and educationally valuable. They also had a statistically significant increase in perceived preparedness for internship upon completion of the course.

A 2-week, concentrated course is a feasible and effective method for raising students' perceived preparedness for internship.