Stefanie Schinnerl
My internship at the University Hospital Graz.
Job description: Healthcare and Nursing Staff
Company: University Hospital Graz, Neurology Rehab C
Place: Graz
I completed my internship from November 2016 to January 2017.
What I did:
During my internship, I was able to work with qualified healthcare and nursing staff as well as nursing and healthcare assistants. During the morning rounds of the wards, I measured the patients’ vital signs and helped some patients with their food and personal care. I also helped with attaching drips and administering medication.
Why I enjoyed my internship:
I particularly enjoyed coming into contact with so many different patients because they constantly expressed their gratitude. It is also an exciting job which brings new surprises, challenges and tasks each day.
What I learned:
I learnt to handle stress and work under pressure. I also experienced for myself just how important it is to take time for every patient and respond to their individual requirements. I was able to consolidate my basic knowledge during my internship, particularly in personal care and had a taste of working life for the first time.
My greatest experience:
The best experience was definitely taking blood for the first time myself and helping with a lumbar puncture.
How I secured the internship:
Our internships are allocated by the head of degree programme.
What I want to do in the future:
My internship assured me that this is the right course for me. While it’s not always easy to be an intern at a hospital, I have taken lots of positive things away from the internship with me. I am still at the start of my training and so I want to complete internships in as many fields as possible. Then at the end of my training, I want to be able to choose the right job with confidence.