post alvls intern in tcm!
hello zestiesss. it's been q awhile since I've posted. I've been soo busy w intern, my part time job, 3rd lang class and gym. Everyday has been a 7am to 9pm and I'm legit so tiredddd.
TCM intern:
1. how I got it
- so my JC (which is low tier) actually gave internship opportunities through Collab w other companies
- (in comparison to reddit where pple say elite schs get much more opportunities than low tier jcs.)
- prior to this, I would consider my portfolio to be q packed w NSG and outside sch camps and innovation comps
- the opportunities given were for a range of careers from law to healthcare or engineering. so I decided on tcm cuz it was the only healthcare internship
- my friend (from my class) did an intern for pro Bono firm for 2 weeks but for my internship it is for 3 months
- I applied ard Aug-Sept to my sch and there was only 1 spot for tcm while the rest were for marketing or like hospital infrastructure. so I didn't expected to get it
- Had an interview ard the prelim period and everyone's Chinese was soo good while mine sucked so I alr decided that I won't be getting it
- had no news aftwards until mid Jan where I had an interview with staff from the diff dept. aftwards, they emailed me to confirm that I got the tcm intern slot.
- started my intern in Feb
2. the job scope
- actually really chill, it's a 8-5pm job
- my job was actually more in the office and managing the medicine inventory however when there wasn't much for me to do, I would spend my time helping in the clinic
- the fun part was dispensing the medicine, where I could mix (like chem lab) and count the tablets (through the triangle method)
- I also had days where I shadowed the physicians (doctors) and see them do consult, acupuncture and cupping. Had some extra time so I did learn how to acupuncture my arm lol.
- I also did the counter job in giving out queue no., medicine and taking phone calls to the tcm centre. (when I was bored lol)
----- during my intern, my manager was kind enough to arrange tours in the other dept where I also went to their affiliated senior care centre, to the wards in the nursing home and in physiotherapy sess.
- really enjoyed job shadowing diff roles in healthcare, seeing dieticians or physiotherapist doing their job
SKIP THE PARA BELOW THIS IF U DONT WANT TO READ ABOUT THE DISPENSARY
- so usually for liquid medicine, it's 60ml daily, twice a day so for example if theres 3 types of liquid medicine for the patient. there would be how much of each meds does one need to take each day. the medicine bottles provided by the hospital is only 2-4 days so then u will need to do mental sum for how much liquid u shld be adding into each bottle.
sooo let's say theres 3 types of meds where med A is 10ml, B is 20ml and C is 30ml per day. So for 14 days meds, we will use two 4 days bottles and two 3 days bottles. and in the 4 days, the vol will be multiplied by 4 while that in the 3 days is multiplied by 3. Total in 4 days is 240ml while 3 days is 180ml.
for tablets, there's a triangle where it's like 1st row is 1 tablet then 2nd row is 3 tablets then we js need to count the number of rows then there's a chart to show how many tablets for n rows then u can add or minus to get the prescribed no. of tablets.
3. flexibility
- q short portion but I was v lucky to hv a v understanding manager and supervisor.
- had to take leave 12 days for personal matter and they allowed it and did not disturb me or show any annoyance
- had uni interview also so there was one day I came in 2+ hrs late for work (ofc I let them know in advance) and they simply js let me and also wished me good luck 😁😁
- not too strict on my coming and leaving work time (no clocking in and out)
4. food options
- q convenient to the huge markets and hawker centre but I got my fav noods stall: crispy pork mixian noods but I alw change soup base (tomato, mala, mushroom)
- got many restaurants nearby like pastamania or sukiya so ig I'm really happy
5. what's next
- I'm only interning for 3 months so my intern ends in 3 weeks (end April) but it has been extremely tiring
- I applied for another role in healthcare but also in another niche area (not regular Western healthcare) and def not tcm again
- probs gna intern for another 1½ months and then get my driver's license and rest B4 uni starts.
that's probs my 3 months summarized into a post haha. Hope this has been q detailed. leave any qns below! see y'all in my next post 😁😁
Taking on an internship in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was a unique journey that opened my eyes to healthcare beyond Western practices. Before starting, I had zero knowledge of TCM, but working closely with practitioners allowed me to understand how medicine inventory management and patient care come together in a clinical environment. One thing I found particularly insightful was the methodical process of dispensing liquid medicines and tablets. The inventory calculations ensured patients received the correct dosage for their treatment period, which reminded me of balancing a science experiment with real-world impact. Learning the 'triangle method' to count tablets efficiently was surprisingly fun and practical. Shadowing physicians performing acupuncture and cupping therapy gave me hands-on exposure to alternative treatment methods. Even practicing acupuncture on myself helped me appreciate the skill and precision involved. Observing related fields like physiotherapy and dietetics during arranged tours broadened my understanding of holistic patient care. Flexibility at the internship made managing my busy schedule feasible. Having supportive supervisors who valued open communication enabled me to balance personal commitments and work, enhancing my experience and reducing stress. The vibrant local food scene nearby provided much-needed comfort during long days. For anyone considering healthcare internships, especially in TCM, I’d say it's a rewarding experience rich with learning opportunities. Although challenging, the blend of office duties, clinical interaction, and exposure to different healthcare roles enriches your perspective. If you have any questions or wonder about hands-on skills like acupuncture or medicine dispensing, feel free to ask!
I did contract work in a less modern tcm, fully herbs packed in wooden cabinates (that i got splinters from), and pill capsules had to be packed by hand (powder into the empty cases). I did around 1 month+.