Introduction:

The pandemic caused by the Sars-CoV-2 virus has generated new challenges for numerous health professionals. Clerkship students are also immersed in this scenario and have been affected in the performance of their duties. This work consists of observing the physical and psychological aspects of medical students currently in their clerkship.

Objective:

Thus, the objective was to identify the learning and emotional impacts that clerkship students are experiencing in their initial placements in the Unified Health System against the backdrop of the pandemic.

Method:

A qualitative analysis of the accounts given by 37 medical interns at the Universidade Estadual do Ceará (23 men and 14 women; mean age 25.5 years old) was conducted. They answered an electronic questionnaire applied by the course coordination as a strategy to assist in the organization of the clerkship program during the pandemic.

Results:

The relationship between the clerkship students and medical preceptors was highlighted as causing psychological distress and lack of learning before and during the pandemic. There was a constant presence of ambivalent feelings. Many clerkship students wanted to help, recognizing that they could make an important contribution during this health crisis in the country. However, some felt insecure about the critical situation resulting from the pandemic and feared for the safety of the clerkship students and their respective families. One of the cited reasons was the scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Conclusions:

Several clerkship students highlighted the interest in continuing the clerkship program and that is why it is essential that PPE is available for students to use. Whether in the grips of a pandemic or not, it is essential that the relationship between preceptors and clerkship students is more pedagogical and provides learning to students. The presentation of this experience can serve as a resource for the understanding of similar scenarios, helping to shed light on the medical intern’s relationships that need to undergo continuous improvements, whether during a pandemic or not, to support the ongoing quest for an academic education of quality.

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