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The Nuts and Bolts of Third-Year Rotations
Anthony Rudine -- For those of you who did not know, I have now been on clinical rotations as a third year student for about a week and a half. I am on Internal Medicine now and for the next 6½ weeks. Some time will be spent in the clinic and some time will be spent in the hospital. It is absolutely great. I am truly glad that I stuck out the last two terrible years and made it to this point -- what a relief.
Since I had no idea how everything would work once I got to the hospital, I thought I would share my schedule: The alarm goes off at 4:30 am to get up and eat breakfast. I put on a shirt and tie every day, unless I'm on call or the day after call. By 5:30 I'm at the hospital, on the floor, seeing the patients that I admitted along with my team. I do this for about an hour, talk to the nurses and see how my patients did overnight, and make my progress notes. At 7 am I have morning conference, dealing with a different clinical topic each day – this week it is nephrology. Conference lasts for one hour, and then we meet at 8:30 for "pre-rounds." This is where the residents and interns on our team get together and discuss the patients, what we will do, things for the day, etc. At 9:30 we have rounds with our attending, whom we have to present our findings to each day. This usually lasts about an hour, then we get a short lecture by him/her until lunch. We then take a short lunch break, if we do not have a noon conference, and read up on our patients. Twice a week we have lunch conferences, and twice a week our lunch is paid for by drug company representatives.
For the rest of the day, we discharge patients, help out with prescriptions, and help out with procedures and orders. It is truly a great experience.
You will absolutely love it.
July 23, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Those drug reps are starting off early. Nothing like desensitizing the sheep to the wolves early...
Posted by: autolycos | Jul 25, 2006 4:53:53 AM
Remember that as MD's keep in mind that all reps are not "wolves". Many are reputable and not the sleazy, slick, 2-faced pseudo-professionals that med students and some MD's think. A large percentage of these professionals, yes I said professionals, are upstanding and essential professionals. I have found many reps that have contributed to my practice in many different ways including samples and educational information for patients, a resource for me for studies and journal articles, a resource for grand rounds, continuing educational programs, MD and nursing continuing educational credits as well as funding for many different educational and grant programs for hospitals, clinics and offices.
Yes there are the sleazy reps out there that are self-centered and closely akin to con men, but I have found that is the exception rather than the rule. I think the attitude needs to change a bit concerning the desensitization of the sheep by these so-called wolves.
Posted by: John Carter | Jul 25, 2006 3:21:12 PM
im glad to hear youre liking the experience. i wonder if its necessary though to start the day so early. i know you cant help it but someone somewhere can change this. having to wake up at 430 in the morning is too much...
Posted by: | Jul 25, 2006 4:01:07 PM
keep up anthony.make every use of those times u spent in the wards and extract as much info as possible from those seniours cause b4 u realise it,the 6 or so weeks wil be gone.for us in kenya,its kinda different(just alittle bit) cause we also have to take pathology n pharmacology classes in our third year.sometimes its really tough especially balancing the clinicals and the theory but with good planning(n good time management) we make it.waking up at 4:30 a.m for many seems torturous but the earlier u start ur day,the better,only make sure you have enough rest.
Posted by: anthony | Jul 29, 2006 12:28:42 AM
you are such a incredible student! i was surprised that you love what you are doin.anyway, im also a medical student,a nursing student.somehow our occupation as a student goes together. a lot of hard work and the most hard thing is to wake up as early as we could. a lot of thinking analysis and wise time management.i hope you love your patient's too.goodluck to all medstudents!!!
Posted by: tintin | Jul 29, 2006 11:22:31 AM
We had our first drug company lunch last Friday and i realised that while they are not sleazy, the are (like the legends say) a bunch of pretty ladies and they DO dress up for the occasion (with lots of powder-puff into the bargain)!
Anyway I really have nothing but admiration for you because you are really committed in your work - I personally can't imagine waking up at 4.30am!
Posted by: neo | Jul 31, 2006 8:47:55 AM
What a wonderful and exciting time in your life. How truly thrilling for you that you enjoy your clinical 3rd year rotations. It is future physicians like yourself that will make the medical community proud....Keep up the good attitude. Treat every criticism as a learning experience and enjoy your rotations......
Posted by: vonna | Aug 5, 2006 12:26:12 PM
