nervous about 3rd year starting

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So here I sit, an MS2, messing around on the internet at 2 AM, after studying for Step 1 all day. I know I'm supposed to be excited for 3rd year to start but to be honest, it kind of scares me. Like I get a knot in my stomach when I think about the fact that I'll actually have to show up somewhere, talk to people, and do things all day. I'm afraid I won't have the energy, or confidence. Anyone else feel like this before starting clerkships?

I started with Psych in a relatively low-key environment, so it wasn't too intimidating. But I basically showed up on my first day all, "sup, i do not know a single thing."

Yea man I feel the same way! I just took the big test we shall not name, and I'm just sitting here thinking "crap, third year starts in two weeks". I have to start with surgery.... I have no idea what to expect, and feel like I know nothing. Furthermore, it doesn't help that I have basically been sat at home studying for the last year, hanging out with my cats and getting angry every time i had to waste time going to class.

My interpersonal skills and confidence has pretty much hit rock bottom over the last week. Slowly building that back up with a brief reprieve from studying. I bet lots of people feel that way, I know some of my friends are about as scared as me.

^this.

I have internal med first, which is something I might consider so I have to get my game on from day 1 yet I have no effing idea how to. I bought this book "Success on the wards" that had good amazon reviews so I'm gonna read that. The only solace is that everyone on my rotation will most likely feel just as lost as I will.

The best thing you can do is to show up ready to learn. Residents are not looking for you to know every single thing. I think most residents want med students who are eager to learn new things. The first few weeks are going to be challenging, but you will be amazed at how much you will learn. Have confidence in youselves--you have tackled Step 1!

Also, don't be afraid to ask questions--especially in rotations such as Int Med and Pediatrics. It shows that you are interested in what is going on around you.

Originally Posted by brianmartin

So here I sit, an MS2, messing around on the internet at 2 AM, after studying for Step 1 all day. I know I'm supposed to be excited for 3rd year to start but to be honest, it kind of scares me. Like I get a knot in my stomach when I think about the fact that I'll actually have to show up somewhere, talk to people, and do things all day. I'm afraid I won't have the energy, or confidence. Anyone else feel like this before starting clerkships?

The funny thing is I have a similar feeling before every single rotation and even before each part of a particular rotation. It's really just a fear of the unknown and each time, without fail, i show up and everything falls into place and is absolutely fine.

Originally Posted by penguindoc2012

The best thing you can do is to show up ready to learn. Residents are not looking for you to know every single thing. I think most residents want med students who are eager to learn new things. The first few weeks are going to be challenging, but you will be amazed at how much you will learn. Have confidence in youselves--you have tackled Step 1!

This is excellent advice and something I wish I had known from the beginning! It is as important, if not more important, for a resident/attending to see you looking something up as it is for you to answer a pimp question right. Read about your patients when you're prerounding and make sure you work the information you learned into your presentation on rounds (if time permits) whether this be in your plan or in a question to the attending afterwards. The caveat to all this though is that at the beginning you might be struggling just to put together a coherent presentation and write a note before rounds which is fine, as you get better at reporting the information you'll have more time to synthesize the information. The ultimate goal though is to learn something new from the patients you're picking up and presenting.

As long as you are enthusiastic and don't complain you will ace the year.

Not an uncommon feeling. But it'll grow on you over time.

most people feel the same way. Just remember that residents and attendings are generally nice and don't expect a whole lot from M3s. Show up on time, try your best to learn, show interest, help as best you can, etc. Each rotation is different and requires different skills/med student help. It always takes a week or two to get used to things.

Just show up and be nice.

The expectations of you are astoundingly low.

The best thing you can contribute to the team is a moral boost. Just be energetic and fun. A lot of what you will be doing is just hanging out.

I know expectations are low, but there's still expectations. I'm worried about not looking bored / unproductive when there's really nothing to do. I'm starting on OB/GYN too - which i'm pretty nervous about. Well, at least I have psych after that.

Originally Posted by brianmartin

So here I sit, an MS2, messing around on the internet at 2 AM, after studying for Step 1 all day. I know I'm supposed to be excited for 3rd year to start but to be honest, it kind of scares me. Like I get a knot in my stomach when I think about the fact that I'll actually have to show up somewhere, talk to people, and do things all day. I'm afraid I won't have the energy, or confidence. Anyone else feel like this before starting clerkships?

That's a pretty common feeling. One thing that I found that helps alleviate some anxiety is to talk with people in the class above you and have them give you details about the rotation. They can tell you what to expect, which should give you some confidence heading in. In terms of energy, I don't now what to tell you except try to get enough sleep.

Originally Posted by Food

I know expectations are low, but there's still expectations. I'm worried about not looking bored / unproductive when there's really nothing to do. I'm starting on OB/GYN too - which i'm pretty nervous about. Well, at least I have psych after that.

Pretty damn hard to not be bored on OBGYN. Youll get through it haha

Originally Posted by winkleweizen

Pretty damn hard to not be bored on OBGYN. Youll get through it haha

That's kinda one-sided, don't you think? If you're on a busy service, it can be very fast-paced. Regardless, I enjoyed OB a lot.

First day of third year, and I spent all of last night vomiting up my taco dinner. No sleep. Here we go.

Originally Posted by VisionaryTics

First day of third year, and I spent all of last night vomiting up my taco dinner. No sleep. Here we go.

Sometimes I wish SDN had a like button.

Originally Posted by winkleweizen

Pretty damn hard to not be bored on OBGYN. Youll get through it haha

I was VERY bored on most of my rotation, haha

I think I spent more time on Angry Birds and Case Files for certain parts of it >.>

you're going to get slammmmmmeeeedddddd.


just kidding.

show up on time. be nice. be willing to learn. be willing to do work. do well on your shelf. luck.

Originally Posted by brianmartin

So here I sit, an MS2, messing around on the internet at 2 AM, after studying for Step 1 all day. I know I'm supposed to be excited for 3rd year to start but to be honest, it kind of scares me. Like I get a knot in my stomach when I think about the fact that I'll actually have to show up somewhere, talk to people, and do things all day. I'm afraid I won't have the energy, or confidence. Anyone else feel like this before starting clerkships?

Yep. There are no neat checkbox forms you get ahead of time. You don't know what is expected of you - but there are real patients on the other end.

All I care about is that a student cares about being there. There on time, asking questions, asking to see patients, asking to do work. Those things make me think I need to challenge this student and teach them. An enthusiastic attitude will serve you well.

Don't worry about being nervous. We all shake when we sew our first lac or surgical wound. We all falter. We are all wrong. You just need to show that you give a damn and you are there to learn THAT discipline.

Trust me, the residents' expectations of the new 3rd years is hilariously low at first. You'll learn and build up confidence and knowledge as you go along.

New interns on the other hand...

Originally Posted by ArcGurren

Trust me, the residents' expectations of the new 3rd years is hilariously low at first. You'll learn and build up confidence and knowledge as you go along.

New interns on the other hand...

I'd argue expectations of interns is also low... I like being surprised though!

You aren't alone.. trust me. I'm about to start 3rd year with Surg, ... scared crapless... >.< Hopefully I get through it ok. Good luck, and I hope this thread stays up so we can share our experiences (non-HIPPA divulging, of course ).

The golden rule of life: be on time, work hard, be honest about your capabilities and limitations (i.e. admit when you don't know something), and don't be a D bag. Everything else will fall into place.

i got that feeling too when i started with peds. But came to realise that residents actually have negligible expectations of us. Be willing to learn, actually get interested in the cases and ask questions