4th Year Anesthesia Clerkship

[Gator05]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone,

What was your experience like on your 4th year anesthesiology clerkship, if you elected to take one (as I think most on this list did)? How many of what types of procedures did you do? Any special experiences you had? Mini-rotations in anesthesiology subspecialties?

 

[Skrubz]

i spent a month at the VA (the university hospital was full of students), which i don't regret at all because of the clinical experience that i had. granted, the first half was a little slow in terms of number of cases but it picked up during the second half of the month.

i had basically no IV training my third year, so i made sure i got a fair amount of practice. i had a shot at 65 or so IVs over the course of the month. for more complicated procedurse, i got a couple looks at central lines, 8 arterial lines, 9 spinals, 4 LMAs, 22 endotrach intubations (including 1 double lumen and 2 rapid sequence), and 2 nasotrach intubations (1 fiberoptic). granted, i wasn't able to tag everything that i tried... but i did decently well for the most part.

i was the only student rotating there at the time, so i was allowed the luxury of floating between rooms at will, looking for procedures and the opportunity to help out. in addition, some of the residents let me chart, push drugs, and basically run the case under supervision.

i did a separate pain management elective afterwards, which i found to be not nearly as fun as being in the OR.

 

[doc05]

no IV training in 3rd year? I cannot believe this. what school??

 

[Skrubz]

UIC =p it's not one of our third year requirements, though we get instructed in it during our fourth year once. it's rather ridiculous, actually.

i learned venous and arterial blood draws really well during my third year but had limited IV experience. granted, i didn't really seek it out until late during the year when i decided i wanted to do anesthesia. IIRC, i placed 2 IVs during peds and 3 during surg (my last 2 clerkships of the year). i knew how to do it afterwards but didn't really feel comfortable until i made myself do it repeatedly during anesthesia.

 

[Teufelhunden]

I'm an MS-III....and have a 2-week anesthesiology rotation coming up in a month or so.

Is there ANYTHING I can do to prepare? Personally, I think it was scheduled WAY too early in my training (my schedule is really whacky).

Anyway, just wondering if you all had any suggestions on what I could read to somewhat prepare.

 

[Skrubz]

Agreed. Miller is a good introductory book. The residents that I worked with also liked keeping Current Clinical Strategies: Anesthesiology handy for quick reference. I liked it too and it's good for a quick read while you're waiting to go back to the OR.

 

[gaslady]

They don't expect you to know much about anesthesia when you do a rotation as a 3rd year student. They don't teach it preclinically at many institutions, so you probably won't know that much about it. Focus on the physiology of the respiratory, circulatory and autonomic nervous systems and related pharmacology. Make sure you know the ABC's. Miller is a great introductory book, but still quite in depth for a 2 week rotation. If you decide to go into anesthesia you will have plenty of time to learn what you need to know. People will be more impressed with you if you have a firm understanding of the basics than if you know specialized facts.

 

[drgas]

And I disagree with the above post. You are not expected to know anesthesia. To impress, display your understanding of physiology and pharmacology (basic stuff from 2nd year). Above all, be a team player by being useful (e.g. not just there to intubate and do procedures). The secret to getting honors in any rotation is to be a team player, not to impress by asking "intelligent" questions or by showing off your knowledge. It's all about getting along with the team without kissing but. Good luck and relax!

 

[DOMD]

You aren't expected to know much as a third year medical student. Reading Miller as a student is overkill. I agree with dr.gas. Know your basic pharmacology and physiology. Your job as a student is to get exposure to anesthesiology. If you learn something during your rotation it's bonus. If you want to go into gas then show some enthusiasm and be a team player. Gas rotation as a student in general is known to be a holiday. You show up, do a couple of intubations, IVs, and maybe a central line if you're lucky and leave before lunch or sooner especially if you don't want to go into it.

Also, jump from room to room after you do a procedure. Sitting next to a resident/staff during the surgery is not only boring (because you don't know anything at your stage) and a waste. Unless the resident/staff is teaching then stay during the surgery. Otherwise I would thank them for letting you do a procedure and look for another procedure.

DOMD

 

[Skrubz]

At UIC, all students rotating through anesthesia are loaned a copy of baby Miller and are expected to read the assigned chapter(s) and complete questions nightly in preparation for the noon lecture the following day. We weren't necessarily expected to know stuff when in the OR, just for lecture.

That said, I agree with the others who have emphasized teamwork and being proactive in making sure you get enough experience doing whatever you want.