4th year away electives

[drRumi]

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when is a good time to start applying for 4th year away electives (assuming one wants to do it between august and september of the 4th year)? and additionally, are there specific electives that students save for away electives and not take them at their own institution? i would have gone to my school for this, but given their lack of support and previous poor history, i trust the group on this board more.

thanks in advance.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

when is a good time to start applying for 4th year away electives (assuming one wants to do it between august and september of the 4th year)? and additionally, are there specific electives that students save for away electives and not take them at their own institution? i would have gone to my school for this, but given their lack of support and previous poor history, i trust the group on this board more.

thanks in advance.

I'd start inquiring as early as February or March of your MS3 year. If your institution isn't up to par, you can do away electives in ICU as well as anesthesiology to increase your away exposure to anesthesiology.

 

[undecided05]

I know that UTSW is very respected on this board, but have to disagree with him about doing the ICU deal... you're going to be a 4th year... enjoy it. I truly think the only reason do an away elective is to make sure that these are people that YOU wouldn't mind interacting with for 3/4 years.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

I know that UTSW is very respected on this board, but have to disagree with him about doing the ICU deal... you're going to be a 4th year... enjoy it. I truly think the only reason do an away elective is to make sure that these are people that YOU wouldn't mind interacting with for 3/4 years.

I thought an ICU month was required. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[asdash]

I thought an ICU month was required. Correct me if I'm wrong.

It's not at my institution. But I scheduled one because:

1) Many say the ICU rotation is their best learning experience in med school.
2) Good prep for anesthesia (hopefully)
3) Have to do some ICU during residency -- get experience now so look like less of an idiot later on.
4) I'm paying $$$ for my degree, might as well get some bang for my buck.

My 2 cents.

 

[undecided05]

my personal thoughts on ICU rotation as 4th year is that it's a lot of scutting... I guess you can get more out of it if you want to do so.

You said it best when you stated that you pay for the MD, but I just don't hear many students getting bang for the buck on the ICU rotation... just a lot of recording lines, vent settings, atbx coverage, etc.

You will get most learning about what goes on in the ICU during your residency and they way the future looks, you'll get plenty of time in icu. Take time to smell the roses, go out, watch college football during your 4th year... It's your last big vacation.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

my personal thoughts on ICU rotation as 4th year is that it's a lot of scutting... I guess you can get more out of it if you want to do so.

You said it best when you stated that you pay for the MD, but I just don't hear many students getting bang for the buck on the ICU rotation... just a lot of recording lines, vent settings, atbx coverage, etc.

You will get most learning about what goes on in the ICU during your residency and they way the future looks, you'll get plenty of time in icu. Take time to smell the roses, go out, watch college football during your 4th year... It's your last big vacation.

I remember during my 4th year that an ICU month was required. Could be any intensive care experience (MICU, SICU, CVICU, PICU, etc.), but you had to have one. Guess it's institution dependent.

 

[ear-ache]

My institution does not require an ICU rotation, but they do highly recommend it.

I just finished my SICU rotation. Yes, the hours were ridiculously long and there was a lot of scut work, but it was also a fantastic exposure on how to physiologically manage critically ill surgical patients. Additionally, I had the opportunity to put in central lines, a-lines, and even a few chest tubes! I did all the over-the-wire changes on central lines and first sticks on SC central lines if they had a CT in place 😛 . I even got to do a few first sticks at the end on pt’s w/o CT’s 😱 . I go so much out of the rotation that I am also doing a MICU rotation this year. My hope is that these rotations will shorten the learning curve for me (both with procedures and management) when I start my internship next year.

I don't know about the quality of the ICU's at your institution, but I highly recommend doing at least one ICU rotation (somewhere) during your 4th year.

 

[blocks]

For what it's worth, one competetive residency program I interviewed at last year specifically asked me about whether I had done an ICU rotation. This was before I had a chance to bring it up, so it seemed they were very interested in my level of interest in ICU, apart from anesthesiology.

I think it's a worthwhile rotation to do 4th year for many reasons, just whatever you do, don't do it in the 2nd half of the year...that is rads, derm, and path time.

 

[drRumi]

As always, great advice !! I really appreciate it. Thank you everybody ! 👍