4th year scheduling issues

[TylerDurden]

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I cannot decide between the following for my fourth year electives:

1. Cards Consults
2. MICU
3. Second EM Rotation
4. Rads Clerkship
5. Fractures

I can take three of those five. I will be taking a EM and a Peds EM rotation earlier in the year. I want to take electices that will best prepare me for EM. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. THANKS.

 

[Seaglass]

Well, my $0.02 is that you are going to have 3 years to get prepared for EM - it's call residency. Use your electives to do some fun/easy rotations. I did NICU which was fun (for me) and Gas where I just tubed people all day.

That said, from your list I would pick

1. MICU - lots to learn here
2. Fractures - I assume this is like ortho-trauma? Fractures are always fun.
3. Something else.

Casey

 

[Scrubbs]

Last year I did Cards consults, Rads, and Ophtho on top of my EM electives. Ortho clinic/sports med would have been helpful (fractures?) - but I wouldn't do it if you have to go to the OR. Any ICU rotation will get you lots of procedures and help you in residency, though it is certainly more work than many 4th year electives and you will get plenty of unit time in residency (3-6 months average). Gas is always good (gotta love tubes!).

Whatever you do, have fun with it . 4th year is your time to relax a little before residency!

 

[basementbeastie]

My 4th year electives have been excellent:

ED (home and away)
Gas
ID
Rays
Ophtho
Derm

no call, get out early, days off when needed, little to no documentation, learn cool stuff....

 

[SkiDog]

I would definitely do a 2nd EM rotation...preferably away at a program to which you plan applying. After that, I can only tell you what I did as your preferences/experiences will vary:

1) Cardiology - great attending, lots of teaching, laid back hours
2) Radiology - very cushy hours, but didn't learn all that much
3) Anesthesiology - fun and laid back, plenty of tubes, on the brain side of the blood-brain barrier (even though I liked surgery)
4) Peds EM - kids were fun, parents were not

I think you won't go wrong with any of the ones you listed.

SD