ADD/staying focused/daydreaming during rounds

[rachmoninov3]

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anyone else feel like they're going in and out while someone else is presenting? I've never been truly diagnosed with ADD, but with 3rd year and rounding, I'm seriously thinking that maybe I might be.

Any tips on how to stay focused?

 

[psychbender]

anyone else feel like they're going in and out while someone else is presenting? I've never been truly diagnosed with ADD, but with 3rd year and rounding, I'm seriously thinking that maybe I might be.

Any tips on how to stay focused?

I did the same thing as a student, and now as an intern. I found that writing a few notes in 'to-do' list fashion on the patients during other people's presentations either helps keep me focused, or at least gives the appearance that I am actually listening, even if I just write little things to myself like 'get more waffles.'

When you are actually on call, though, you may want to jot down a real to-do list.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I think all medical students have trouble focusing during rounds when someone else's patient is being discussed. Rounding is just pain tedious, and it's hard to focus/learn when you're not familiar with the patient. I tuned out and didn't really worry about it. If you keep up with your reading and know all you can know about your own patients, you'll learn what you need to learn from the rotation. Sure, you might miss a couple of useful snippets here or there, but we all learn in our own ways.

 

[Deferoxamine]

I found that writing a few notes in 'to-do' list fashion on the patients during other people's presentations either helps keep me focused, or at least gives the appearance that I am actually listening, even if I just write little things to myself like 'get more waffles.'

👍

 

[QofQuimica]

anyone else feel like they're going in and out while someone else is presenting? I've never been truly diagnosed with ADD, but with 3rd year and rounding, I'm seriously thinking that maybe I might be.

Any tips on how to stay focused?

This is exactly why rounds should be limited to one hour or less. It's something for all of us to think about when we become attendings.

Basically, rach, you do whatever you have to do to endure. A lot of attendings and residents won't really care if you veg; they forget that you exist half the time anyway. If they do care, they'll pimp you during rounds, and then you won't daydream because you'll have to stay on your toes. Personally, I got a lot more out of reading about the patients I was following than I did by going on rounds. You might want to try doing that, and then at least you can tell your team something useful about treating or diagnosing your patient's condition when it's your turn to present.

 

[45408]

It's not ADD. It's called being normal. Do you really think the average person could stay focused for 4 hours of rounds?

 

[ENThopeful]

all the people around me look like they can, or are real good pretending like they are

 

[Qex]

If it is truly ADD, you will have these same symptoms at home, at work, and while out with friends - you just can't sit still and focus unless you're involved in something that really grips you. You will also have had these symptoms as a child, as there is no adult-onset version of ADD.

One option - if you take along a notepad, you can use the time to surreptiously do some creative writing.

 

[The Angriest Bird]

It's not ADD. It's called being normal. Do you really think the average person could stay focused for 4 hours of rounds?

Well put, Prowler.

In your 3rd-year, it's only a matter of time before you find out that "there are so many things in the hospital that I don't even give a ****"