Advice for medical student

[geocycling1993]

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I am a fourth-year medical student and intend to apply to anesthesiology residencies. I started my first anesthesia rotation this week and feel completely overwhelmed - like I want to ask questions and learn but don't even know where to start. I am also definitely fumbling through some of the procedural skills (especially mask ventilation) and I worry that I have not made a good first impression. Intuitively, I know that I've only been doing this for two days so I shouldn't expect to be proficient; but I am still struggling with the feeling that I am in way over my head.

For what it's worth, I am still genuinely interested in anesthesiology and not reconsidering it as a specialty.

Any advice/tips/tricks would be much appreciated.

 

[IMGASMD]

I am a fourth-year medical student and intend to apply to anesthesiology residencies. I started my first anesthesia rotation this week and feel completely overwhelmed - like I want to ask questions and learn but don't even know where to start. I am also definitely fumbling through some of the procedural skills (especially mask ventilation) and I worry that I have not made a good first impression. Intuitively, I know that I've only been doing this for two days so I shouldn't expect to be proficient; but I am still struggling with the feeling that I am in way over my head.

For what it's worth, I am still genuinely interested in anesthesiology and not reconsidering it as a specialty.

Any advice/tips/tricks would be much appreciated.

Mask ventilation is much harder than it looks. You’re fine.
Show interests. Find some interesting cases, read about them, talk about them with your residents/attendings.
I could careless if you can/can’t intubate at end of your rotation, but you should know some basic physiology and some of the drugs and their pharmacology.

Good luck.

 

[APA 32]

I read Anesthesia Made Easy during my rotation. I think it was helpful

 

[Consigliere]

Talk to the CRNAs at your institution....apparently they know everything. 🙄

 

[DirtDocMD]

Act interested and ask lots of good questions. I’m always amazed at how fixated students get on sticking the tube in, while not seeming to realize that being able to bag-mask is what’s going to “save their bacon” when they CAN’T get the tube in. Tell the attendings that you’re aware that it’s a tricky skill, and that you’re trying to learn how to do it well. They’ll appreciate it and do their best to give you pointers.

What infuriates me is when students/EMT’s/others can’t bag-mask and act like they DON’T CARE, not when they’re having trouble out of “inexperience” and ask for pointers/tips..