Feels like I forgot everything

[JustPass]

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As I'm coming close to end of my 4th year in medical school, I ask myself if I am ready for residency (IM). And honestly, the answer is "HELL NO!"
I feel like I've forgot a lot of material from first 3 years of medical school. It's been several months since I passed level/step 2 and I haven't seriously taken anytime to study.
I plan go brushing up on some materials here and there until start of residency but I feel so stupid.
I feel dumb as 3rd years answer questions and ask questions that I don't know answers to.
Is this common?
Even if it isn't common, is it okay?

I am not expecting to know it all but it seems like I studied to pass boards and never truly understood the material 100%. Sometimes, I hear diseases like "multiple sclerosis" or "acute tubular necrosis" and think to myself "can I even explain to someone what MS/ATN is?" I know some of the symptoms and some keywords associated with the diseases but do I truly know the disease process?

 

[Juldarus]

Chill, my dude. Every 4th year feels that way. Ride the wave, don't worry, we'll all learn what we need during internship

 

[el_duderino]

It's common, you'll be fine.

 

[jhamaican]

you realize you will be doing largely secretarial work your intern year right?

Its more about learning the system over practicing medicine your first few months

 

[jdh71]

I remembered everything from my first three years of medical school starting residency.

 

[IMreshopeful]

I remembered everything from my first three years of medical school starting residency.

Yeah man I was an instant genius starting. Knew that Krebs cycle in and out

 

[Anicetus]

As I'm coming close to end of my 4th year in medical school, I ask myself if I am ready for residency (IM). And honestly, the answer is "HELL NO!"
I feel like I've forgot a lot of material from first 3 years of medical school. It's been several months since I passed level/step 2 and I haven't seriously taken anytime to study.
I plan go brushing up on some materials here and there until start of residency but I feel so stupid.
I feel dumb as 3rd years answer questions and ask questions that I don't know answers to.
Is this common?
Even if it isn't common, is it okay?

I am not expecting to know it all but it seems like I studied to pass boards and never truly understood the material 100%. Sometimes, I hear diseases like "multiple sclerosis" or "acute tubular necrosis" and think to myself "can I even explain to someone what MS/ATN is?" I know some of the symptoms and some keywords associated with the diseases but do I truly know the disease process?

Behold the hypocrisy of medicine, when everyone tells you its normal and okay keeps reassuring you. Then intern year rolls around and your second year who just told you “it’s okay to not know anything” goes “wait you don’t remember which glomerular diseases are emergent?” Or “you don’t remember how to treat DKA?”. This field is full of hypocrites.

 

[CatFactorial]

Behold the hypocrisy of medicine, when everyone tells you its normal and okay keeps reassuring you. Then intern year rolls around and your second year who just told you “it’s okay to not know anything” goes “wait you don’t remember which glomerular diseases are emergent?” Or “you don’t remember how to treat DKA?”. This field is full of hypocrites.

Yes, it's worrisome when interns are incapable of opening books. Not hypocrisy though.

 

[Anicetus]

Yes, it's worrisome when interns are incapable of opening books. Not hypocrisy though.

If youre implying we aren’t studying enough on a daily basis then don’t tell us it’s “okay to not know anything as starting intern”. If you’re implying we aren’t reading up on the patients coming in then actually give us time to read up on their issues before starting the pimp session.

 

[CatFactorial]

If youre implying we aren’t studying enough on a daily basis then don’t tell us it’s “okay to not know anything as starting intern”. If you’re implying we aren’t reading up on the patients coming in then actually give us time to read up on their issues before starting the pimp session.

A July intern hasn’t had the experience to know anything, but the same can’t be said for one who’s halfway done with first year. Also, as stated above one the key things to learn as an intern is efficiency. Remember that medical school is over and being a doctor (even if still in training) is your job; it’s not your upper level’s problem to give you enough time to look good for the “pimp session.” You find time in the day to read up on whatever will benefit your patients.

 

[IMreshopeful]

If youre implying we aren’t studying enough on a daily basis then don’t tell us it’s “okay to not know anything as starting intern”. If you’re implying we aren’t reading up on the patients coming in then actually give us time to read up on their issues before starting the pimp session.

You’re halfway through intern year. Efficiency and workload should not be an issue as much anymore unless you’re on a horrendously busy service or you’re at a terribly malignant program

Use your downtime to read during the day

 

[Anicetus]

A July intern hasn’t had the experience to know anything, but the same can’t be said for one who’s halfway done with first year. Also, as stated above one the key things to learn as an intern is efficiency. Remember that medical school is over and being a doctor (even if still in training) is your job; it’s not your upper level’s problem to give you enough time to look good for the “pimp session.” You find time in the day to read up on whatever will benefit your patients.

Pimp sessions can occur with the resident. I’m referring to being pimped by a 2nd year in July. Nothing about midway.

You’re halfway through intern year. Efficiency and workload should not be an issue as much anymore unless you’re on a horrendously busy service or you’re at a terribly malignant program

Use your downtime to read during the day

This thread is about not knowing anything when starting intern year. Midway interns are significantly better. I’m speaking on my experience as a July/aug intern.

Ultimately the baseline knowledge an intern really has when they start is significantly worse than what residents and attendings believe what the baseline should be. I forgot how to treat DKA when starting intern year and got **** for it. So when it’s “okay to not know ‘anything’” it’s not actually always okay. If anything there should be a good list of basic things to read up on and refresh before intern year if you don’t remember them to get back on track with that’s “baseline knowledge” that they expect.

 

[CatFactorial]

Pimp sessions can occur with the resident. I’m referring to being pimped by a 2nd year in July. Nothing about midway.



This thread is about not knowing anything when starting intern year. Midway interns are significantly better. I’m speaking on my experience as a July/aug intern.

Ultimately the baseline knowledge an intern really has when they start is significantly worse than what residents and attendings believe what the baseline should be. I forgot how to treat DKA when starting intern year and got **** for it. So when it’s “okay to not know ‘anything’” it’s not actually always okay. If anything there should be a good list of basic things to read up on and refresh before intern year if you don’t remember them to get back on track with that’s “baseline knowledge” that they expect.

Again, disagree. Sorry your n of 1 experiences have been so harrowing but let me throw in mine. I finished med school in December and was finishing up my mba until starting in July. Of course I got lots of questions wrong, but my attendings and senior residents pointed me to helpful articles and...voila learning happened. Rinse and repeat. My baseline level of medical knowledge was sufficient to facilitate this process and I’m certain that is the case for the majority of people.


Residency sucks. Reviewing a list of topics beforehand without the context of actually seeing patients is an awful waste of time when one can be traveling and chasing skirts (or trousers or insert garment of choice) before things get busy.

 

[rokshana]

Pimp sessions can occur with the resident. I’m referring to being pimped by a 2nd year in July. Nothing about midway.



This thread is about not knowing anything when starting intern year. Midway interns are significantly better. I’m speaking on my experience as a July/aug intern.

Ultimately the baseline knowledge an intern really has when they start is significantly worse than what residents and attendings believe what the baseline should be. I forgot how to treat DKA when starting intern year and got **** for it. So when it’s “okay to not know ‘anything’” it’s not actually always okay. If anything there should be a good list of basic things to read up on and refresh before intern year if you don’t remember them to get back on track with that’s “baseline knowledge” that they expect.

your personal experience with someone that was a douche does not speak to the vast majority of residency programs...and if everyone there is like that, well then it sucks that you are at a malignant program.

I can teach an intern medicine...i can't teach them how to have a good work ethic and a desire to learn...