getting ready to start intern year

[gman33]

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Hey All - Any ideas about specific things that would be good to review before I start residency? I've been going over EKGs and some of the common workups.

I'm pretty much free of any real responsibility until I start at the end of June.

Most of that time will be spent relaxing, but I'll probably spend an hour most days reading something.

Thanks to all for the advice that helped get me to this point.

 

[Thoracotomy]

I don't plan on doing anything except for soaking up my last days of freedom!

 

[blackavar]

Coming towards the end of my own intern year, I'd say, don't worry about it. If it makes you feel better to review things, go for it. Is it necessary? No. Will it "help" in intern year? Studying always helps, and will be part of your residency over all, but will it help the transition from medical student to intern?...eh, not really. You're going to feel overwhelmed learning a new hospital system, having more patients, having more responsibilities and more expectations. There is a steep learning curve as you start intern year and i don't know that you can do much to prepare for it other then just do it. My advice, relax, enjoy yourself, settle your new life (esp if you're going to be moving) so that when you start your intern year you can focus as much as possible just on that. The reading and reviewing will come as you see patients and realize you have no idea what to do for them. But it will all be okay. Starting intern year was hard, but I love my life as an EM intern and can't imagine being in another specialty.

 

[Daiphon]

Coming towards the end of my own intern year, I'd say, don't worry about it. If it makes you feel better to review things, go for it. Is it necessary? No. Will it "help" in intern year? Studying always helps, and will be part of your residency over all, but will it help the transition from medical student to intern?...eh, not really. You're going to feel overwhelmed learning a new hospital system, having more patients, having more responsibilities and more expectations. There is a steep learning curve as you start intern year and i don't know that you can do much to prepare for it other then just do it. My advice, relax, enjoy yourself, settle your new life (esp if you're going to be moving) so that when you start your intern year you can focus as much as possible just on that. The reading and reviewing will come as you see patients and realize you have no idea what to do for them. But it will all be okay. Starting intern year was hard, but I love my life as an EM intern and can't imagine being in another specialty.

Agree. Focus on quality time with your spouse/family/friends/dog/XBox/etc... intern year will suck up a lot of your free time, so bank some now.

If you absolutely MUST study something, then know your merit badge algorithms (ACLS/PALS) & RSI stuff... you might start off service, and in many hospitals (as is the same in the real world), the ED guy is the go-to for this.

But I vote for a beer. d=)

Good luck!
-d

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[gman33]

Believe me, the majority of my time will be spent relaxing.

In the little bit of time when I actually do read something, just looking for a few suggestions.

 

[DeadCactus]

Just a medical student but I recently read through Cope's "Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen" and would recommend it if you haven't read it yet. I thought it really helped my understanding of working through the H&P of abdominal pain but at the same time it's a pretty easy read and still rewarding without sifting through it and studying details. I've heard good things about "Evidence Based Physical Diagnosis" too but have yet to read it...

 

[RPedigo]

Cope's "Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen"

Just make sure you ignore the part where they tell you not to give analgesia to patients with abdominal pain

 

[DeadCactus]

Just make sure you ignore the part where they tell you not to give analgesia to patients with abdominal pain

The current edition seems to have left that notion behind but the propensity for inserting a digit into every anus remains...

 

[la gringa]

start learning the most prevalent foreign language at your residency institution.

i learned Spanish my 4th year of med school and forced myself to use it in residency. i'm now fluent and it speeds me up tremendously.... also my Spanish speaking patients love me. too bad Press-Ganey doesn't go out in Spanish 🙁

 

[wobit]

Go to the city where you will be living and become familiar with all your maintenance stuff: the grocery store, your auto shop. Figure out which optometrist, dentist, workout center, and barber you will go to. Get all your personal annual appointments done.

Prepare yourself to learn. As an intern, it's less about the tidbits you come in knowing and more about your fundamentals and your ability to learn quickly.