How to impress the doctor you are shadowing

[Warped Apostle]

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I am currently a first year med student and am trying to get some clinical exposure in the clinic and in the operating room. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to impress the attending doctor?

 

[murfettie]

Be nice, ask questions (unless they have god syndrome for patients and med students) oh, smile (unless they are just soooo grumpy), I have found that those helps.. who knows, maybe these doctors all secretly think i'm an idiot... they probably just don't remember that i exist.. oh well.

 

[JackShephard MD]

I don't think you impress people by trying to impress them.

Better questions: How can I be of value or service to the doctor I'm shadowing? What can I learn to be extremely well prepared?

Take the focus off yourself and put it on others.

 

[armybound]

Depends, does the attending round? Do they expect you to round with them?

When it comes to surgeons, it seems that what you do on/before rounds to show how hard you're willing to work (showing up early, getting notes written, taking care of paperwork/pulling drains) usually is the way to impress them. When you're in the OR, you always need to know your patient, their history, and the procedure you're doing. In the OR I think it helps to be helpful, such as helping get the patient, move them to the table, position them, put a Foley in if necessary, shave the patient if necessary, and so forth. And treat everyone with respect, especially the scrub tech and circulating nurse.

Usually these things are shown more to residents than attendings, but that's my general advice for people hoping to do well on a surgical rotation.

 

[murfettie]

Depends, does the attending round? Do they expect you to round with them?

When it comes to surgeons, it seems that what you do on/before rounds to show how hard you're willing to work (showing up early, getting notes written, taking care of paperwork/pulling drains) usually is the way to impress them. When you're in the OR, you always need to know your patient, their history, and the procedure you're doing. In the OR I think it helps to be helpful, such as helping get the patient, move them to the table, position them, put a Foley in if necessary, shave the patient if necessary, and so forth. And treat everyone with respect, especially the scrub tech and circulating nurse.

Usually these things are shown more to residents than attendings, but that's my general advice for people hoping to do well on a surgical rotation.

that -- early is super good.

 

[valkener]

You have to read and get to know the doctor you shadow. If he wants you to ask questions, go for it. If he just wants you to be professional and observe, do that. Either way be enthusiastic, honest, and always willing to help. Try not to force yourself on a physician who already has a very long day.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

I am currently a first year med student and am trying to get some clinical exposure in the clinic and in the operating room. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to impress the attending doctor?

You don't. You're shadowing. Be dumb (because you don't know anything yet). Be polite (because they are awesome and see you as no different than their child). Be interested (because you are, otherwise, what's the point). And do whatever they say.

Its your presence (hopefully within the department and not some rando in the community) that makes the difference. The fact that you are visible and not a douchebag means that other people in the department will see you.

 

[turkeyjerky]

Depends, does the attending round? Do they expect you to round with them?

When it comes to surgeons, it seems that what you do on/before rounds to show how hard you're willing to work (showing up early, getting notes written, taking care of paperwork/pulling drains) usually is the way to impress them. When you're in the OR, you always need to know your patient, their history, and the procedure you're doing. In the OR I think it helps to be helpful, such as helping get the patient, move them to the table, position them, put a Foley in if necessary, shave the patient if necessary, and so forth. And treat everyone with respect, especially the scrub tech and circulating nurse.

Usually these things are shown more to residents than attendings, but that's my general advice for people hoping to do well on a surgical rotation.

This is good advice for a, uh you know, rotation. But the OP's an MS1 who's shadowing. I agree w/ overactive--there's no need, or way to, impress someone while shadowing.

Just be a cool, normal person. Crack a joke once in a while. Don't flash a weird smile when the doc looks at you.

 

[HolySmokes]

Don't flash a weird smile when the doc looks at you.

So you're telling me all those times I stared into the surgeon's eyes while licking my lips was bad?

 

[armybound]

This is good advice for a, uh you know, rotation. But the OP's an MS1 who's shadowing. I agree w/ overactive--there's no need, or way to, impress someone while shadowing.

Just be a cool, normal person. Crack a joke once in a while. Don't flash a weird smile when the doc looks at you.

Which is why I asked what his duties will be.

Plenty of us "shadowed" as MS1s or MS2s and that doesn't necessarily mean stand in the corner and watch. He's a student now, he is fully capable of scrubbing in, placing Foleys, starting IVs, intubating, or anything else his attending allows him to do.

I don't see why it's not relevant advice if his duties are going to include rounding and scrubbing in.

 

[danielmd06]

Be polite to people other than the doctor. Better yet, be polite to everyone. All the time.

Show up 15 minutes before you're supposed to show up, and be ready to go. It's called "Lombardi Time."

Stay as late as needed. Arguably as late as the doctor himself/herself. Relax. You can go to the gym some other time.

Know what operation is going to take place, the anatomy involved, the medicines involved, the medical co-morbidities of that particular patient, and try to understand why the surgery is taking place. For every patient you're going to see. As best you can at least. Yeah, I know it's alot of work and you're supposedly at the beginning of your training. That's the point. Show how hard-working and brilliant you are by being prepared. You'd be surprised at how much more intelligent your questions miraculously become the more of these things you know beforehand.

Pay attention to the post-op orders. What medicine? Why? Why not some other medicine etc.

Hard work (and being willing to work hard), being polite, and caring go waaaay further than knowledge base.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

You don't. You're shadowing. Be dumb (because you don't know anything yet). Be polite (because they are awesome and see you as no different than their child). Be interested (because you are, otherwise, what's the point). And do whatever they say.

Its your presence (hopefully within the department and not some rando in the community) that makes the difference. The fact that you are visible and not a douchebag means that other people in the department will see you.

This is exactly right. You are a first year med student...in the eyes of an attending basically a child.

The only way you will impress is with your attitude. You are trying to put in face time which will pay off later. You shouldn't be "gunning" and trying to act like a pseudo third or fourth year.

 

[DeadCactus]

You're shadowing. Show up, be friendly, and be enthusiastic. You show up, hang out, appear interested, and then politely take off to go study. Get as involved as you feel comfortable. Early on you watch and follow; later on you offer to go see a patient.

I can't imagine any attending wants to babysit another gunner who thinks he's on a rotation rather than just hang out with someone interested in the field and show them some cool stuff...

 

[Warped Apostle]

All of this is great. Thanks for the 2 cents.

 

[Mattchiavelli]

Everything said is pretty good. Be very nice, realize you are naive and ask questions at appropriate times (ie not when the Dr is busy), pay attention, and help out. You should be saying "I can help with that" like 1xHr. They are taking time to drag you around for something they will probably not be compensated for so don't forget to be grateful.

If you are in the OR.. LISTEN TO WHAT THE SCRUB NURSE SAYS ALWAYS and only do something different if the attending physician says different. The scrub nurse is essentially the vice-dictator of the OR (attending is dictator) and will be determining if the field is sterile or not. You will look bad and feel bad if you contaminate and they have to re-scrub.

 

[tima]

- Ask questions.
- Be respectful to everyone.
- Don't come in the way of the doctor. Let him/her tell you what you can do.
- Don't be aggressive (gunner attitude).

 

[Warped Apostle]

that's good advice about the scrub nurse