ICU month necessary

[Multifidus]

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I'm debating whether to drop my MICU month. How important is it for anesthesiology residencies to see that you have done an ICU month (MICU, SICU, or CCU)? Will it hurt my application not to have it? Thanks.

 

[aredoubleyou]

Nobody could know for sure, but in general its probably a good idea to have a few real rotations before you become a true 4th year student and concentrate your efforts on your fade-away jump shot. ICU rotations are a good way to fit one of those into your year and if they are looking specifically, it does show interest in anesthesiology, especially with talk of residency programs increasing to 6 months of required ICU time.

 

[SleepIsGood]

to original poster

bigest mistake i made was not doing an ICU month as a student. I completely see where you are coming from as a 4th year, you want to relax etc. Schedule it towards the end or right after your ERAS goes out so that programs dont see it if you want to 'chill'. Why? ICU experience is very important. It gets you to start thinking in a systems oriented manner. You will learn how to present quickly and very focused. Of course, you will learn something about mgt as well.

It's a great experience....just do it.

 

[Trisomy13]

bigest mistake i made was not doing an ICU month as a student. ... It gets you to start thinking in a systems oriented manner. You will learn how to present quickly and very focused. Of course, you will learn something about mgt as well.

It's a great experience....just do it.

agreed. I did some ICU as a 3rd year (SICU) and went back to do more as a 4th year (ShockTrauma ICU and CCU) because I felt they were the highest yielding months from the perspective of practical knowledge gained.

do it early before you burn out, as SleepIsGood mentioned. my other scheduling advice is to do a month of cardiology or pulmonary consults later in the year if you can. You usually pick up some useful information on the kinds of problems you are likely to encounter later (otherwise "healthy" but with bad CAD, COPD, etc.), and rotations on consult services are usually no-call/no-weekends, i.e. suited for latter months of 4th year...not to mention a good refresher on major topics before you start internship.

 

[Jennylee258]

I had a preclerkship Anesthesia elective at my home school, therefore I schedule a SICU in an Anesthesia program that I am interested in. I wonder should I do SICU or go to OR to meet more attendings?

thanks

Jenny

 

[aredoubleyou]

I had a preclerkship Anesthesia elective at my home school, therefore I schedule a SICU in an Anesthesia program that I am interested in. I wonder should I do SICU or go to OR to meet more attendings?

thanks

Jenny

I have never been one to think that away rotations do much for most people as far as helping them match. Generally, tho, probably better to do an anesth rotation if you wann get your face known (which again I doubt makes a lot of difference). BUT, doing well on an ICU rotation I think says a lot more about you than doing well on an anesth rotation. Also make sure anesth attendings cover the SICU youre going too.

 

[VentdependenT]

I wouldn't drop it. Its going to be one of the most useful rotations of your medical school experience.

As for it being a tough rotation lets see here. You are a 4th year medical student with no responsibility except to show up. Nobody expects you to know anything. There typically is no call so say hello to weekends. The residents HAVE to see all the patients, order the labs, chase down x-rays etc or they will have their tails chewed out...leaving you with even less to do except learn.

PLUS you will be able to talk about your ICU experience during interviews. This is a topic which WILL come up. Plus you are going to HAVE to take ICU months during your residency. Wouldn't you feel slightly more confident having a rotation under your belt?

For what its worth,
Vent