Micro or blood bank as 4th year CP elective?

[Ludy]

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Just a quick question for any path residents out there... I'd like to do one CP rotation in my 4th year, and I'm trying to decide between a month on micro or one in the blood bank. I've heard that both are good rotations with attendings who like to teach, so which do you think would be better preparation for residency? I suppose most CP rotations in residency are pretty laid-back, and having had previous experience may not make much difference. So if they'd be equally good preparation, which one do you think would be more fun as an easy 4th year elective? Thanks for your help!

 

[Doctor B.]

It really depends on your institution as the rotations vary from place to place. At mine, both are fairly laid back. You will see actual, live patients on blood bank where you won't on micro so that may help sway your decision one way or the other. I personally don't find micro that exciting so I'd choose blood bank.

 

[pathboy]

It TOTALLY depends on your institution. I am a first year resident on transfusion medicine, and it is very involved. If you are at such a place, even if you don't like blood banking, you will a LOT. There are residents (senior level) who don't know beans about it because their rotation was too laid back. I say it's best to consider the more "difficult" or aggressive rotation and go for that. It's not like you'll be taking call or anything. You'll just stay busy and learn more. It all depends on what you want from the rotation I suppose (not to mention what your institution offers).

 

[GreatPumpkin]

I would go the blood bank route too. 80% of the on-call questions I get are blood bank related. It would have been nice to have some blood bank experience prior to trying to answer questions.