Ms3

[jeantm]

Hi Everyone....I have a question about the third year of med school.

I was curious what exactly happens during this year? I've read a couple descriptions of few med school so i gather you do various rotations for a set amount of time each.

But what I would really appreciate is some info about what the day to day schedule is? I really like knowing I have class from say 9-2 and know in advance what time I will start and finish. Does every rotation start at the same time and end at a certain time?

I'm really sorry if this is a dumb question but I just don't understand how the days are structured?

Thanx in adavnce

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[rotatores]

I've always known when I will start work...it is the matter of when I'll ever finish that I usually have little control over....

for example:

Surgery: 4:30am-7:00-8:00pmish
Medicine (inpatient) 5:15am-5-6pmish
Medicine (outpatient) 8:00-4:30ish

etc...etc...

I think the only rotation that I would get out at the same time was psychiatry.

rotatores
USUHS 2006

 

[jeantm]

thanks for the info...i feel better (well minus the early morning part)

take care

I've always known when I will start work...it is the matter of when I'll ever finish that I usually have little control over....

for example:

Surgery: 4:30am-7:00-8:00pmish
Medicine (inpatient) 5:15am-5-6pmish
Medicine (outpatient) 8:00-4:30ish

etc...etc...

I think the only rotation that I would get out at the same time was psychiatry.

rotatores
USUHS 2006

 

[Stinger86]

Depends on the school and the department. At mine you knew when rounds were going to begin, so you came in as early as needed in order to get all the patients seen. When we got to leave would be extremely variable. On rotations where we had rounds in the morning and rounds in the afternoon, we would get out around 6-7pm. Services with only morning rounds ended around 4-5 for us, barring no new admissions. Outpatients services never kept us there longer than 5.

Now, what happens in between getting to and leaving from the hospital is completely institution-dependent. We had lectures just about every morning and lunch conferences most of the week. Sometimes they would have labs or things like that to do in the afternoon. So, it varies.

Of course, how late you stay is also dependent on you. I left Internal Medicine inpatient service every day by 3 or 4 because I got tired of sitting on my @ss or calling up for labs or outside hospitals for the interns. Plus, it was boring all around. Some of my peers would stay late and admit new patients. Whatever floats your boat

 

[Portier]

Based on so many variables that the guy from the movie Pi would have his mind boggled, how the day to day life of any practitioner will be is dynamic.

Some rotations you end up going home at 12PM every day. Some you end up working 15 hour days.

We heard a story from our clinical affairs director: An MS3 was on a OB/GYN rotation. He/She had been at work all day, and finally got home around 8PM or so. The preceptor/attending/HMFIC called them as they got home because a mother was delivering, and they wanted the MS3 to be there. The MS3 replied, "That's OK. I'm kinda' tired. I'm gonna' stay home." This was not received well by the doctor who phoned the school.

Moral: Don't be too stingy with your time...I guess.

(Aside...MS3 in the Navy used to mean Mess Specialist 3rd Class)

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Surgery: 4:30am-7:00-8:00pmish
Medicine (inpatient) 5:15am-5-6pmish
Medicine (outpatient) 8:00-4:30ish

Did you really have 100 hour weeks with surgery? Or are those hours only worked a few days a week?

 

[rotatores]

yes...on surgery I did work about 100hrs/week.

 

[jeantm]

Thanks for all the info

I didn't realize you had lectures during 3rd year..

Do you get to pick out what order you do your rotations? Is it like registering for classes (first come first serve sort of thing?)

Thanks again and I am sorry I am so clueless about it.

 

[Wednesday]

Thanks for all the info

I didn't realize you had lectures during 3rd year..

Do you get to pick out what order you do your rotations? Is it like registering for classes (first come first serve sort of thing?)

Thanks again and I am sorry I am so clueless about it.

Depends on the school. In fact, even how long you rotate through each clerkship and which ones are required depends on the school, although basically everyone requires medicine, surgery, ob/gyn, pediatrics, family medicine, and psychiatry.

My school has a lottery. We tell them what we would like for the order and the site, but you may or may not get some or all of them when and where you want them. Seems to pretty much work out in the end though even if people don't get exactly what they want in the beginning.

Just wanted to say that in my experience 3rd year is not very predictable hours wise. It varies by rotation and even by team (for example one student may have a really easy rotation on medicine at one site but when you get there the hours are long because you have a new resident who expects something completely different). And each day may be different because different things are going on and sometimes there is a code at 5 pm when you are heading out the door. It's really a go-with-the-flow type thing.

Don't worry, all this stuff becomes clear as you reach that stage of med school. And thank goodness, third year doesn't last forever.

 

[rotatores]

And thank goodness, third year doesn't last forever.

Amen...13 days and counting.

Rotatores
USUHS 2006