not sure I can do this

[RosecityDoc]

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Im in my third year on my third rotation, and I keep getting overwhelmed! I feel very stupid, like I have NO medical knowledge at all, and I keep messing up on really easy things, things you dont even need to go to med school for. Im worndering if anyone out there has experienced this, and if anyone has any advice cause Im really starting to think Im not able to hack it as a doctor.
Ive been somewhat fortunate all the physicians Ive worked with have been good teachers and the hours I can tolerate, but I feel so lost all the time, I would love some advice

Thanx

 

[ArcGurren]

Im in my third year on my third rotation, and I keep getting overwhelmed! I feel very stupid, like I have NO medical knowledge at all, and I keep messing up on really easy things, things you dont even need to go to med school for. Im worndering if anyone out there has experienced this, and if anyone has any advice cause Im really starting to think Im not able to hack it as a doctor.
Ive been somewhat fortunate all the physicians Ive worked with have been good teachers and the hours I can tolerate, but I feel so lost all the time, I would love some advice

Thanx

1) Which rotations have you done?
2) Do you read and study on your rotations?
3) What situations do you feel "stupid" in specifically?

 

[1Life]

Im in my third year on my third rotation, and I keep getting overwhelmed! I feel very stupid, like I have NO medical knowledge at all, and I keep messing up on really easy things, things you dont even need to go to med school for. Im worndering if anyone out there has experienced this, and if anyone has any advice cause Im really starting to think Im not able to hack it as a doctor.
Ive been somewhat fortunate all the physicians Ive worked with have been good teachers and the hours I can tolerate, but I feel so lost all the time, I would love some advice

Thanx

That is completely normal. The different rotations are supposed to teach you about their specialty but also to prepare you to be an intern in a residency. Third year is going to be where you feel the dumbest but also learn the most about basic clinical care.

Feeling lost is normal. So it is helpful to come up with objectives for the topics you want to learn. The rotation is about taking care of patients but it is also about you and what you can get out of it and of course the shelves and doing well. There is a lot of knowledge floating around on your rotations and the hospital always runs not at your pace but at the attendings' and/or the residents' pace. As a medical student, you have not seen enough or done enough to match that pace. So it is best to gather your thoughts, emotions and focus on the required topics you should cover and create a structure.

 

[RosecityDoc]

Ive done Nephro, Surg, and currently Ob/Gyn. I sincerely read and study about 3-4 hours after Im done with my day (i usually take a one or two days off) Either by doing Q-bank questions, Blueprints, or preparing for presentations that I have to give. I'm feeling dumb after I see a patient and my attending asks me what do you think is going on . . . my mind goes BLANK! I mean I can barely think of my own name blank. I can even think of normal things to say like: they have an infection.

 

[ArcGurren]

Ive done Nephro, Surg, and currently Ob/Gyn. I sincerely read and study about 3-4 hours after Im done with my day (i usually take a one or two days off) Either by doing Q-bank questions, Blueprints, or preparing for presentations that I have to give. I'm feeling dumb after I see a patient and my attending asks me what do you think is going on . . . my mind goes BLANK! I mean I can barely think of my own name blank. I can even think of normal things to say like: they have an infection.

Okay, so you haven't done any of the medical-heavy specialties yet (I suppose OB sort of is but it's a very limited view). You might enjoy those more. Also that's quite a lot of studying per day in terms of hours but maybe it's not that efficient?

Sounds like you just have some anxiety when presenting; just practice your presentations beforehand out loud to somebody else. Don't worry; this is pretty common and I've been there before myself.

 

[dally1025]

I'm feeling dumb after I see a patient and my attending asks me what do you think is going on . . . my mind goes BLANK! I mean I can barely think of my own name blank. I can even think of normal things to say like: they have an infection.

Before rounds think about questions the attending could ask about that patient like the differential diagnosis, what you would get to work up the patient, management, etc. I used to blank like that but I started reading up on my patients' conditions immediately before rounds on up to date and it really helped. Many attendings ask questions that are more "what I am thinking" type questions and have numerous ways to answer them depending on how you interpret them. Most importantly, relax. If you knew everything you wouldn't have needed to go to medical school.

 

[Rockytop00]

Dude, study less.

I was anxious at the beginning... then I realized that the harder I tried the worse I did on tests/quizes/shelf.

So I stopped studying so much. I use to do crazy 12 hour days in 1st/2nd year, and into third year I was studying after working all day for a few hours. Man, looking back it was horrible. I stopped studying and everything has gotten better. I just focus on my patients and whatever my attendings say to do that day/week.

Don't study for the shelf until the last week... and if you do study before that, don't study 4 hours a day. That is crazy. Take a breath. Practice the practical stuff, like presenting your patients.

Hope that helps some... chill out. Stop studying. You will do better. And remember... grades pretty much don't matter all that much, it's your attendings and residents that matter the most.

 

[fowler54]

To be honest this is exactly how I feel right now. I've already completed psych, ob/gyn and I'm on my 5th week of internal medicine. I suck at plans. I get caught up in little details and fail to see the big picture. I can't answer basic questions. My presentations suck balls I feel like literally the dumbest medical student ever. 🙁

27 yo male with a hx of depression and poor academics in 1st/2nd year of medical school who complains of difficulty performing at the expected level of a 3rd year medical student. He says he has very little medical knowledge and frequently is unable to answer questions. He has difficulty keeping up with the plan for his patients and remembering basic information on his patients. Has difficulty maintaining focus/attention during rounds and has frequent morning fatigue with 5-6 hrs/night and consuming 16-20 oz coffee/day.

Poor medical knowledge- likely secondary to inadequate studying during 1st/2nd year and cramming for step 1 and subsequently retained little knowledge. Probably should put more effort into following patients.
- study more per night. Q bank and Step up 2 medicine during free time
- look at up to date regularly

Not knowing patients well- expresses difficulty keeping up with plan for patients and remembering basic info
- print out notes for patients and carry around for reference
- make checklists for important aspects of patient

Fatigue/difficulty with focus- could be secondary to depression. could be also due to relative lack of sleep. Frequent morning fatigue with hx of snoring indicates possibility of OSA despite pt being nonsmoker and not obese. Lack of attention could be due to possible ADHD.
- advise pt to get more sleep (7-8 hrs ideal)
- screen pt for sx of depression and possible rx for SSRI
- refer pt to outpatient for undergoing sleep study for possibility of OSA (pt has hx of LOUD snoring)
- ritalin. why not?

PPX: none

FEN:
PO fluids
replete lytes as needed
general diet (pt eats healthy and is a fit young male)

contact:
john doe (123)456-7890

 

[45408]

You guys should start asking your intern/resident for help in presenting this stuff.

 

[dsoz]

To be honest this is exactly how I feel right now. I've already completed psych, ob/gyn and I'm on my 5th week of internal medicine. I suck at plans. I get caught up in little details and fail to see the big picture. I can't answer basic questions. My presentations suck balls I feel like literally the dumbest medical student ever. 🙁

27 yo male with a hx of depression and poor academics in 1st/2nd year of medical school who complains of difficulty performing at the expected level of a 3rd year medical student. He says he has very little medical knowledge and frequently is unable to answer questions. He has difficulty keeping up with the plan for his patients and remembering basic information on his patients. Has difficulty maintaining focus/attention during rounds and has frequent morning fatigue with 5-6 hrs/night and consuming 16-20 oz coffee/day.

Poor medical knowledge- likely secondary to inadequate studying during 1st/2nd year and cramming for step 1 and subsequently retained little knowledge. Probably should put more effort into following patients.
- study more per night. Q bank and Step up 2 medicine during free time
- look at up to date regularly

Not knowing patients well- expresses difficulty keeping up with plan for patients and remembering basic info
- print out notes for patients and carry around for reference
- make checklists for important aspects of patient

Fatigue/difficulty with focus- could be secondary to depression. could be also due to relative lack of sleep. Frequent morning fatigue with hx of snoring indicates possibility of OSA despite pt being nonsmoker and not obese. Lack of attention could be due to possible ADHD.
- advise pt to get more sleep (7-8 hrs ideal)
- screen pt for sx of depression and possible rx for SSRI
- refer pt to outpatient for undergoing sleep study for possibility of OSA (pt has hx of LOUD snoring)
- ritalin. why not?

PPX: none

FEN:
PO fluids
replete lytes as needed
general diet (pt eats healthy and is a fit young male)

contact:
john doe (123)456-7890

You forgot that Pt should return to clinic or report to emergency room at local hospital if condition gets worse or does not resolve by the end of third year. (Always CYA!)

I have the feeling that this will be what I feel like in a couple of years. 🙁

dsoz

 

[BlueElmo]

To be honest this is exactly how I feel right now. I've already completed psych, ob/gyn and I'm on my 5th week of internal medicine. I suck at plans. I get caught up in little details and fail to see the big picture. I can't answer basic questions. My presentations suck balls I feel like literally the dumbest medical student ever. 🙁

27 yo male with a hx of depression and poor academics in 1st/2nd year of medical school who complains of difficulty performing at the expected level of a 3rd year medical student. He says he has very little medical knowledge and frequently is unable to answer questions. He has difficulty keeping up with the plan for his patients and remembering basic information on his patients. Has difficulty maintaining focus/attention during rounds and has frequent morning fatigue with 5-6 hrs/night and consuming 16-20 oz coffee/day.

Poor medical knowledge- likely secondary to inadequate studying during 1st/2nd year and cramming for step 1 and subsequently retained little knowledge. Probably should put more effort into following patients.
- study more per night. Q bank and Step up 2 medicine during free time
- look at up to date regularly

Not knowing patients well- expresses difficulty keeping up with plan for patients and remembering basic info
- print out notes for patients and carry around for reference
- make checklists for important aspects of patient

Fatigue/difficulty with focus- could be secondary to depression. could be also due to relative lack of sleep. Frequent morning fatigue with hx of snoring indicates possibility of OSA despite pt being nonsmoker and not obese. Lack of attention could be due to possible ADHD.
- advise pt to get more sleep (7-8 hrs ideal)
- screen pt for sx of depression and possible rx for SSRI
- refer pt to outpatient for undergoing sleep study for possibility of OSA (pt has hx of LOUD snoring)
- ritalin. why not?

PPX: none

FEN:
PO fluids
replete lytes as needed
general diet (pt eats healthy and is a fit young male)

contact:
john doe (123)456-7890

LOL. Well done sir. I bet at least your notes are superb.

 

[deleted6669]

To be honest this is exactly how I feel right now. has frequent morning fatigue with 5-6 hrs/night and consuming 16-20 oz coffee/day.

well there is your problem. that's not nearly enough coffee....I drink more than that on my days off....

 

[Perrotfish]

Im in my third year on my third rotation, and I keep getting overwhelmed! I feel very stupid, like I have NO medical knowledge at all, and I keep messing up on really easy things, things you dont even need to go to med school for. Im worndering if anyone out there has experienced this, and if anyone has any advice cause Im really starting to think Im not able to hack it as a doctor.
Ive been somewhat fortunate all the physicians Ive worked with have been good teachers and the hours I can tolerate, but I feel so lost all the time, I would love some advice

Thanx

If you're passing the shelves you obviously have the knowledge, and it sounds like you're more than putting the effort in. Keep up the good work and you'll start feeling more comfortable.

Feeling overwhelmed is completely natural. Keep in mind you are at the very start of your clinical medical training, a process that will take no less than 5 years. The process is long because almost everyone starts out feeling lost, and it takes a long time to stop feeling lost. Really as a third year if you feel like you know what's going on its more likely that you're clueless than competent. Feeling lost is just a sign that you've got good insight into your situation, it doesn't mean you'll make a bad doctor.

Advice: in terms of your mind going blank, I would always need to write down my differential, assessment, and plan and read off of my notes while I presented, otherwise anxiety makes my mind go blank and I would flub the presentation. I still need to do that, actually. Also you should ideally be presenting to the residents before you present to the attendings. Ob-Gyn and Surgery are not great about actually making that happen, though, as they're such fast paced services. They're also particularly bad services in terms of feeling lost, since your second year coursework and step one studying covered very little of what you see on Surgery and Ob/Gyn relative to your other core courses. You'll probably have a better feeling on Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Also try to make sure you maintain some sort of a balanced life in between all the studying. Good luck.

 

[Ilovewater]

You guys should start asking your intern/resident for help in presenting this stuff.

Do this! If we have time before rounds starts, my intern would always go over our patients with us to make sure we don't miss any O/N events (some events don't make their ways into the charts until much later....) and go over plans for the patients. They can also tell you whether your plans suck or not before presenting them to the attending! They'll make you look good on rounds.

 

[cabinbuilder]

We all have felt this way one time or another. I remember having a panic attack on my first night on call as an intern. Totally threw up in the bathroom thinking I was going to kill someone and knew that I didn't know anything about doing an admission.

A physician friend of mine once told me that creating a doctor is like growing an onion. Everything happens in layers, one little bit of information at a time. You go through the steps and all of a sudden the growing time is over, the onion is ready to pick, and you just know what to do.

Don't despair, don't study so much, relax, it all comes together in time.

 

[Top Gun]

A physician friend of mine once told me that creating a doctor is like growing an onion. Everything happens in layers, one little bit of information at a time. You go through the steps and all of a sudden the growing time is over, the onion is ready to pick, and you just know what to do.

Clearly your friend learned that from watching Shrek. 🙂

 

[moto_za]

To be honest this is exactly how I feel right now. I've already completed psych, ob/gyn and I'm on my 5th week of internal medicine. I suck at plans. I get caught up in little details and fail to see the big picture. I can't answer basic questions. My presentations suck balls I feel like literally the dumbest medical student ever. 🙁

27 yo male with a hx of depression and poor academics in 1st/2nd year of medical school who complains of difficulty performing at the expected level of a 3rd year medical student. He says he has very little medical knowledge and frequently is unable to answer questions. He has difficulty keeping up with the plan for his patients and remembering basic information on his patients. Has difficulty maintaining focus/attention during rounds and has frequent morning fatigue with 5-6 hrs/night and consuming 16-20 oz coffee/day.

Poor medical knowledge- likely secondary to inadequate studying during 1st/2nd year and cramming for step 1 and subsequently retained little knowledge. Probably should put more effort into following patients.
- study more per night. Q bank and Step up 2 medicine during free time
- look at up to date regularly

Not knowing patients well- expresses difficulty keeping up with plan for patients and remembering basic info
- print out notes for patients and carry around for reference
- make checklists for important aspects of patient

Fatigue/difficulty with focus- could be secondary to depression. could be also due to relative lack of sleep. Frequent morning fatigue with hx of snoring indicates possibility of OSA despite pt being nonsmoker and not obese. Lack of attention could be due to possible ADHD.
- advise pt to get more sleep (7-8 hrs ideal)
- screen pt for sx of depression and possible rx for SSRI
- refer pt to outpatient for undergoing sleep study for possibility of OSA (pt has hx of LOUD snoring)
- ritalin. why not?

PPX: none

FEN:
PO fluids
replete lytes as needed
general diet (pt eats healthy and is a fit young male)

contact:
john doe (123)456-7890

Well done 👍