Retaining Information?

[BuddyTheElf]

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Curious how much information everyone retains. We're nearing the end of our neuro course (that's crammed into 6 weeks ) and I can barely remember the information presented on our first exam. I feel like I'm just binging and purging info on every test.
How much info do ya'll feel like you retain in these classes?

Thanks for chiming in! 😉

 

[SLC]

I was surprised how little I was able to recall directly at the end of the 1st year, still I never got below 85% in a class and I'm definitely not someone who just memorized without understanding.

And when I went to take Boards after 2nd year, I didn't necessarily remember everything but it didn't take much to bring it all back. It's all in there somewhere and when it's needed I'm finding it doesn't take much to jog my memory.

I'm in Rotations now, stuff is staying put a lot better now that I see it in action on a regular basis, so that helps a lot too.

 

[costales]

Neuro? Not much. Just shove it in and keep it in until you pass. The minutiae will evaporate with ethanol.

 

[DrMaximus]

I feel that we get information so rapid fire, our brains can't hold on to it really well. However, I'm reviewing for boards now, and it's surprising how easy it is to bring some of it back.

 

[babdoc]

We had a doc say--off hand during a lecture--that just wait until you get into residency and the practice...that's when you realize just how much you don't know. The deluge of information is impossible to completely master. That's why you shoot for the general idea as a student and learn to know the specifics as a resident.

 

[scummie]

Neuro? Not much. Just shove it in and keep it in until you pass. The minutiae will evaporate with ethanol.

Agree with many of the responses here. You'd be surprised at how much your short term memory will improve. For me, the first two years was a lot of binging and regurgitation. Like others said, it does come back when you study for boards.

Wards is a whole other beast. It is one thing to read about tardive dyskinesia. It is a whole other thing to actually see someone with it. Once you start seeing the pathology, it will stick a whole lot better. You only need one case of c diff to remember metronidazole is your friend. Don't beat yourself up, just give it time.