Returning to Clinics

[Hard24Get]

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Anyone else distracted from writing because they're worried about starting clinics and matching into their chosen specialty? Or better yet, anyone been through it and can tell me how I should study to return to clinics? I'm worried that I will return and be an idiot, but how do you catch up with two years of med school that you did 4 years ago? 😳

 

[mdphd2b]

Anyone else distracted from writing because they're worried about starting clinics and matching into their chosen specialty? Or better yet, anyone been through it and can tell me how I should study to return to clinics? I'm worried that I will return and be an idiot, but how do you catch up with two years of med school that you did 4 years ago? 😳

Hi Hard24Get,

This is a really appropropriate thread, since I begin day 1 of my retunr to MS3 TOMORROW! I would also appreciate any contributions from other posters.

From what I've seen so far in MS3 Orientation, the new MD third years are still pretty nervous as well, so remember anxiety is just a normal response. One thing that helps at my school is we have "Longitudinal Clinical Clerkships" during our PhD--that way we do a weekly half-day of clinic so we don't forget how to use our stethoscope! Volunteering at the student-run free clinic might also help. Since you're nearly done with your PhD (Congrats btw!), your best bet will be to work with the Dean's office in CAREFULLY scheduling your return--try taking electives and lighter outpatient clerkships when you re-enter. Your school should accomodate you in this situation.

I'm beginning with electives in Endo and ID (which I thought would be good to review basic, common problems). I then start my first clerkship in Family Medicine.

Good luck You're almost there! I'll try to post more as I learn more!
Stay cool 🙂

 

[Hard24Get]

Eeek, congrats to you, too! My school is definitely taking good care of me - I am starting a part-time warm up block in Fam Med soon. The main thing though is knowledge - I'm not as fresh on the material as these other guys, and I stopped in the middle of clinics, so I will return amidst people who are no longer scared - and in surgery! Really need some studying tips for that! What have you done to update you knowledge base?

Hi Hard24Get,

This is a really appropropriate thread, since I begin day 1 of my retunr to MS3 TOMORROW! I would also appreciate any contributions from other posters.

From what I've seen so far in MS3 Orientation, the new MD third years are still pretty nervous as well, so remember anxiety is just a normal response. One thing that helps at my school is we have "Longitudinal Clinical Clerkships" during our PhD--that way we do a weekly half-day of clinic so we don't forget how to use our stethoscope! Volunteering at the student-run free clinic might also help. Since you're nearly done with your PhD (Congrats btw!), your best bet will be to work with the Dean's office in CAREFULLY scheduling your return--try taking electives and lighter outpatient clerkships when you re-enter. Your school should accomodate you in this situation.

I'm beginning with electives in Endo and ID (which I thought would be good to review basic, common problems). I then start my first clerkship in Family Medicine.

Good luck You're almost there! I'll try to post more as I learn more!
Stay cool 🙂

 

[Circumflex]

I was really nervous about starting 3rd year after being in the lab for 4 years as well (I'm starting 4th year next month). Basically, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I started with Medicine, and was intimidated because my classmates had just taken Step 1, which I had taken 4 years ago.

I soon realized that the key to success in 3rd year (any rotation) is to work hard and be willing to learn and help the residents. For the most part, they have the most input into your grades, and they could care less what facts you do or don't know as long as you work hard for the team. I was actually amazed at some of the things I did remember from the first 2 years. I found that the stuff I needed to know was not the minor factoids that seem to make up Step 1, but it was the common things that are taught over and over in different classes. Sure, some attendings would pimp on obscure facts, but this was not the norm.

Just find a good study aid for the shelf exam for each block and begin studying immediately. The only thing I reviewed before starting 3rd year was a Physical Exam text to refresh.

Good luck!

 

[Hard24Get]

I was really nervous about starting 3rd year after being in the lab for 4 years as well (I'm starting 4th year next month). Basically, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I started with Medicine, and was intimidated because my classmates had just taken Step 1, which I had taken 4 years ago.

I soon realized that the key to success in 3rd year (any rotation) is to work hard and be willing to learn and help the residents. For the most part, they have the most input into your grades, and they could care less what facts you do or don't know as long as you work hard for the team. I was actually amazed at some of the things I did remember from the first 2 years. I found that the stuff I needed to know was not the minor factoids that seem to make up Step 1, but it was the common things that are taught over and over in different classes. Sure, some attendings would pimp on obscure facts, but this was not the norm.

Just find a good study aid for the shelf exam for each block and begin studying immediately. The only thing I reviewed before starting 3rd year was a Physical Exam text to refresh.

Good luck!

Thanks for posting, Circumflex. I guess you're the only mudphud that ever made it back to clinics! Did you find honors more difficult to obtain upon returning? Thanks to your advice, I have rediscovered the joy of eliciting reflexes in myself 😀 . I have started studying anatomy and at least now I know why your name seemed eerily familiar.... 😳

 

[Circumflex]

My first block was medicine, which I wasn't really excited about - I missed the lab. I earned a "pass" partly because the shelf exam counted 65% of the grade and partly because I wasn't very enthusiastic. After getting a feel for how to study for the shelf exam and an attitude adjustment, I honored 3 of the remaining rotations.

Just find out from other students who have gone through the rotations you are going through to figure out the best strategy and work hard.

 

[tr]

Don't worry about all the stuff you forgot. Only about 20% of it is relevant anyway. There's a bunch of other stuff they didn't teach you, but you'll pick that up the same way the other students do.

Other than that, just do what you know you're supposed to do: show up on time, be nice, work hard.

Also, don't be afraid to open your mouth. You may not remember the elements of the Tetralogy of Fallot or the Arnold-Chiari malformation, but you know a whole bunch of basic science stuff that even the attendings don't. Don't shoot your mouth off if it isn't relevant; but I've been surprised at how frequently it actually is relevant; and sometimes you're the only one who knows it.

 

[mdphd2b]

Eeek, congrats to you, too! My school is definitely taking good care of me - I am starting a part-time warm up block in Fam Med soon. The main thing though is knowledge - I'm not as fresh on the material as these other guys, and I stopped in the middle of clinics, so I will return amidst people who are no longer scared - and in surgery! Really need some studying tips for that! What have you done to update you knowledge base?

If you're returning with surgery, knowing your anatomy can go a long way. Don't worry about Step I stuff. You'll be taught the important things again in a more clinically relavant manner. Read up on individual patients as you go along, and get in the habit of reading the recommended review and question books for each rotation.

Things I've found annoying during my 1st week back don't really have to do w/my knowledge base. They're just practical issues that slow me down--like how to access and manipulate the electronic record system when none of my passwords will work, which forms to use for what, where things are kept in the chart, how to get around the hospital and nurse's stations! UGH! 😡 Somehow I always feeel like I'm blocking the way for someone! And I seem to take much longer than the others at filling out forms and writing my notes. BUT I really feel like I'm improving every day. Things are coming back to me as I get pimped, and most of these questions have to do with the management of my patient. Plus, the team knows I've been away for awhile, and they are trying not to give us students "complicated" cases to start with.

What really comes in handy is one good pocket ref book (or on PDA). For Endocrine, we're using Ferri's, which is also used on the med rotation. There's a lot of downtime during rounds as we move between patients rooms, floors, and hospitals. Team members stop to write orders, update notes, page or find other team members, etc. At first I thought it would be awkward to look things up during rounds, but it's very easy to do a quick peek about the next patient's condition along the way--that's your best resource for the impending questions on the next case.

Good luck

 

[mdphd2b]

Some books I've been using during my transition rotation in Endocrinology:

Step-Up systems review for Step 1
Step-Up Clinical case book for Step 1

I'm only using these as refreshers for basic info on systems as I go along. Not really studying them intensely.

Along with these, I'm looking at Step-Up Medicine and Up-to-Date (FirstConsult) for specific diagnoses/management of patients.

I also have an assortment of PDA titles, like Tarascons. What I really hate is how only students talk about drugs in generic terms, while all the attendings and residents use brand names (and expect you to know them off the top of your head!) 😡