Starting Residency..What to buy??

[Cooldoc77]

Hi ,

I am starting my residency from Oct 1st in Internal Medicine.I would like to know what things i should buy...Steth, Pen torch,Measuring Tape,PDA etc etc....things that are needed to function as a resident.

Also what kind of books/pocket books and Index cards are good to buy....

How about scrubs??? I would appreciate it if anyone can list things and books for me.Also please suggest where i can buy the respective stuff.Thank you.

Regards,

Viv.

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[APACHE3]

Where are you starting your residency? And have you done any clinicals in the US?

 

[Cooldoc77]

I am starting my residency in Massachusetts.Nope.I have not done any clinicals in the US.

 

[APACHE3]

Get First Aid for the wards. Yes, its for medical students, but it will cover all the material you will need for each of your rotations (IM). I'm not up to speed on the PDA thing, but most people use PDAs with palm software. There is a PDA site here somewhere, try to find it. Congrats on the residency. GL PS Talk with one of your colleagues. They will help you.

 

[Cooldoc77]

Thank you Apache3.

 

[TommyGunn04]

Have you asked your program about any of these things? I'd recommend doing so, as many programs actually provide a number of these materials for free, including PDAs, scrubs, and a monetary allowance for books, etc. Check before you buy.

By the way, do you really not have a stethoscope??? Or are you just asking if you need a "better" one?

The Maxwell's pocket book is very useful...it has ACLS algorithms, standard admission orders, mini-mental status exam, and various note templates. Plus it doubles as a ruler. Very helpful, under $10, and it fits in almost any pocket.

 

[Cooldoc77]

Have you asked your program about any of these things? I'd recommend doing so, as many programs actually provide a number of these materials for free, including PDAs, scrubs, and a monetary allowance for books, etc. Check before you buy.

By the way, do you really not have a stethoscope??? Or are you just asking if you need a "better" one?

The Maxwell's pocket book is very useful...it has ACLS algorithms, standard admission orders, mini-mental status exam, and various note templates. Plus it doubles as a ruler. Very helpful, under $10, and it fits in almost any pocket.

I do have a Stethescope..but wanted to buy a Littman Master Cardiology.

 

[TommyGunn04]

I do have a Stethescope..but wanted to buy a Littman Master Cardiology.

I don't think an internist should ever have a master cardiology scope. I know Littman thinks its technology is brilliant, and that by varying pressure on the diaphragm you can create a virtual "bell," but it really doesn't work as well as they claim. If you're going to shell out some cash for a better scope, get the cardio III, or perhaps even better, get one of those classic Sprague scopes, or a Welch-Allyn Harvey scope.

 

[BigBadBix]

I'm not a resident, but just finished my Sub-Internship in Internal Medicine, where I worked closely with the IM residents on the general medicine wards.

The books/references I saw the residents using most were:

Epocrates - drug reference for PDA that is a must-have. I agree that you should check to see if your program supplies PDA's before buying one, but if they don't it's a good investment. The other PDA feature that was used often was the calculator and/or a program such as MedCalc that allows you to plug your patient's values into common medical equations and get a quick answer.

Maxwell's - as previously mentioned. Available in most medical bookstores or online.

Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy - I was surprised how often we used this in just four weeks. Great for deciding on empiric antibiotic treatment as well as specific treatment once you know the organism. Can be purchased in medical bookstores or online (google "sanford guide").

UpToDate - a web-based service with summaries of current literature on all kinds of topics. Before spending money on this I'd see if it's available at the hospital; most pay for an institutional subscription.

The program at my school gives each resident a pocket book with general guidelines for managing common problems. It's great when on call or night float. If one isn't available at your program I'd look around for something similar.

The non-book supplies they used most were: stethoscopes, penlights, calipers for reading ECG's, and reflex hammers. But frankly most of them just carried stethoscopes and then borrowed from the med students when they needed any other tools. 🙂

I believe there were discussions about this on the Gen Residency Issues forum and the IM forum last June/July when everyone was getting worried about starting intern year. You might do a search for those.

Best of luck!

 

[VentdependenT]

Get First Aid for the wards. Yes, its for medical students, but it will cover all the material you will need for each of your rotations (IM). I'm not up to speed on the PDA thing, but most people use PDAs with palm software. There is a PDA site here somewhere, try to find it. Congrats on the residency. GL PS Talk with one of your colleagues. They will help you.

If you are found carrying first aid for the wards around thats gonna look real bad. Pick up Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment and read that for cryen out loud. If you don't know how to write a soap note just ask someone. It takes 10 min to learn.

In your pocket early on have:
Pocket Medicine $30 (all evidence based medicine, signs, sx for diagnosis)
Current Clinical Stratagies Medicine (ALL ORDER SETS...brilliant) $15
Maxwells
Sanford Abx Guide (usually free)
Pocket Pharmacopia (absolutely needed)

Thats it. OH and a rolled up steth.

 

[APACHE3]

I didn't say take First Aid to the Hospital!!!! Read the d$#@ thing at home just to get a feel for the flow on a US ward floor. Everyone mention good stuff. Gte those things and you'll be in good shape..if you get PDA get 5MCC 2005 or if not PDA get Washington Manual for IM. GL and PS..Don't take First AId for the Wards to the hospital...if you do, it will be a long year for you!! 😀

 

[Annette]

. . . OH and a rolled up steth.

I hate the stethescope over the neck, but I hate wearing a lab coat even more. A fellow resident introduced me to a holster- a clip you can wear on your belt.

 

[Cooldoc77]

Thanks everyone for your replies.I appreciate it.

 

[Medic_9]

I hate the stethescope over the neck, but I hate wearing a lab coat even more. A fellow resident introduced me to a holster- a clip you can wear on your belt.

I have the holster for my stethoscope as well. (I'm a paramedic) I absolutely love it especially when it's hot. There is nothing as heat producing as having a stethoscope around your neck. Things you learn to watch for are, doorknobs, walls, anything you want to put on the shoulder on the same side... reasons...I constantly get myself hooked on doorknobs or hit the walls, or when I want to carry one of our many bags over my shoulder I usually get hooked there too. But i'm not getting rid of my holster!

 

[E'02]

How about The Washington Manual - Internship Survival Guide? Have any of you found it to be helpful? Thanks

 

[jetproppilot]

I hate the stethescope over the neck, but I hate wearing a lab coat even more. A fellow resident introduced me to a holster- a clip you can wear on your belt.

Find the OR in your hospital and "borrow" some scrubs....you'll save time, you'll have less laundry, and you can roll your stethescope up and put it in your back pocket.

I havent worn real clothes to work since my first day of anesthesia residency in July 1993.

 

[VentdependenT]

How about The Washington Manual - Internship Survival Guide? Have any of you found it to be helpful? Thanks

Some parts of it are helpful during your first month or so of internship. Stuff like how to pronounce people isn't in any textbook I've ever read but it was in that little guide. Needed that on my first day of wards....yup. I stopped using it after a month or so. The other resources were much more useful.

 

[E'02]

Some parts of it are helpful during your first month or so of internship. Stuff like how to pronounce people isn't in any textbook I've ever read but it was in that little guide. Needed that on my first day of wards....yup. I stopped using it after a month or so. The other resources were much more useful.

LOL. Thanks for the input. I was worried that it seemed a little too basic.