Tips on preparing for a surgical rotation?

[Ezekiel20]

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Hi all

I'm about to start my first 3rd year rotation (in Sydney, Aus), which is a 4-week colorectal surgery term.

I plan to review my gloving/gowning techniques, practice some suturing, and finally scan through a general surgery text.

If you have any tips of how to prepare for a surgical term, then please share it.


Thanks in advance,

Ezekiel

 

[Tired]

If you read the introduction to Surgical Recall, there is a section on the ideal qualities of a junior medical clerk on the surgery rotation. I found that extremely helpful.

 

[Dr. McDreamy]

well, first you will need some physical conditioning. I'd suggest putting on your most comfortable shoes and then standing in one place without food, drink, or access to lavatories for 12 hours. you are only allowed to flex your calves 4 times during these 12 hours. Do this for at least 5 consecutive days before your rotation begins. Support hose can help prevent DVT (but we all know only the weak get those...so don't complain, med student!!!) Now you will be ready for your surgical rotation.

 

[Tired]

well, first you will need some physical conditioning. I'd suggest putting on your most comfortable shoes and then standing in one place without food, drink, or access to lavatories for 12 hours. you are only allowed to flex your calves 4 times during these 12 hours. Do this for at least 5 consecutive days before your rotation begins. Support hose can help prevent DVT (but we all know only the weak get those...so don't complain, med student!!!) Now you will be ready for your surgical rotation.

Give the kid a break, it's not that bad. Yeah, you'll hit your complicated Whipples from time to time and be on your feet for 12+ hours, but most of the Gen Surg procedures I was in on lasted from 1-4hrs, which is very manageable. Plus, if you're a man about it and stick out the long procedures, you immediately earn respect from the Resident and Staff doing the case.

Another resource I liked a lot was a pocket book called "How to be a truly excellent junior medical student." A lot of it was obvious, but all those "obvious" things bear repeating. Stay on top of your patients. Write complete notes until you're told otherwise. Offer to do scut. You'd be suprised how many students don't do these things.

 

[Bertelman]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=325769

Search function is your friend, especially if you start in the proper forum, i.e. Clinical Rotations.

 

[Ezekiel20]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=325769

Search function is your friend, especially if you start in the proper forum, i.e. Clinical Rotations.

Thanks - some great tips here.

 

[driedcaribou]

If you read the introduction to Surgical Recall, there is a section on the ideal qualities of a junior medical clerk on the surgery rotation. I found that extremely helpful.

Australian medical students are not required to clerk patients nor are they required to be on-call (i.e. stay overnight at the hospital) nor are they required to stay 14-16 hours like American students are nor do they have to pre-round at the un-godly hour of 5 or 530 am.

It's quite humane and students do as much as they want to do.

 

[driedcaribou]

Hi all

I'm about to start my first 3rd year rotation (in Sydney, Aus), which is a 4-week colorectal surgery term.

I plan to review my gloving/gowning techniques, practice some suturing, and finally scan through a general surgery text.

If you have any tips of how to prepare for a surgical term, then please share it.


Thanks in advance,

Ezekiel

Oh and to prepare, just learn the bowel anatomy. i.e. blood supply

The surgeons won't expect you to know the proedures or the operations - they would rather teach that to you.

What will help you to pass 3rd year at USyd is to know colorectal diseases and treatment. If you don't have a general surgery rotation or upper GI, use your extra time to learn the gen surg you don't get during your colorectal term.

 

[tomatoattack]

I would learn about disease processes relating to the bowel and their treatment.

Also put on your "hardhat" meaning realize that you will probably get fussed at at some point, don't take it personally.

Get ready for some fun! Surgery is cool.

p.s. go to the bathroom before the case starts so you don't potentially have to unscrub and leave to hit the loo. Happened to someone on my team and made them look dumb.

 

[Tired]

Australian medical students are not required to clerk patients nor are they required to be on-call (i.e. stay overnight at the hospital) nor are they required to stay 14-16 hours like American students are nor do they have to pre-round at the un-godly hour of 5 or 530 am.

It's quite humane and students do as much as they want to do.

Oh . . .

...... hmm ......

. . . . . that's actually pretty lame.

And for the record, I started around 0330-0400, since rounds with the residents started at 0530.

 

[driedcaribou]

And for the record, I started around 0330-0400, since rounds with the residents started at 0530.

No wonder you're tired!

(Sorry I couldn't resist)

Where are you studying at?