To be honest, I didn't know diddly-squat when I
did my PMR rotations as a student. Now as a
resident, I don't really expect students to know
any more than the basics they learned in the
first two years of med school. Anatomy.
Pathophysiology. Pharmacology. Biochemistry.
Actually, I expect them to know biochem way
better than me ... I can't remember that at *all*.
Did I really pass that class?
Here's my personal advice on impressing during
your PMR rotations (and this is in order):
1. Look interested. The more excited your
resident or attending gets about a particular
topic, the more excited you should look too.
This is a niche field, and we want to see that
you fit in this niche.
2. Be nice. The more residents/nurses/clerks
who comment on how nice you are, the more
points you score and the more memorable you
become. Make friends with everyone. It pays.
Most of us are very nice and/or chill, so show
us that you fit in.
3. But be hard-working. Know your own patients
inside out (I guess that applies to every rotation),
and read up on whatever pathologies they have
so you're ready when you're pimped. I mean ...
*if* you're pimped. Heh. Offer to make phone
calls, look up labs, take out staples, whatever.
Make it so your resident feels like they don't
have to worry about the patients they gave you.
We all want dependable colleagues, so show us
how dependable you are. Don't be late.
4. Know the stuff you're supposed to know. Know
your anatomy and physiology, your pathology and
your pharmacology. I'm more impressed by a
student who knows the differential diagnosis for
CHF than a student who can recite the ASIA scale.
If you don't know a rehab-related topic, I don't
really mind. I'm happy to teach it to you.
So there you go.