What makes a good anesthesia rotation in medical school?

[beezar]

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Hey everyone,

Congrats on all you 4th years who matched... what a great feeling eh?

Anyway, I wanted to ask your opinions on your medical school rotations in anesthesia. When I rotated through anesthesia as a student (at 3 different schools), I was very disappointed with the way the medical student program was run in each of them... very haphazard and disorganized. We basically were told that we could do whatever we wanted and not given much guidance. While I think this has its benefits, I think it also has major pitfalls as well.

I'm interested in improving the medical student anesthesia rotation at my school, and what I wanted to ask were your opinions on your rotations through anesthesia... what was good, what was bad, and ways you can think of improving them. thanks!

 

[huktonfonix]

Some anesthesia rotations basically have you learn to intubate and start IVs which is fine for those who don't intend to go into the specialty. The good ones have you stick around during the case and teach you whats going on (physiology, pharm, etc..) rather than just have you bounce from room to room doing procedures.

 

[Razorback]

The Anesthesia rotation at my school involves intra-op teaching by residents/attendings. Students carry around a list of objectives and must get them signed off by the resident or attending they are working with. We are also evaluated each day by the person we are with...this "helps" to keep the uninterested folks from bolting after the first intubation. Topics include monitors, gas, local anesthetics, induction agents, basic cardiac phys, respiratory phys and ventilation, placing Ivs, intubation, etc. I think it keeps the residents on their toes as well. Students are assigned a room the day before, and their name and pager # is placed on the OR schedule...this leads to a certain expectation that you are responsible for 1 room, and some folks like to read about the cases the night before. Students also are required to attend all of the AM didactic sessions and grand rounds (and sign in), along with weekly med student lectures by faculty. I learned a lot on the rotation, felt that it was organized, and had a list of objectives (direction) that I knew I needed to complete. It was a great intro to Anesthesia as a JMS.

 

[snowman8]

What medical school was this rotation at. Thanks

 

[Razorback]

University of Arkansas. Not a big name, but good exposure.