The Clinical Years

[Arg240]

Having recieved no little/no help or advice from uni on what to expect going into hospitals (this september) i was wondering if any Birmingham veterans have any pearls of wisdom they feel like passing down to someone going into hospitals for the first time.

[James]

Attendance, Attendance, Attendance.

You will find a massive difference from lectures. There will only be minimal formal teaching sessions and timetabled clinics/ward rounds. It is very easy to get into the habit of just comming in for these and doing the minimum. Get into the habit early of staying around after teaching sessions to go and see some patients or shadowing some of the junior docs you are attached to. Just by being around the ward people will start to recognise you and staff will be much more willing to help out and teach a face they recognise rather than another nameless student they don't recognise.

Also start working early. It is really easy without regular exams to leave everything to the last min. Spend the first few weeks reading a good clinical examination book to get your history taking and examination skills up to standard - the quicker you do this, the earlier you will be able to hit the wards examining patients and picking up signs. At your christmas exam the examiners will be much more impressed witht the student who can feel the patients hepatomegaly rather than the one who just stands there and recites the 500 causes of it.

Lastly don't get to stressed about taking blood and venflons in your third year. If you get chance then great. But your priority is building up your clinical skills and knowledge. There will be plenty of time in final year to stab patients.