Getting ready for September 3rd

**Medic_88** · 04-06-2012, 02:33 AM

Is there anything we are expected to do/read/buy before we start the course? Or do we just turn up in september?

**Beasty** · 04-06-2012, 03:56 AM

Were you sent a 'Usefull stuff to know before you start' list?
We were sent one before we started, although I cant remember how early they sent it or even if they still are, you could always ask in the GEP 2012 FB group if anyone else has received one (The group is closed to later years).
If not I could try and dig mine out somewhere, although be wary it might of changed a bit since then.

To be honest though, I only briefly glanced at a few basic sciency things before I started and im sure a lot of people didnt do anything and it didnt do much harm so it would probably depend on your background degree (Basic science knowledge etc) to how much reading you should do.

You should probably get a stethoscope at some point, although when we started they did a fayre at the medical school which had some vouchers for money off, so you could always wait til then.
Books wise they kind of give you a recommended reading list and no doubt kumar and clarke clinical medicine and greys anatomy for students will be on there, but again these are quite expensive (And honestly I only started using these big hefty books when I got to the end of phase and started phase II), so id probably wait, get some copies from the library and see how you like them first before you decide to invest in any large books (These 2 were about 40-50 each last time I looked).

Hope that kind of helped lol

**Medic_88** · 04-06-2012, 02:48 PM

No i haven't seen anything yet, but im sure I read something about a reading list being sent out before we start.
I have a science background so should be ok but was just wondering.

I was looking at stethoscopes the other day but didnt want to buy one yet as there are so many on offer (and theyre not cheap!) so i'll probably leave it til we get there and see whats recommended.

Are you in first year, Beasty?

**Beasty** · 04-06-2012, 08:08 PM

No im a 3rd year, or I guess just starting final year (Although ill keep calling myself a 3rd year for as long as possible because final year still sounds a bit too scary...)

Yeah im sure you'll be fine, they usually tell you in some of the first lectures 'this is the stuff we expect you to already know, etc' so from what you dont know on that little list, thats the stuff you generally just do a little bit of extra studying on.
Yeah I know they were about 70ish pounds when I got mine, but I didnt get it until part way through first semester so you should have plenty of time

**olimorgan** · 07-06-2012, 12:55 AM

Littmann Classic II SE is the best value steth for med students and F1/F2 as its good quality without being too expensive, plus it has a bell which is good for demonstrating you know there is a difference in clinical exams even though it's redundant as the diaphragm is tunable. They're available in all colours with free laser engraving for £55.19 inc VAT from Littmann Stethoscopes but as mentioned you tend to get a voucher in first week for £10 or 10% off, can't remember which, so i'd wait till then.

Usually you can find final years selling off books at this time of the year, mine are all on ebay, although i'm keeping K&C and Greys.

**Medic_88** · 07-06-2012, 01:33 AM

Thanks, olimorgan that sounds good advice. Im kinda hoping my leaving present will be a stethoscope. Everyone else who has left has been given some pretty nice presents, so fingers crossed!! I like the look of litmann master classic II all black edition. Purely based on aesthetics as all ive done with a stethoscope so far is BPs!
Are you looking forward to starting in July?

**olimorgan** · 07-06-2012, 02:06 AM

Classic II is what I have. Really good for chest and heart sounds except during paeds rotation but really tricky to do old fashioned BP with it as it has a much larger diaphragm and the thickness means getting it under BP cuff is tricky. Given that that is pretty much all you do with steth in Phase I it does make it a bit of a pain. Also like I say you can't demonstrate your knowledge of when to use a bell vs diaphragm because you only have a tunable diaphragm. Just something to bear in mind as med school is all about showing you know what your doing and not actually hearing anything at all. Plenty of people miss the murmur in finals but pass because their technique is correct

Yes I am looking forward to starting because I'm currently doing 10 hour days and not being paid so be nice to finally take some money home!

**Medic_88** · 10-06-2012, 12:57 AM

So theres a murmur to look out for in finals

Are you shadowing the wards you'll be working in? I can imagine the first pay day as a Dr will be pretty amazing for everyone after working so hard for so long!
Also, do you pick the hospitals you're going to be working at?

**olimorgan** · 10-06-2012, 02:53 PM

Yeh shadowing resp wards. First pay day end of August - can't wait.

Everyone gets a chance to rank parts of the country and then jobs they want to do - where you end up depends on how well you've done at med school but also (and mainly) on the results of some questions you have to answer. For us it was white space questions but for you guys its an MCQ situation judgement test testing a range of communication skills, team working etc etc skills