Motivational Medicine

This rotation was the hardest rotation I've ever had, but also by far the most rewarding. I’m going to be honest surgery is... emotionally exhausting  - if you are a driven student, it's easy to feel like you aren't good enough because the learning curve is so steep. physically exhausting  - because you can have unexpected 14 hour days and surgeries that can last 8-10 hours long if complications arise, shifts can be draining. mentally exhausting  - in addition to studying for rotation exams, you also need to prepare by studying the surgical procedures you will most likely be pimped on in the OR. Following are some tips that may help you succeed in your surgery rotation. Being familiar with these before your rotation will make it go more smoothly. Before you step foot into the OR... Make sure to change in the locker room. Change into the hospital-provided OR scrubs and make sure you also have a head cover, mask, and shoe coverings. Check the OR sch...

My first rotation was Emergency Medicine. Although I had previous experience working in an ER as a scribe, I was extremely nervous and wanted a systematic method to assess each case. Below I've included what I found to be my favorite approach to patients in order to determine the level of care they require. I also included some thoughts and tips for making your emergency medicine rotation a success. Vitals - I found it helpful to always check the patient's vital signs before entering the room to meet them . Vital sign assessment is a simple step that can indicate a patient's level of acuity.  Chief Complaint - It is important to check the patient's chief complaint because it helps drive your differential diagnoses. It also helps prepare you for what you encounter, as long as you have a wide differential and consider atypical presentations of illnesses. While it is important to look at a patient's chief complaint, it is not always accurate or relevant to why they...