Wow, the last post was in 2012! Time sure flies.
What I intend to share today are some of my thoughts and also the things I picked up during my first year of clinical medicine.
So here goes:
1. Choosing the run sequence
The way I see it, there are three main ways in choosing run sequence.
First, put the hardest one first. Reasons: first few weeks, students are still in the 'accommodation' phase, not expected to know as much therefore less expectation from the consultants/registrars (regs) and hopefully a more lenient assessment. The downside? Well, it took me around 2 weeks to get over the excitement of starting clinical years get my head around the hospital grounds, learn the lingo, know the people etc.... So that 2 weeks wasn't really used to work on the run. Luckily I still have another 4 weeks...
Second, put the hardest one last. This gives you more time to learn stuff over the year, to get your mind and heart to beat synchronously with the constant beep of the anaesthetic machine and also to get some valuable tips from your buddies on how to cruise the run. You are however, expected to know a wee bit more than your early-year counterparts.
Third, enjoy the holidays!! Got to be the maid-of-honour for your best friend's wedding during winter break? Awesome!! Just make sure that your holiday falls during that period because as you may find out already, our holidays are now different from the majority of other undergrads in Uni; ours are shorter and quite randomly placed throughout the year. Well, you can try asking for a few days off from your consultant... but I haven't tried that so I'm not sure how it'll turn out.. Also, look at the different holiday combination. I prefer a more widely-scattered holidays Eg. 1 week in March, 2 weeks in August, 1 week in October. Some prefer a more 'concentrated' holiday of 3 straight weeks in June...
2. 'Hardest run' - my definition
The one with the most unfamiliar things to learn plus assignments/OSCEs/sign-offs to be completed within the shortest period of time. Eg. General Medicine aka GenMed. 4 case reports each with different requirements, 10 patients to clerk, 6 grand rounds to attend and 1 mini-CEX/mini-OSCE to be completed in 6 weeks. Compare this with Speciality Medicine aka SpecMed. 4 case reports and 1 mini-CEX also in 6 weeks.
Progress test/exams scheduled sometime during the run is also a factor. Ask someone from the years above you regarding the run with the most workload. Better yet, ask them everything... seriously...
Again, that's my personal view on what defines a hard run. Yours could be totally different.
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Okay, so maybe after reading the first two points, you're thinking, God, I'm screwed. I have Progress Test and end-of-year OSCE right in the middle of my GenMed!! Not to mention the international medical student conference halfway across the world, which I've already bought non-refundable flight tickets to!!
Err.. I'm not sure if it could get that complicated... but anyway, take a deep breath and read point No 3.
3. Get an overview of the whole year.
Get the year's diary/planner, preferably a big one-sided wall planner so you could see better. Note the run's start date, end date, lecture weeks, exams/OSCEs and most importantly : holidays! Why holidays are the most important? Well, it keeps you sane. And motivated ;) *also excellent to catch up on some sleep reading...
And when you get the specific details of each run's assessment hand-in dates (usually the school will provide you with this on the first day of the run) write it on the wall planner!
Now embrace it.
Take a deep breath and think like a Military General. You have your battles laid out in front of you. Strategise your plan of attack and work on it!!! :D
To be continued insyaAllah.
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