Welcome!
This website is designed to be a place for the WSU third year who doesn't know where to start, no matter what rotation you are on. The information contained within has been prepared with care with the input from several successful past students to ensure we are giving the most clear cut and comprehensive advice possible that will be applicable to any student.
First off, at the start of rotations there is always this first date period where you really have no idea what is expected of you and you aren't sure if you're doing too much or too little. This is natural and will always happen with every rotation because it is a new first date! Just know that overall it is your job to get all the required assignments done ASAP so you can focus on doing as many questions as possible on all the areas the exam will cover (that is third year studying plain and simple). Clinically an honoring student knows more about their patients by getting great histories, presenting them in a concise manner, having prepared presentations to give the team during the rotation and in general be known as a caring individual who wants to work hard, come early and stay late.
A more nuanced approach will include paying attention to the evaluation system and getting people to like you by being genuine and allowing people to see this. Regarding the clerkship assignments, it was this medical student’s experience that they didn’t tremendously impact your grade. If you had an honoring shelf score and honoring clinical evals, it stands to reason you will honor the rotation. Thus it is in your best interest to finish the assignments efficiently.
On the wards, teams like to see you are working hard, arrive before them, know more about the patients than they do. Your goal is to have your senior resident say “Oh I didn’t know that about this patient” and be impressed by your effort. Be humble, don’t say things that you don’t actually know what you mean. If you report a status or value you had better understand the significance of it and how it was derived.
Presenting Basics
1. Short summary (name, age, gender, cc, dx)
2. Subjective Data (current status, events since yesterday)
3. Objective Data
a. Vitals ranges (temp & max, BP, HR, RR, Pulse Ox (how much O2 receiving)
b. Total fluid input/output
c. Blood glucose checks over past 24
d. Daily weights
4. Physical exam findings (heart, lung, abd, lower extremity, pertinent)
5. Laboratory test results
6. Other diagnostic studies or imaging, only new tests.
7. Each of the patient problems in descending order of importance with assessment and plan
In terms of studying you will see in each section there are recommended texts because myself or other students found them helpful in honoring the clerkship. Since you will have to find a balance of studying while working in the hospital, it is to your benefit to have the most efficient, active form of studying. For many people, doing questions out of a book or app during down time is worth more than starting to read a chapter you don’t have time to finish. You must find ways to ACTIVELY learn. This can even be as simple as doing questions and then rewriting notes of the answer explanations in a large document-time consuming but effective. Find what works for you, stick to it. If it isn’t working, reevaluate and don’t be afraid to ask your fellow med students or interns what works for them.
All those that have gone before you have found success and you can do it too!
This website is designed to be a place for the WSU third year who doesn't know where to start, no matter what rotation you are on. The information contained within has been prepared with care with the input from several successful past students to ensure we are giving the most clear cut and comprehensive advice possible that will be applicable to any student.
First off, at the start of rotations there is always this first date period where you really have no idea what is expected of you and you aren't sure if you're doing too much or too little. This is natural and will always happen with every rotation because it is a new first date! Just know that overall it is your job to get all the required assignments done ASAP so you can focus on doing as many questions as possible on all the areas the exam will cover (that is third year studying plain and simple). Clinically an honoring student knows more about their patients by getting great histories, presenting them in a concise manner, having prepared presentations to give the team during the rotation and in general be known as a caring individual who wants to work hard, come early and stay late.
A more nuanced approach will include paying attention to the evaluation system and getting people to like you by being genuine and allowing people to see this. Regarding the clerkship assignments, it was this medical student’s experience that they didn’t tremendously impact your grade. If you had an honoring shelf score and honoring clinical evals, it stands to reason you will honor the rotation. Thus it is in your best interest to finish the assignments efficiently.
On the wards, teams like to see you are working hard, arrive before them, know more about the patients than they do. Your goal is to have your senior resident say “Oh I didn’t know that about this patient” and be impressed by your effort. Be humble, don’t say things that you don’t actually know what you mean. If you report a status or value you had better understand the significance of it and how it was derived.
Presenting Basics
1. Short summary (name, age, gender, cc, dx)
2. Subjective Data (current status, events since yesterday)
3. Objective Data
a. Vitals ranges (temp & max, BP, HR, RR, Pulse Ox (how much O2 receiving)
b. Total fluid input/output
c. Blood glucose checks over past 24
d. Daily weights
4. Physical exam findings (heart, lung, abd, lower extremity, pertinent)
5. Laboratory test results
6. Other diagnostic studies or imaging, only new tests.
7. Each of the patient problems in descending order of importance with assessment and plan
In terms of studying you will see in each section there are recommended texts because myself or other students found them helpful in honoring the clerkship. Since you will have to find a balance of studying while working in the hospital, it is to your benefit to have the most efficient, active form of studying. For many people, doing questions out of a book or app during down time is worth more than starting to read a chapter you don’t have time to finish. You must find ways to ACTIVELY learn. This can even be as simple as doing questions and then rewriting notes of the answer explanations in a large document-time consuming but effective. Find what works for you, stick to it. If it isn’t working, reevaluate and don’t be afraid to ask your fellow med students or interns what works for them.
All those that have gone before you have found success and you can do it too!