Road Guide to RotationsMyths, mantras, and materials

How to survive your first day

• You win a lot of brownie points just for being early

• Plan to double (or 1.5) transportation time

• If early, read up on a patient or a topic (see resources…)

• You WILL fumble through a presentation, maybe even the first 20• Review the traditional H&P template

prior to your first day• Ask your senior resident (or a friendly

MS4) to go over it with you prior to rounding

It’s okay to feel bit silly on your first day….

Materials: what to put in your white coat on the first day

0 Colored pens0 Paper/small notebook0 Stethoscope0 Reflex hammer0 Tuning fork and safety pins (for

neuro)0 Kleenex, money, chapstick0 Phone (discreetly)

RESOURCES:0 Wards: Pocket Medicine0 Clinic: 5 minute clinical consult0 OR: Surgical Recall0 ASK residents: what source do

YOU recommend

Myths and truths of your 3rd year

0Come up with an intelligent answer to any question

0Never use Wikipedia0Ask each and every question that comes to

mind0Classmates are competition0There is one best study resource for every

rotation

Myths of your 4th year0You absolutely MUST get an “H” in the first

rotation of specialty of interest0You can ask for letters or rec in the fall0You NEED period 5 off0Wait as long as possible to take CS and CK0 It’s NOT OK to be wrong

Mantras0 Be Interested (Genuinely!)0 Be Curious0 Be Early0 Be Prepared0 Be Friendly0 Smile0 Be HELPFUL, HUMBLE, and QUICK TO FORGIVE0 Refrain from gossiping about attendings or residents

(and patients, obviously!)0 READ, READ, READ: about your patients, about the

next day’s cases, about topics you don’t know

0 http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Wall-Street.jpg

Misc. Advice0 Take ownership of your patients! You are responsible

for relaying the plan to them and their family!0 Always introduce yourself and make it clear you are

a medical student0 Read the grading rubrics for each rotation 0 Start studying for shelves earlier rather than later0 Bring in interesting articles, offer to give short ten

minute presentations on topics you think are interesting

0 Always attempt to contribute to your patients’ plans