What makes a “Good Third Year Student”

Deb Bynum, MD2009

She is a really good student… One of the best I’ve worked with all year…. (from a third year internal medicine resident….)

Heard in the physician work room this last week….

WHY?

She was always available She always had a great attitude She didn’t disappear in the afternoon to

read She always did things to help She looked up stuff about her patients She got really good information from

patients and families that was important for their care

She took feedback on her presentations and really improved

She picked up more patients than assigned; even patients she did not pick up, she came to the ED with us to see the patient, learn, and just to help

She understands the “big picture” She is great with patients and families

From the Resident…

She got all honors for second year Her board scores were out the roof… She always out-answered the other student She knew all the answers

What the resident did NOT say…

Attitude and energy can make or break you◦ What you know is not as important as how you

act

◦ Excellent first and second year medical students may not always have an easy time during third year (subjective evaluations)

◦ So –So students can shine during clinical years

Bottom Line: The Good and the Bad

1. Knowledge 2. Good ICM Skills 3. Kindergarten Skills

What makes a good student?

If you energetically try to provide the best care for your patients, you will be a good student and a good doctor

Bottom Line…

Know your patient well Read about your patient’s problems and

learn how to take care of your patient Make sure your patient gets good care – be

their advocate Communicate your patient’s needs to the

team

What does this mean?

There is NO scut work related to the care of your patient

If your patient needs a lab draw, vital sign, form completed, help getting out of bed – then it is important

The story of Dr. Parker….

About “Scut”

Do not assume that what your patient needs will actually get done

Do not assume that your team knows a piece of data/result that you do

Do not assume that you know what your team expects of you

DO NOT ASSUME

Ask about call Ask about pre-rounding Ask what patients to pick up on day number

1 Ask about conferences, schedules Ask about notes Ask how you can help

ASK

Be positive

Be pro-active: Offer to do what is needed before you are asked

Offer to do small presentations for the team

Look up articles for the team and share

Help interns, residents and other students on the team

What can I do to make a good impression?

Go and see and evaluate as many patients as you can – even those patients you will not be “following”

Ask about call: If overnight call is not required, offer to stay late or overnight for at least one call night for each rotation

What can I do….

Dress neatly and appropriately

Do not chew gum

Do not carry food or beverages on rounds

What can I do…

Pay attention on rounds, even to other patients and other presentations

If you are bored, do not look bored…

Ask the right number of questions

Be available

Read about your patients

Ask to help out with notes, orders, forms

What can I do…

Ask to help out with clinical “scut” work:◦ Pulse oximetry with ambulation◦ Make sure patient gets to their test (go with

them if you can)◦ If they need to be NPO, make sure they are◦ Make sure a patient gets up out of bed to a

chair◦ Get orthostatics when needed◦ Bring samples down to the lab in acute

events

What can I do….

Make sure the plan for your patient is carried out◦ Do not assume it will happen◦ Ask the nurse◦ Call down to the procedure site◦ Make sure transportation happens◦ Let your resident/intern know if there is a

problem

Follow Up

Be on time for rounds, lectures, meetings

Do not try to make the other student look bad

Be nice to staff, nurses, HUC’s

Be respectful to and of patients, families and visitors

What can I do

What are my responsibilities as a third year student?

What is needed will vary by clerkship Anticipate 10-15 minutes per patient (longer

initially) Information needed each morning:

◦ Vitals (include oxygen saturation and amount of oxygen patient is on and T max and T current)

◦ Overnight events (from nurse and overnight intern/float)◦ Subjective issues from the patient◦ Physical exam findings (for the day)◦ Labs and other data◦ Consult reports from prior day/evening◦ Any radiology/tests that came back the day before◦ Check the MAR for current medications

Pre-round on your patients

Develop your problem list with a plan for the day for each problem

Use the Follow up sheet (handout) to record the above data each day – this can serve as a template for your morning presentation and progress note

Meet with the intern/resident before rounds to review plans for your patient

Responsibilities…

Prepare your oral presentation (practice)

Present to the team on rounds (3 minutes)

Keep follow up sheets of data in large, spiral bound notebook so you have easy access to prior days, labs, medications, etc (It is NOT cool to have thousands of cards flying out of your pockets on rounds….)

Responsibilities

KNOW MORE THAN YOU WRITE, WRITE MORE THAN YOU SAY…

Wear your white coat and badge Things to carry

◦ Notebook with patient information◦ Rounds report for patients on your team (even patients

that are not “yours”)◦ Clinical “pocket” book for the rotation (ask)◦ Sanford guide/pharmacopeia◦ Scissors (esp on surgery)◦ Reflex hammer◦ Light◦ Stethoscope◦ Pens◦ Monofilament, tuning fork

The Look

What if….

Use your gut – if someone looks really sick, call your resident

Red Flags:◦ Fever◦ Increase pulse rate◦ Shortness of breath◦ Chest pain◦ Increase in respiratory rate◦ Decrease in oxygen saturation◦ Change in mental status◦ Decrease in blood pressure◦ Severe pain

What if my patient looks really sick when I go to pre-round

The nurse is really concerned or worried…◦ Go get your resident or intern; trust the nurse’s

instincts as well as your own

What if…

What if…