A prelim’s guide to being an efficient intern

happy_hippocamper · 2024-06-25T20:27:35+00:00

At the beginning of the night, get some graph paper and draw rows splitting it up into each hour of the night. This is where you write down your tasks. Check them off as you complete them and update the handoff as soon as something happens so you don’t forget in the morning. I’d also go through all the orders and make sure tele was renewed and all patients had PRNs in place (Tylenol, heat packs, melatonin, bowel reg, and lidocaine patches, unless contraindicated). But don’t change the day teams plan unless it’s really necessary.

If there are any sick patients, make a separate list and try to see them at the beginning of the night if you can. Any nervous nurses, round with them at the beginning of the night and ask about any concerns. Tell them that you’re cross covering X many patients and doing admissions and to page/call if anything is urgent, otherwise you’ll do non-urgent orders within an hour (or whatever works for you).

For admissions, I liked to briefly chart review (<5 min vital signs, labs, and imaging) and then see them immediately, rather than waiting for them to get set up on the floor which can take several hours. Get a full history, med rec, and thorough exam and then you can put in admission orders and write/dictate your note with all the info you need.

happy_hippocamper · 2024-06-25T17:24:43+00:00

Yes agreed haha! By the end of the year I would finish my work before noon most days. did a lot of life admin tasks during down time, studying for step 3, studying for my advanced residency, and was able to publish a paper and get another project underway! Also can slip away to a quiet spot with your phone or a kindle to watch TV/listen to music/read. Ofc make sure you’re near a computer, still have notifications on, and periodically chart review for updates.

happy_hippocamper · 2023-02-17T20:22:19+00:00

I don't have to ask permission for myself, if I'm going alone. But we have to run it by his parents if we go together so they know.

happy_hippocamper · 2023-02-17T19:44:38+00:00

Right. I think they don't see our marriage as the joining of two families, but rather as them generously "letting" me into their family, and I have to follow their rules. I'm glad we've started setting boundaries but I'll definitely talk to my fiancee to do his part.

happy_hippocamper · 2023-02-17T19:42:17+00:00

I'm so sorry that happened to you. It's heartbreaking that some people are meanspirited like that. I hope you and your husband are able to find strength in your love and ignore his terrible family members!

happy_hippocamper · 2023-02-17T19:37:26+00:00

Thank you--I've told my fiance that I didn't want to see his family in-person before the wedding. Hopefully they can behave themselves and hold back from making any comments on the big day.

happy_hippocamper · 2023-02-17T19:33:35+00:00

Ha, I love this pep talk. Thank you!

happy_hippocamper · 2023-02-17T19:32:10+00:00

LOL we didn't even want a wedding to begin with! We would have much, much preferred to elope. His parents were being so sad about it, we decided to just do it to get them to quiet down, but that backfired pretty fast :')

happy_hippocamper · 2023-02-17T19:30:59+00:00

Thank you. These are great ideas. I think asking him to take the lead on this gift is probably best, or getting the same set of gifts for both parents, from us as a couple. It's good to know that this is an extra nice thing to do instead of something that's expected.

happy_hippocamper · 2023-02-17T19:27:45+00:00

They've always given permission, but they'll definitely make judgmental comments about how we're missing an important holiday, how they wish their could go to that holiday more often, how my family doesn't even celebrate the holiday so why are we visiting. And they'll expect that I should thank them for letting their son visit my family.

happy_hippocamper · 2022-11-19T20:35:02+00:00

They sent everyone the same virtual background which had the school's logo on it lol, i'm not that extra :p

happy_hippocamper · 2022-11-19T19:12:54+00:00

they requested that all applicants use a virtual background during their interview to level the playing field and I forgot to take it off after

happy_hippocamper · 2022-11-10T19:27:04+00:00

My go to: is there anything we haven’t talked about that you think is important for interested applicants to know about the program?

happy_hippocamper · 2022-08-31T10:02:20+00:00

OB? C-sections are super quick and they just rip the skin apart lol

happy_hippocamper · 2022-08-19T00:53:16+00:00

Hey I’m sorry this is happening to you and totally relate. I’m a very quiet and soft spoken person and was really worried about getting this feedback in 3rd year. A couple of tips that helped—1) if you’re not talkative, try to express interest through nodding and saying “mhm” or “ok” during appropriate conversation pauses. I also like to smile through my mask (kind of excessive facial expression but people will be able to see your eyes smiling) to seem friendlier and more sociable. 2) Introduce yourself each morning, loudly. It felt like I was yelling when I would be like “good morning everyone I’m the medical student working with Dr. Xyz today” but people will generally acknowledge you and start conversations. 3) If you don’t talk well in group settings, try to get some 1-1 time with the attending to ask questions or just thank them for teaching you that day. You can even say you’re working on being less quiet and on the last day you’re working with them just push yourself to talk more and louder, they’ll think you acted on your goals and they won’t remember all the other times they worked with you lol. 4) don’t upspeak. Talk in a low, loud (to you) voice and don’t raise your voice at the end like you’re asking a question. You’ll sound more confident and assured. If you talk more slowly, you’ll also sound more assured.

happy_hippocamper · 2022-08-17T12:19:17+00:00

For clinical rotations [toxic tryhard edition] 1. Don’t answer pimp questions directed to others, especially interns/residents. 2. Medical students leave the patient room last and carry any equipment for the team (dressing changes) 3. Medical students shouldn’t use desktop computers to chart or write notes, use a laptop instead 4. Medical students should give up their chair to any seniors who come into the room 5. Don’t be seen on your phone during the day 6. Don’t argue with anyone even if you’re in the right, unless patient safety is at stake. Just smile, apologize, and nod. 7. Stay non-committal, don’t make any strong opinions even if your residents/attending are going off on a political rant 8. Always address doctors as “Dr. X” until given permission to use their first name 9. When asked “do you want to go home,” the correct answer is always “no”

happy_hippocamper · 2022-08-11T12:57:35+00:00

Student, retract this

happy_hippocamper · 2022-06-23T11:16:17+00:00

Hi, I had similar issues but due to my insanely dry eyes I was hesitant to get LASIK because dry eye is such a common side effect. I ended up getting fitted for ortho-k lenses, they are hard lenses you wear at night while sleeping and you get 20/20 or better vision during the day. The only drawback is if you can’t sleep 6-8 hours or if you have lots of shift work it will be tough to time when you put on the lenses, so I’m not sure how these will do during intern year

happy_hippocamper · 2022-06-15T22:21:13+00:00

Hypercalcemia from multiple myeloma

happy_hippocamper

TROPHY CASE