The best part of the upcoming New Year?! Being officially done with 3rdYear!!🎉🎊 I’ve been done for quite some time (I had a delayed schedule), but I’m just now getting my thoughts together to share with all of you. There are so many lessons I learned along the way and, as always, if anyone can learn from my wins and my mistakes, it’s a Win for us all!💪🏾SO I’m gonna break it down by specialty: what I did, what I wish I had done, what worked, and what didn’t. Read all the way to the end for tips on how to score bonus points on the wards! Let’s get started:
Psychiatry
What I did: This was my first rotation. I honestly had no idea how to study for 3rd Year at this point. I was just glad to have made it through Pathology and Pathophysiology. Can I get a AMEN?! For this rotation, I studied using the texts below. The cases were EXTREMELY helpful. I did not have access to my UWorld account at this time (I was waiting on a voucher from my school), so I depended heavily on reading. If your school is anything like mine, Psych is the least time consuming rotation. Use your time wisely and get that studying in. Also, if you have it first semester, use a bit of your time to recover from STEP 1 because…whoah! I do not have anything I wish I had done differently for this rotation.
Internal Medicine
What I did: This was my longest rotation. A whole 12 weeks! I used the text below, but was honestly really overwhelmed by the amount of information I was required to learn. Gone are the days where you’re in a classroom everyday and then go home to study. Nope! You’re working a full-time job (and paying tuition instead of getting paid lol!) and THEN you still gotta have strength to go home and study. This was a major learning curve for me. My reading was sparse and my adherence to my test-taking strategist’s instructions wavered. I was also going through a lot emotionally at the time. I barely made it through half of my UWorld questions.
What I wish I had done:Â It would have been much more ideal to will myself to keep up with what my test-taking strategist taught me:
1) Spend the first 4-5 weeks reading the text system by system
2) Then move on to questions once I had my foundation
3) Complete at least 15 questions per day system by system while filling out my worksheet (will ask if I can share!)
4) Review only the questions I got wrong by looking up the information in my text
It’s all good. Lesson learned.
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OB/GYN
What I did:Â I began by reading the text below over the Christmas break. I was so determined to do well because this is where my interest lies. I fell behind on reading when the rotation started, but I maintained a groove with my UWorld questions. This rotation was pretty stressful for me all together because the environment was just so tense. One day a resident told me not to scrub back into surgery because I ALMOST bumped into a table with sterile instruments. Yea. The scrub tech on the case came to my defense, told me to step out and get some air, and then come back in. She told the chief resident what happened and made the rude resident move out of the way so I could see the rest of the case. I will NEVER forget her! Y’all. Scrub techs and Nurses are your best friends! Know them. Love them. RESPECT them!! I am also super grateful for the residents who did encourage and teach me (You know who you are!) and I had some of the best moments of my life helping to bring life into the world. They let me count during contractions and deliver the placenta! I was eager to learn and always at the ready. I definitely put forth most effort on this rotation because I was actually interested. One day, a resident even let me act as her Intern for the day. She gave me responsibility and made me feel capable. Will never forget it! Also, there’s a lot of standing on your feet for this rotation and Surgery. I invested in the clogs below!
What I wish I had done: I really wish I had finished reading the text in its entirety; employing my test-taking strategist’s tips (see above in Internal Medicine). I also wish I had spoken to the Clinical Scholar (faculty member who teaches the bulk of classes on the rotation) about my test-taking issues earlier on so we could meet weekly to ensure I was prepared for the exam.
Pediatrics
What I did: Inpatient Medicine was the bain of my existence on this rotation. I had an Attending who pimped the hell out of me for 3 days straight. I could not wait to get away from her. Pimpin ain’t easy! I had just come off OB/GYN and had not studied general medicine in a while. If I don’t use it, I lose it. I definitely didn’t pre-read the weekend before we got started. In fact, I was so tired of feeling like my efforts were not reflected in my test scores that I stopped studying for the first 3 weeks of Peds. Just keeping it real with y’all. In the middle of the rotation, God sent an angel to help me. I was assigned to a clinic in Peachtree City (41 minutes from me exactly!) for Ambulatory Medicine. I told my Attending about some of my testing challenges and she really encouraged me. She gave me advice and more than that…she gave me the time I felt I really needed to study. I would drive to clinic in the morning, see a few patients and spend the rest of the day studying. She was adamant about me reading, Reading, READING! She had a full library in her break room and let me “check out” any text I wanted. She would give me reading assignments and then we’d discuss the next day. Time—that’s what I felt I was missing the whole year and she gave it back to me. I read and UWorld’d my way through that thing!
What I wish I had done: Nothing more, nothing less. I am honestly glad I took the first 3 weeks to just be and to just deal with what was going on with me mentally. Just deal with the disappointment of poor test scores. As always, I’m grateful God gave me the strength to get back on the horse!
Surgery
What I did: Chiiiiiiiile, I was so tired by the time I got to this rotation. Ha! It was at the very end of the academic year for me and I was definitely experiencing burn out. I was also super stressed about the shelf exam. I heard it was one of the hardest ones. I absolutely lived in fear of it for 8 weeks. I started out on a specialty and was very anxious to be in the OR during that portion of the rotation. Again, pimpin ain’t easy! I learn best when a conversation is had, not when I’m interrogated on the spot. BUT this is a part of the 3rd Year learning curve. I used the dense text for this rotation! I was so determined to do well. I tried to read the whole thing and got through all but 3 chapters. That meant less time for my UWorld questions—which is how (I’ve discovered) I actually learn best. I met with the Clinical Scholar once, but we ended up meeting in the OR. When I couldn’t answer questions with so many others present, I got super embarrassed. I did not push for us to keep meeting.
What I wish I had done: Instead of reading all of the text, I wish I had focused on UWorld questions—completing them and reading as I reviewed incorrect answers. That would have been a way more efficient use of my time. The text had a lot of information I did not truly need. I also could have used Dr. Pestana’s Surgical Notes—very pertinent information, straight and to the point with accompanying questions in the back. I also should have let go of my pride and continued to meet with the Academic Scholar even if it meant getting some of my questions wrong in front of the entire surgical team. Lesson learned.
Family Medicine
What I did: Ok so this was my last rotation (that began at the beginning of the new academic year because my schedule was delayed). Ya girl FINALLY felt good and knowledgeable about what I was doing! Yasssss! I was answering questions right. And…let’s be honest. Docs on Family Medicine are some of the nicest ever so the pimpin ain’t frequent. BUT when I was asked, I felt like I could definitely answer! I was seeing patients, writing notes, presenting, and taking names! I feel like a lot of students reach this level of confidence during the final rotation. So if you’re in the midst of 3rd Year now and reading this, hold one! Your time is coming and the tide is turning! I relied mainly on cases (online Aquifer cases) for this rotation. I also studied the Ambulatory section of my Step Up to Medicine text, the rest of this text, and Internal Medicine UWorld questions. This rotation is also not very time consuming, so I felt I had ample time to study. I completed a few question sets in the American Academy of Family Physicians q bank (you can set up a free student account and get access to their question bank!), but ultimately, I am glad I focused on the text and Internal Medicine UWorld. I was very pleased with my performance on this rotation (He turned my scars into STARS!). I regained my confidence and felt capable again. There is nothing I wish I had done differently.
So there ya have it! The good. The bad. The ugly! I definitely had to retake some of my shelf exams, but I used the methods outlined above (which is how I know they work!) and did just fine (not stellar, but PASSED!!) on the ones I did have to retake. Overall, I really did see a progression in my knowledge base and confidence even though it was a very slow process. Glad I hung in there!
BONUS TIPS for Success!
*Print out articles relevant to something you discussed with your team. Bring it in to discuss real quick after rounding. SUPER brownie points!
*Have a resident look over your notes before you present to your Attending. Nothing worse than the team laughing at your treatment plan and saying “that’s what we’re not gonna do!” ha! Yea it happened to me!
*Understand that pimping is their way of teaching you. Some do it and some don’t. Don’t get flustered. Answer the question confidently even if you know you are wrong. Be wrong and Strong lol! And try to sneak in what you do know. Follow up with the right answer from your reading the next day.
*Bruh. Don’t ever be late unless it’s a serious emergency.
*Be present and be engaged. Ask questions of genuine interest (please don’t make everyone stay on rounds longer just because you wanna “look good!”) and make an effort each day. People will notice.
*KNOW YOUR PATIENTS! Especially for surgeries, read up on your patients. Review their charts and know their pertinent info BEFORE the procedure. Looks great when you can spout off a past medical history when your Attending is talking to themselves and saying, “hmmmm, I wonder how long these boils have been here.” You: “the patient has a history of hidradenitis supporativa!” Got it?
*Have fun! Know you are there to learn and there is a bit less structure in your 3rd Year. Sometimes, it is what you make it. You are paying for this. Ensure you get the most out of your experience. And understand this: Not many people in the world can say they’ve had their hands inside a living, breathing human body cavity. So take it all in. This is indeed GREAT privilege.
I hope this was helpful! Always feel free to reach out with questions!
xoxo,
Anya
Photos by Tina Smith & Libby Malcolm
Wow! TGBTG! Thanks for the share ❤
Author
Thanks so much M!!