My clinical rotations had started long long ago. I mean 7 weeks back. 7 weeks of my 12 weeks pediatrics posting have finished already. These 7 weeks have taught me things equivalent to 2 years of basic science combined.
1. Don't show off. Show up!
2. Be in the cockpit
You cannot learn how to fly by sitting at the back. You have to be in the cockpit- watching and learning from the pilot. Being in the cockpit and carrying a book on how to fly a plane won't help either.
3. Patients can teach you a lot!
Learn from every patient you see. In our clinical postings, each one of us is assigned 2 inpatient beds with real kids. Real, sickkids patients. If a patient stays in a bed for a week. You get more or less 24 patients in 12weeks. Plus 2/3 cases are taught everyday for around 3 weeks. Almost 36 more patients to learn from. 60 chronic diseases to learn from in 10 weeks (2 weeks of neonatology out of 12) is a great achievement!
4. Learn to say 'I don't know.' but make sure you look it up later.
5. Do not stress.
6. Enjoy the holidays while you can. You never know what turn your life might take. May be the rules of your clinical rotations change tomorrow and you stop getting the much needed and much awaited holidays. I thank god for starting my clinicals with pediatrics and not surgery where we get no government holidays except saturdays. And my fellow mates have to reach 1 hour before the scheduled time. 12 free days in 12 weeks! Oh lord! Save my soul during winters!
1. Don't show off. Show up!
2. Be in the cockpit
You cannot learn how to fly by sitting at the back. You have to be in the cockpit- watching and learning from the pilot. Being in the cockpit and carrying a book on how to fly a plane won't help either.
3. Patients can teach you a lot!
Learn from every patient you see. In our clinical postings, each one of us is assigned 2 inpatient beds with real kids. Real, sick
4. Learn to say 'I don't know.' but make sure you look it up later.
5. Do not stress.
6. Enjoy the holidays while you can. You never know what turn your life might take. May be the rules of your clinical rotations change tomorrow and you stop getting the much needed and much awaited holidays. I thank god for starting my clinicals with pediatrics and not surgery where we get no government holidays except saturdays. And my fellow mates have to reach 1 hour before the scheduled time. 12 free days in 12 weeks! Oh lord! Save my soul during winters!
