Tips to rank your match list. Here’s how this medical student did it.

As an early third year medical student, I had a few attending physicians tell me that MD stands for “make decisions.” I find myself subject to these sorts of pep talks when I answer their clinical questions with a response influenced by a high pitched vocal inflection that suggests that I’m uncertain. For example, while being pimped on the next step in managing a patient, I might have responded with a statement that morphed into a question because my fear of making a mistake betrayed the confidence I had in my training. “We should check her glucose?” or, “I think we should send her for a chest x-ray?” I’d reply. “You think … or you know?” They would often retort. “Umm … I know?”  I’d reply. Throughout the course of that year, I learned to back up my responses with supporting evidence. I trained myself to say things like: “Given her current vital signs, presenting symptoms and history of sickle cell, I think we should send her for a chest x-ray because I’m concerned for ACS.” This often was enough to earn me some praise, or at least, divert the pimping attention to another student. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Education Medical school Source Type: blogs