Internal Medicine Rotation DITL
On my internal medicine rotation, I was responsible for 3 to 4 patients every day. Here’s how my morning went:
7:30 AM: receive sign out from the overnight doctors to get updated on any information that happened overnight.
8 AM: check in on all my patients and see if there’s any vitals or labs that needs to be done before rounds.
8:30 AM: rounds with the first year resident on all of his patients
9:30 AM: complete any tasks my resident needs. We had one patient that was septic so he asked me to collect blood cultures from them.
10:30 AM: one of our patients had a dangerously high potassium level, so after giving medications I retook their blood to see if it had come down. This patient had very tiny veins so I asked a very nice nurse for help :)
11:00 AM: I took all the blood to the lab-trying to take the stairs as much as possible!
11:15 AM: I completed all my tasks and had some down time to do a few practice questions before lecture.
12:00pm: most days we have noon lecture, where an attending or fellow will come present a topic. Today’s topic was on radiology!
#medstudent #internalmedicine #dayinthelife #healthcare #lemon8challenge
The internal medicine rotation is a critical period for medical students, providing hands-on experience in patient management and clinical decision-making. Daily routines often begin with receiving sign-outs from overnight doctors, ensuring that students stay updated with patient conditions. Checking vital signs and lab results is crucial before attending rounds, which typically involve discussions with attending physicians and fellows on patient care plans. A key part of the rotation is managing patient care tasks, such as obtaining blood cultures or monitoring lab results. This requires not only medical knowledge but also the ability to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, including nurses and residents. Situations like handling patients with high potassium levels can present challenges that test a student's clinical skills and patience. The experience is enriched by educational lectures that often cover essential topics relevant to internal medicine, such as radiology. These sessions help solidify theoretical knowledge gained during rounds, promoting a comprehensive understanding of patient diagnosis and treatment strategies. Overall, the internal medicine rotation is an intensive learning experience, honing the skills necessary for future medical practice.
Supplements after 25 are a real mood. I keep vitamins and fish oil on my desk, or else I’m basically a walking nap attack all week long.