Today was my second GP placement and it was so good!!
Because we have now done a bit of history taking and respiratory examination, I got to practice my new found skills on real patients! The best bit was that I actually managed to pick up coarse crackles on auscultation without being told they were there, needless to say the GP was quite impressed :D
The more I visit GP practices the more interested I become...you see such a variety and interesting collection of cases each day and get such a huge amount of patient contact. It is something that I'm considering much more now than I ever was before, however I'm aware that I have more than 4 years to make a decision so I'm sure I'll change my mind again!
We have nearly finished out second module already, which seems crazy considering it's only November! Thinking about how much I've learnt in this short 2 months just amazes me...credit to all the lecturers and facilitators!
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Life is zooming past...
Wow! I've been so crazy busy that I haven't updated this blog for weeks!
So I had my first GP visit forever ago and have my second one next week (super excited).
The first one was great, the GP I was supposed to be with was off ill so I got re-assigned to another GP at the practice who turned out to be amazing! In the past on placements I have been placed in the corner and forgotten about but this time the GP made every effort to include me in the consultation and allowed me to practice ear examinations and some chest auscultation. Even though I hadn't yet been taught these skills, the GP explained them so well that I felt like I could actually see/hear what i was looking for and actually managed to find the wheeze in the patients chest...score!
The amazing thing about this GP visit was that every single patient (apart form maybe two) actually had the same diagnoses as our PBL topics! Because of this I felt like I could actually discuss the cases with the Dr without looking clueless- a big advantage!
Also since I last posted I have completed my first formative exam....and passed! :D Our exams are done as multiple choice questions (MCQs) and modified essay questions (MEQs) with the pass mark in both being set at 60%. I hadn't really known what to expect question or marking wise so came out of the exam feeling less than great about my performance, but after two weeks of waiting found out that I achieved 73% overall!
In my undergrad degree I would probably have been very happy about this, and still am but feel I could have achieved more if I'd looked at more of the diagrams in the lectures.
From this I've decided to stop writing up notes and have started typing them so I can copy+paste pictures in...hopefully this will help for my revision in this next module.
Time is just going so quickly at the moment, it's crazy to think I'm already halfway through my second module as a medic but I'm enjoying life so much that I'm not even thinking about it!
I hope people's GAMSAT scores were what they wanted, but if not, I know of at least 6 people on my course who had to sit it more than 5 times before they got what they needed - so don't be too disheartened!
So I had my first GP visit forever ago and have my second one next week (super excited).
The first one was great, the GP I was supposed to be with was off ill so I got re-assigned to another GP at the practice who turned out to be amazing! In the past on placements I have been placed in the corner and forgotten about but this time the GP made every effort to include me in the consultation and allowed me to practice ear examinations and some chest auscultation. Even though I hadn't yet been taught these skills, the GP explained them so well that I felt like I could actually see/hear what i was looking for and actually managed to find the wheeze in the patients chest...score!
The amazing thing about this GP visit was that every single patient (apart form maybe two) actually had the same diagnoses as our PBL topics! Because of this I felt like I could actually discuss the cases with the Dr without looking clueless- a big advantage!
Also since I last posted I have completed my first formative exam....and passed! :D Our exams are done as multiple choice questions (MCQs) and modified essay questions (MEQs) with the pass mark in both being set at 60%. I hadn't really known what to expect question or marking wise so came out of the exam feeling less than great about my performance, but after two weeks of waiting found out that I achieved 73% overall!
In my undergrad degree I would probably have been very happy about this, and still am but feel I could have achieved more if I'd looked at more of the diagrams in the lectures.
From this I've decided to stop writing up notes and have started typing them so I can copy+paste pictures in...hopefully this will help for my revision in this next module.
Time is just going so quickly at the moment, it's crazy to think I'm already halfway through my second module as a medic but I'm enjoying life so much that I'm not even thinking about it!
I hope people's GAMSAT scores were what they wanted, but if not, I know of at least 6 people on my course who had to sit it more than 5 times before they got what they needed - so don't be too disheartened!
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Week Three.
Hey guys, I've been so busy I totally forgot to write a new post!
This week has been really busy both in uni and outside of it with two of my (new) friends birthdays happening this weekend! When they say Medics work hard and play harder, they're really not lying! I honestly don't think I even went out this much during my undergrad degree, but am glad that I can say that I'm not behind on any work because of it!
Our PBL cases for this week and last week have been really interesting and you can really tell that our group is getting the hang of PBL and what it requires. On the second day of each case we each present our specific topic relating to the case...at first I thought this would be 2 hours of powerpoint presentations but it's been great! People have gotten really inventive with ways in which to teach and test the new information to the whole group, which is just credit to them really! :) We have also decided to do a quiz at the end of each case which was proven to be amazing to revision. Also helped by the fact that the girls win every week!
At the moment a lot of the work is still revision from my previous degree, but it's amazing how much you assume you know but realise you have actually forgotten whilst sat in the lectures! One of my favourite differences between my past degree and this one is how the lectures here relate everything (no matter how big or small) back to a clinical situation. It really helps to put into perspective why we are learning each point.
This week is our last week of teaching for module 1 before we have our first formative exam. Even though this exam doesn't count towards any actual grades I think it's great to be able to monitor our progress and hope that my hard work has been paying off! Even though we get a week to revise for this first exam (we never get this ever again) I've already started on my trusty A3 revision posters and spider diagrams. Considering how well these worked in my last two years of Medical Sci I'm hoping they still help me now! Fingers crossed!
Also this week is my first GP placement visit...how exciting?! I'm pretty much the last student to go on mine but still am unsure what exactly to expect. I'm quite timid when I first meet people so I need to make sure I put my confident face on and make the most of the afternoon instead of just sitting in the corner haha! Wish me luck and I'll try and write a post on what I learnt!
How are people's UCAS applications going? Almost time to send them off!
This week has been really busy both in uni and outside of it with two of my (new) friends birthdays happening this weekend! When they say Medics work hard and play harder, they're really not lying! I honestly don't think I even went out this much during my undergrad degree, but am glad that I can say that I'm not behind on any work because of it!
Our PBL cases for this week and last week have been really interesting and you can really tell that our group is getting the hang of PBL and what it requires. On the second day of each case we each present our specific topic relating to the case...at first I thought this would be 2 hours of powerpoint presentations but it's been great! People have gotten really inventive with ways in which to teach and test the new information to the whole group, which is just credit to them really! :) We have also decided to do a quiz at the end of each case which was proven to be amazing to revision. Also helped by the fact that the girls win every week!
At the moment a lot of the work is still revision from my previous degree, but it's amazing how much you assume you know but realise you have actually forgotten whilst sat in the lectures! One of my favourite differences between my past degree and this one is how the lectures here relate everything (no matter how big or small) back to a clinical situation. It really helps to put into perspective why we are learning each point.
This week is our last week of teaching for module 1 before we have our first formative exam. Even though this exam doesn't count towards any actual grades I think it's great to be able to monitor our progress and hope that my hard work has been paying off! Even though we get a week to revise for this first exam (we never get this ever again) I've already started on my trusty A3 revision posters and spider diagrams. Considering how well these worked in my last two years of Medical Sci I'm hoping they still help me now! Fingers crossed!
Also this week is my first GP placement visit...how exciting?! I'm pretty much the last student to go on mine but still am unsure what exactly to expect. I'm quite timid when I first meet people so I need to make sure I put my confident face on and make the most of the afternoon instead of just sitting in the corner haha! Wish me luck and I'll try and write a post on what I learnt!
How are people's UCAS applications going? Almost time to send them off!
Saturday, 27 September 2014
Week Two Reflections
Having now finished my second week as a GEM student, I can safely say that I'm thoroughly enjoying the course so far! We successfully finished our first PBL case and got brilliant feedback from our facilitator on our ideas, organisation and team work- yay for group 11 :).
One of the core concepts of PBL is for the cases and questions that arise to trigger our curiosity and therefore make the learning experience less of a chore and more of an investigation into something that genuinely interests you. So far, this has worked really well... as we all discuss the case people come up with the most intriguing points that I may never have thought of myself. Even the non-science background members of the group who think they may be asking an obvious or stupid question often ask something which makes you realise how much you've actually forgotten! The variety of opinions, knowledge bases and ideas really does simulate the multi disciplinary team that we will all encounter within Medicine.
The only downside is the amount of money I've spent on events! Instead of choosing student friendly pubs and student nights at clubs the GEMs seem to go for the more upmarket (replace with expensive) places and so my funds are decreasing dramatically. I feel more HCA shifts may need to be done this year... although hopefully now that Fresher's is well and truly over it will calm down a bit!
One of the core concepts of PBL is for the cases and questions that arise to trigger our curiosity and therefore make the learning experience less of a chore and more of an investigation into something that genuinely interests you. So far, this has worked really well... as we all discuss the case people come up with the most intriguing points that I may never have thought of myself. Even the non-science background members of the group who think they may be asking an obvious or stupid question often ask something which makes you realise how much you've actually forgotten! The variety of opinions, knowledge bases and ideas really does simulate the multi disciplinary team that we will all encounter within Medicine.
The only downside is the amount of money I've spent on events! Instead of choosing student friendly pubs and student nights at clubs the GEMs seem to go for the more upmarket (replace with expensive) places and so my funds are decreasing dramatically. I feel more HCA shifts may need to be done this year... although hopefully now that Fresher's is well and truly over it will calm down a bit!
Saturday, 13 September 2014
First week is over!
My first week as a medical student is finished and what a week! We have had so many introductions to modules, PBL (Problem Based Learning) and the library services it's unreal. Oh and not to forget the meet ups, nights out and fancy dress party...
I have now met the majority of my course mates and everyone seems lovely (obviously, or they probably wouldn't have a place...). Not only that but everyone is up for helping each other and explaining things without making the other person feel inferior. I have adopted three housemates and so already have a brilliant friendship circle and a place to stay after nights out- very handy! After three nights out I'm very used to sharing with one of the girls or slumming it on the sofa. Now that fresher's week is effectively over I think we will all settle down a bit and give my liver a much needed break! :)
Our course begins properly on Monday with our first workshops, lectures and PBL sessions, which I am very much looking forward to, despite still being a little unsure as to how exactly it is all going to work! I recently read a very good article on survival tips for PBL (12 tips to surviving PBL by Bate & Taylor, 2013) which was fully referenced and gave a number of brilliant ideas and things to ensure the group get the most out of each session. Trying my best to keep in mind all the tips and hope that the other 6 members of my group have read the same article. Both my group and facilitator seem very enthusiastic about the PBL section of the course and each member has come from a different background leaving us with a wide variety of strengths and expertise! The fact that we have agreed to bring cake every Friday makes it all seem 100x better aswell. I'm sure I will write much more about PBL once our sessions get underway!
The next time I post you will most likely have sat the GAMSAT so good luck and don't panic!
I have now met the majority of my course mates and everyone seems lovely (obviously, or they probably wouldn't have a place...). Not only that but everyone is up for helping each other and explaining things without making the other person feel inferior. I have adopted three housemates and so already have a brilliant friendship circle and a place to stay after nights out- very handy! After three nights out I'm very used to sharing with one of the girls or slumming it on the sofa. Now that fresher's week is effectively over I think we will all settle down a bit and give my liver a much needed break! :)
Our course begins properly on Monday with our first workshops, lectures and PBL sessions, which I am very much looking forward to, despite still being a little unsure as to how exactly it is all going to work! I recently read a very good article on survival tips for PBL (12 tips to surviving PBL by Bate & Taylor, 2013) which was fully referenced and gave a number of brilliant ideas and things to ensure the group get the most out of each session. Trying my best to keep in mind all the tips and hope that the other 6 members of my group have read the same article. Both my group and facilitator seem very enthusiastic about the PBL section of the course and each member has come from a different background leaving us with a wide variety of strengths and expertise! The fact that we have agreed to bring cake every Friday makes it all seem 100x better aswell. I'm sure I will write much more about PBL once our sessions get underway!
The next time I post you will most likely have sat the GAMSAT so good luck and don't panic!
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