Hello!
Im so sorry I havent posted since January! So much has been happening!
So in my last post I said I was about to have my first OSCE which I did really well in just forgetting a few things in my history taking. Since then we have had another OSCE for Limbs and Back which I got 97% for! So happy with my progress in these exams and feels that it shows that I can do this and have all the 'people' skills I need! :)
My new PBL group at first was quite daunting but now that I'm used to the 'big characters' its actually really enjoyable. That said, I find people don't put as much effort into their presentations which means more work for me to do! Although it isnt an ideal situation, I suppose I have to learn everything for myself in the end anyway!
Limbs and back has been my absolute favourite module as it was basically all anatomy based- which having done so much including dissection in my undergrad really is my strength! Most people on the course and especially in my PBL group really struggled and hated it, so I did my best to help people out and share any tips or nmeumonics I had! I am now known as the anatomy queen in my PBL group which is actually quite lovely as I'm not the most confident or forthcoming person so its a real compliment! :)
We are now onto Alimentary module, our penultimate module of this year (how scary is that?!)! We already have tons of work to do along with a reflective essay about the whole year so I'm currently trying to write that ... Which if I'm honest is just horrendously boring.
Since I last posted I've also been made President of Climbing at UNaD! How exciting!! I cant wait to get involved in freshers fair and recruit loads of new people! Its also fun to tell people as noone expects me to be able to climb (Go me!).
I recently did an open day for the university and had so many questions about the workload and how to survive GAMSAT so I'll so a post on that soon!
Sunday, 19 April 2015
Saturday, 24 January 2015
First OSCE
Hey guys, I've been so super busy oh my gosh!
So Christmas was lovely but I spent the majority of it either working as a HCA or doing uni work!We have officially finished our third module now and are changing PBL groups next week! :O
I have another set of formative exams, including my first OSCE (practical clinical skills exam) which will involve five minutes of respiratory examination, five minutes of cardio examination and a ten minute history taking session. After a lot of practice with my friends and family, I'm feeling pretty confident for this so fingers crossed!
In terms of my new PBL group, I'm going to be so sad to leave my current group who have been AMAZING...but it will be good to see how other people manage PBL and integrate with some different people. Having found out who our group members will be I've realised that I'm going to have to get over my shyness and lack of self confidence otherwise I will never be taken seriously!
It occurred to me last week that I add 'maybe' to the end of all my statements in PBL- something I really need to stop!! All this does is make others doubt me and leads to a lack of respect for my opinions and answers... not good in medicine!
I hope you guys have all heard good news from med schools if you've applied and good luck for any interviews!!
So Christmas was lovely but I spent the majority of it either working as a HCA or doing uni work!We have officially finished our third module now and are changing PBL groups next week! :O
I have another set of formative exams, including my first OSCE (practical clinical skills exam) which will involve five minutes of respiratory examination, five minutes of cardio examination and a ten minute history taking session. After a lot of practice with my friends and family, I'm feeling pretty confident for this so fingers crossed!
In terms of my new PBL group, I'm going to be so sad to leave my current group who have been AMAZING...but it will be good to see how other people manage PBL and integrate with some different people. Having found out who our group members will be I've realised that I'm going to have to get over my shyness and lack of self confidence otherwise I will never be taken seriously!
It occurred to me last week that I add 'maybe' to the end of all my statements in PBL- something I really need to stop!! All this does is make others doubt me and leads to a lack of respect for my opinions and answers... not good in medicine!
I hope you guys have all heard good news from med schools if you've applied and good luck for any interviews!!
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Christmas cheer.
So that's it! My first term at medical school is FINISHED!
It has been amazing and busy and so interesting, but I really do need this break. After the constant stream of work and preparation for each week, I can't wait to just have some time to spend with my friends and family. I do have some revision and a reflective essay to write, but I feel that despite this I will be able to work a bit (student life really is expensive) and just relax :)
I hope you guys have been getting some good news from medical schools and have interviews to prepare for! Have a wonderful Christmas :D
It has been amazing and busy and so interesting, but I really do need this break. After the constant stream of work and preparation for each week, I can't wait to just have some time to spend with my friends and family. I do have some revision and a reflective essay to write, but I feel that despite this I will be able to work a bit (student life really is expensive) and just relax :)
I hope you guys have been getting some good news from medical schools and have interviews to prepare for! Have a wonderful Christmas :D
Monday, 1 December 2014
Life Savers
Last night I worked a shift on 'Step down' which is where patients are sent if they aren't sick enough for ICU but are too sick to go to a ward.
At first the shift was pretty horrendous, the nurses were too busy to really explain what I needed to do and so until I found out what was expected of me I felt very much like a spare part...
But then something great happened... an F2 turned up. An F2 who used to be a GEM and who was so enthusiastic about her job and medicine that she spent a good portion of her night teaching me!
Honestly, I was thanking God all night for her appearance (Step down units really aren't a HCA strong place- there isn't much I can do when the patients are that poorly)!
This F2 allowed me to watch her perform examinations, explained ECGs to me in the most simple, perfect way, explained all the blood tests and liver function tests and then taught me how to take blood! Not bad to what I thought was going to be a write off of a shift!
Doctors who have that much enthusiasm and love for their job are the people who inspire me to work harder and be the best I can be, especially when my GP tutor spends all her time telling me she wishes she'd done dentistry! Medicine is a vocation, and meeting doctors like this F2 give me great faith in my future profession and our healthcare system :) I only hope in 4 years I will be like her and have the ability to inspire and teach a HCA in my position.
At first the shift was pretty horrendous, the nurses were too busy to really explain what I needed to do and so until I found out what was expected of me I felt very much like a spare part...
But then something great happened... an F2 turned up. An F2 who used to be a GEM and who was so enthusiastic about her job and medicine that she spent a good portion of her night teaching me!
Honestly, I was thanking God all night for her appearance (Step down units really aren't a HCA strong place- there isn't much I can do when the patients are that poorly)!
This F2 allowed me to watch her perform examinations, explained ECGs to me in the most simple, perfect way, explained all the blood tests and liver function tests and then taught me how to take blood! Not bad to what I thought was going to be a write off of a shift!
Doctors who have that much enthusiasm and love for their job are the people who inspire me to work harder and be the best I can be, especially when my GP tutor spends all her time telling me she wishes she'd done dentistry! Medicine is a vocation, and meeting doctors like this F2 give me great faith in my future profession and our healthcare system :) I only hope in 4 years I will be like her and have the ability to inspire and teach a HCA in my position.
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
GP placement #2
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!
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!
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