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!
Sunday, 12 October 2014
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!
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
First Impressions.
Since my last post I have bought my car, sorted out my parking space and have found out my tutor, mentor and PBL and clinical skills groups! Everything's coming together so quickly!
So a bit about what I know so far... My PBL group is the only group with 7 members as opposed to 8 which I'm hoping wont affect how much work we have to do! One of the people in my group is a guy who I had met at the meet ups and I am so happy I'm with him as he is from a science background like me! Hurrah- someone to help me explain things to those who may not know!
Our clinical skills group contains 22 people so I'm unsure how that is going to work, whether we further divide ourselves or not but I'm sure the Uni have that all figured out.
Over the next two weeks my schedule is full of meet ups, BBQs and nights out to meet not only my year group but the 2nd years as well. Compared to my previous degree, I'm already amazed at the cohesion in our group and how helpful and willing to share information people are! This gives me great hope that we will all be great friends and work together to achieve our dream!
I can't wait to meet the full group and make some new friends. Lets just hope I make a good first impression! :)
So a bit about what I know so far... My PBL group is the only group with 7 members as opposed to 8 which I'm hoping wont affect how much work we have to do! One of the people in my group is a guy who I had met at the meet ups and I am so happy I'm with him as he is from a science background like me! Hurrah- someone to help me explain things to those who may not know!
Our clinical skills group contains 22 people so I'm unsure how that is going to work, whether we further divide ourselves or not but I'm sure the Uni have that all figured out.
Over the next two weeks my schedule is full of meet ups, BBQs and nights out to meet not only my year group but the 2nd years as well. Compared to my previous degree, I'm already amazed at the cohesion in our group and how helpful and willing to share information people are! This gives me great hope that we will all be great friends and work together to achieve our dream!
I can't wait to meet the full group and make some new friends. Lets just hope I make a good first impression! :)
Tuesday, 26 August 2014
Run off my feet.
Last night I did my first night shift since early July and boy what a shift it was. Our night shifts are from 7pm to 7.30am so 12.5 hours of fun and games....
I arrived on the ward (which holds 28 patients) to find there were only four staff for the night, two nurses and two HCAs. At first I thought this must be a good sign - if only four staff were needed then the patients must generally be okay and it shouldn't be too busy. How wrong was I?! About 3/4 of my patients were all care patients, most of whom should not have even been on the gastroenterolgy ward. Five of my patients were scoring so highly on our early warning system (this scores observations, so normal obs would score 0, whereas anything abnormal can score from 1-3 depending on the severity) that they should have been on a high dependency unit!
The shift was so manic, I was doing hourly and two hourly neuro observations on 4 patients, on top of all the usual turns, four hourly obs and general caring...which means as soon as you've finished you hardly have time to do anything else before starting again! On shifts like that it honestly all comes down to your colleagues as to whether it's a nightmare or just busy. Thankfully, the other 3 members of staff were lovely and supportive so we all pitched in together and got the job done without too much stress :)
Shifts like this make me question the organisation of the wards in terms of staffing levels and the patients they accept onto the ward. If the ward sister saw what it had been like last night (which is apparantly how it has been for the last few weeks) I have no doubts that he/she would organise for another HCA to work as well, but unfortunately the ward sisters do not work nights and so will never understand the need for improved staffing levels. Frankly, I believe that it puts the patients in danger. If one of us is on break and two members of staff are with a patient then that leaves just one nurse or HCA in charge of 27 other patients. Even the most experienced nurse shouldn't be expected to do that. But it isn't my position to say anything as I am only a temp...
On a brighter note, the F1 doctor who spent almost all night on the ward had just finished the course I'm about to start on! It was so lovely to speak to someone who has completed the course, loved it and is actually in the dream job!
I arrived on the ward (which holds 28 patients) to find there were only four staff for the night, two nurses and two HCAs. At first I thought this must be a good sign - if only four staff were needed then the patients must generally be okay and it shouldn't be too busy. How wrong was I?! About 3/4 of my patients were all care patients, most of whom should not have even been on the gastroenterolgy ward. Five of my patients were scoring so highly on our early warning system (this scores observations, so normal obs would score 0, whereas anything abnormal can score from 1-3 depending on the severity) that they should have been on a high dependency unit!
The shift was so manic, I was doing hourly and two hourly neuro observations on 4 patients, on top of all the usual turns, four hourly obs and general caring...which means as soon as you've finished you hardly have time to do anything else before starting again! On shifts like that it honestly all comes down to your colleagues as to whether it's a nightmare or just busy. Thankfully, the other 3 members of staff were lovely and supportive so we all pitched in together and got the job done without too much stress :)
Shifts like this make me question the organisation of the wards in terms of staffing levels and the patients they accept onto the ward. If the ward sister saw what it had been like last night (which is apparantly how it has been for the last few weeks) I have no doubts that he/she would organise for another HCA to work as well, but unfortunately the ward sisters do not work nights and so will never understand the need for improved staffing levels. Frankly, I believe that it puts the patients in danger. If one of us is on break and two members of staff are with a patient then that leaves just one nurse or HCA in charge of 27 other patients. Even the most experienced nurse shouldn't be expected to do that. But it isn't my position to say anything as I am only a temp...
On a brighter note, the F1 doctor who spent almost all night on the ward had just finished the course I'm about to start on! It was so lovely to speak to someone who has completed the course, loved it and is actually in the dream job!
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