I feel like I have headed back to my secondary school. After the exams I’m finding it really hard to do some ‘homework’. I’ve had an amazing time on placement and saw some great things (including my first birth - there will be a post coming about that) but in terms of sitting down on my own and working I’ve really struggled.
This is no doubt a release after exams and will be temporary. I’m just going to enjoy it and hope that it doesn’t last too long!
The ‘third world Internet through a dongle as I’m on placement but I shouldn’t moan because it’s free’ isnt working so I cant upload my finished mind map for the day. I assure you all I did endometriosis though.
I’m really finding it useful having the blog to answer too, I’m so tired I’m sure I wouldn’t have had the motivation to work tonight otherwise. Thank you all.
So now I am in the post exam state it’s time to start addressing some of the tasks I put aside for a long time.
One of these is sorting out my elective. Basically next April/May after our finals we are given 7 weeks free reign to do a placement anywhere we want in the world - with a couple of weeks holiday afterwards.
Obviously there are so many places to go and different experiences of health care I can’t decide what to do.
I love the idea of working somewhere with less resources and think it will be a good challenge. I also like the idea of trying to fit the elective in with some form of physical challenge during the ‘holiday’ afterwards.
I have been lucky enough to travel around some of South East Asia before, I loved Vietnam and Cambodia and think Cambodia would be a great place to do a placement, but part of me thinks I should try and experience somewhere else with this opportunity.
Do any of you have ideas or exeriences of electives or generally places you would recommend going?
‘it is not considered cheating to ensure the next appointment will not be in the premenstrual phase-more objectivity may be forthcoming’
An actual quote from the Oxford handbook of clinical specialties regarding the follow up of patients with PMS.
I don’t want do add 2 and 2 together to get 5 but does this effectively say ‘avoid premenstrual women - they are nuts’?
Thank you for the feedback, great to hear that you liked them. Already this idea seems to be making me improve the quality of my mind maps. I have so many half finished ones of other topics that I hope to finish off and get uploaded over the next few weeks.
As promised for now though -2 new topics uploaded for Monday and Tuesday:
Incontinence
Gynae cancer - This is a big one so I’ll just link to the page.
I should say, relating to my previous post. I am currently on my gynae placement so I will be working through and putting those mind maps on first. The rest will be soon to follow.
This might not be exciting for anyone else but I assure you it is for me:
Exam celebrations were short lived - back into study again this morning. A lot less stressful when there isn’t an exam in the immediate future though. One year to go until finals… I guess it all starts here!
As alluded to in my previous post I have just started my Obs and Gynae placement. I must admit I was a bit apprehensive going into this placement as being male I thought I would spend a lot of my time sitting in waiting rooms with patients politely refusing my presence (not presents, that would be inappropriate).
I’ve been pleasently surprised though. Until this placement I had never seen an ‘intimate’ examination on a female as I have always been asked to leave the room. This has not been the case this time around however, out of 6 clinics and dozens of patients only once was my presence refused.
I don’t know whether people coming to the gynae clinic have already accepted they will have to ‘derobe’ and don’t mind helping a keen young medical student to gain experience. Or if it is the fact that now I can introduce myself as a ‘final year student’ and that somehow carries a little more authority (I’m not sure if it does, I just love saying it).
Anyway the point of this post is that I am pleasently surprised and feel priviledged that people will let you be there for such intimate examinations. It must be difficult for them but it really is vital experience for a student. So if any of you are ever asked if you mind a student being present I would urge you to oblige, you never know that that same student may be examining you or a member of your family one day as a doctor, and you would definitely want them to have had the necessary experience then.
I’m so happy to be able to write this post.
So the big end of 4th year exam exam results were today and… (pause for effect) I’m through!
This means there is no re-sit in June and I can enjoy my summer! In September I start applying for jobs, I will know which job I am in by November and then March next year I sit my finals. It’s amazing to think that I am 80% done, only one more exam to pass and I will finally be a doctor. Incredible, can’t quite believe it.
Also without the constant ‘oh crap, I should be revising’ thoughts I can now enjoy a little more tumblr time!
A very very happy day.
:)
