Island Med Student

I just finished reading the book, Better, by one of my favorite authors, Atul Gawande. In the afterword, Gawande gives his list of “Suggestions for Becoming a Positive Deviant.” I absolutely agreed with all of his suggestions, and it inspired me to write my own list for making your clinical rotation experiences “better.” Here are some tips that have worked well for me thus far:

1. Don’t be afraid to complain. Today, at the end of a lecture, a surgeon asked us how our rotation was going. Everyone pretty much replied “okay.” Then (knowing that we were all holding back our negative remarks), he asked us to be honest and speak up about the things that we didn’t like. In true med student form, everyone remained silent. I broke the ice and offered up a piece of constructive criticism. Eventually, everyone else chimed in with their own complaints. He reminded us that we need to be vocal about giving feedback. I actually agree with Gawande, that sitting around with colleagues and complaining all the time is a horrible idea. However, providing constructive criticism to the powers that be shows that you care, and shows that you’re not afraid to take a stand.

2. Introduce yourself to everyone. Of course, in med school we are taught to always introduce ourselves to the patient. This is obviously important. But how often do we take the time to introduce ourselves to the nurses? How often do we just walk up to someone and ask them for something, without introducing ourselves first? I’ve learned that an introduction can go a long way. And as Gawande mentioned in his book, getting to know someone by asking them a more personal question is also a fabulous way of making friends, not to mention making the hospital more of a fun place to be.

3. Stand out. As Ben Bryner pointed out in his recent entry, standing out can come in handy in many ways. Even without my pink hair, I tend to stand out in a crowd of med students. It’s not even always an intentional thing for me. But when it comes to making good impressions on attendings, residents, and patients, standing out can be a great asset. Not to mention when it comes to getting letters of recommendation down the road. Know what is unique about yourself, and use that to your advantage.

4. Smile. Smile. Smile. A smile can be worth a million words. I always try to smile at people as I pass by. When I walk past a patient’s room, even if I don’t know them, I give them a friendly smile. Obviously, there are times when a smile is inappropriate. But for the most part, a friendly smile can brighten someone’s day, make them feel more relaxed, and show them that you care. Even if you’re tired and have had a hard day, try to spread some joy with a nice contagious smile.

5. Get your money’s worth. You’re paying a lot of money to be trained and learn from your clinical rotation. Even though you’re expected to do a lot of work, you’re paying for the experience! Learn as much as you can, and remember that the point of the rotation is not to be tortured or to just “make it through.” You are there to learn, and you’re paying money for that privilege! You’ll never have this kind of experience again, so make the best of it!

6. Make friends with your fellow students. This tip seems pretty obvious to me, but some people seem to ignore it. Get to know your fellow students. Not only can this make the rotation more enjoyable, but it can also come in immensely handy. When an attending asks you a question and you blank, how awesome is it to have a good friend whisper the answer in your ear?!

That’s all I can think of for now. To all you fellow students out there doing your clinical rotations: good luck and try to make your experience even better!

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