Here are some tips for making the most out of your rotaitons:
- Be familiar with and able to apply the core content of the rotation specialty.
- Take time to review one or two relevant textbooks and go over any notes you may have
- Read as much as you can about the illnesses of the patients you are seeing.
- Be a team player.
- Dress professionally, be on time and be enthusiastic.
- Establish an informal learning agreement with your preceptor, resident or attending at the beginning of each clinical rotation.
- During down time, resist the urge to engage in excessive non-rotation tasks, such as personal e-mail, Web surfing, blogging or personal phone calls.
- Maximize time spent waiting during rotations.
- Learn to ask enough questions to satisfy your hunger for knowledge without monopolizing precious time.
- If you know individuals who have done this rotation, ask them for pointers.
- Keep a journal for each rotation.
- In the middle of each rotation, ask your senior resident or attending for a verbal evaluation.
- If you are not afforded the opportunity to perform some clinical decision-making and procedural skills that you wish to perfect during a rotation, ask your supervising physician what you can do to gain more experience.
- When you have completed a rotation, take a moment to assess what you’ve learned.
- Avoid asking questions of the preceptor during the patient encounter.
- If you find yourself on the receiving end of harsh criticism, don’t take it personally.
Do you have any other tips?
