Something sensible?

There are two ways of thinking about the coalition government.

1)Get annoyed at everything stupid that they do
2)Accept that all governments do silly things so its not really worth worrying about

If you follow point 2 then occasionally some optimism can light up your head. This has happened to the FM whilst reading about a speech given by David Willets who was talking about teenagers who were put at a disadvantage at applying to medical school as they did not have the option of taking individual sciences at GCSE.

Its an absolute disgrace that some students dont even have the opportunity to take the individual sciences at GCSE, certainly the FM would have struggled at A-level if she had not had the opportunity denied to pupils all over the country

A Joke

The neurologist knows everything but does nothing
The surgeon knows nothing but does everything
The psychiatrist knows nothing and does nothing
The pathologist knows everything and does everything, but too late

And now for the punchline . . . . .

And the anesthesiologist sits on a stool all day long and passes gas.

So is this friendly, harmless banter? Or does it undermine different specialities and the patients who come under there care? In a few weeks I will be doing some psychiatry, if I enjoy it then I will probably aim to become a psychiatrist. If this happens I would not be considered a "proper doctor" by a significant proportion of the medical team. Some people consider psychiatric treatment to be quackery, dangerous and generally unhelpful.

Perhaps this says more about us? Perhaps psychiatrists are'nt seen as "proper doctors" as society as a whole does not consider mental illness as a "proper disease."

Things that annoy me

Earlier in the month I posted about the bloated BBC and was accused of being grumpy! Afraid this is a grumpy post as well.

Workshops are amazing, this is where patients with a particular condition volunteer to be examined by groups of medical students (usually about 3-7). This is overseen by a consultant or registrar who points out what we've missed.

Anyway, had one of these today and the turnout by medical students was poor. I know we have exams but its no excuse, people have given up there time for us and people cant even be bothered to turn up. On the brightside I was in a group of two, as opposed to five/six meaning we both got more attention and learnt more.

Bloody Hell

NHS Blog Doctor, Jobbing doctor and Dr Grumble. Only one remains. Both Crippen and JD have taken down all of the posts on their blog. A big shame

Now that JD has gone the medical blogosphere seems a heck of a lot smaller

The C and the P's

Causes of Hepatomegaly can be remembered by stuff that works with C, such as cirrhosis, CCF, Cancer and then chronic hepatitis and cysts.

Ascites can be rembered by words that start with P, such as Portal Hypertension, protein loosing states, pancreatitis, pericarditis (constrictive) and something else which I can't post here as I cant read my handwriting on the piece of paper I scrawled it down on.

Hope this post counts for revision. Am going to revise for another half hour and then go for a run

Looming

Eight day untill the exam, eleven days till the "practical exam." Postins will be non existent/short untill after this time.

Headaches

I try not to put myself under to much pressure, if i do then i am likely to get stress induced headaches. However if i dont put myself under pressure then I am liable to be a lazy bum and do very little.

Currently this evening i have been doing some pharmacology revision, but started off by going over Pulmonary Embolisms. Partly because its quite common and common stuff get tested in exams, uncommon stuff does not, but also because consultant sydrome set in when being asked some fairly routine stuff on it ealier today.

The best teaching is generallly when we clerk someone beforehand and present back to a consultant/whover. This what happened to me today. Perhaps medical students should have no teaching sessions at all, except on how to take a history in the first week of medical school. After six months they could then be taught how to do some basic examinations. Alot of consultants think that medical students shouldn't even consider how to treat stuff until they have spent a significant amount of time taking histories/examining.

First exam is in two weeks. People who know me tell me I'm going to be fine if I just keep at it and cant understand my concer. I wish i had the same confidence in myself that they do in me.

Like alot of my posts this one has no real point to it. I feel that if I took the time to rewrite it, it could be amazing. Instead I have banged this out because I am tired, been on the wards/teaching for eight hours and then done some more work in the evening. I want to sleep but I know that as soon as I go to bed in half an hour that coffee I had at four to keep me awake during teaching will kick in. So instead of going to sleep I shall reluctantly get up and read Bill Bryson

Goodnight

Surviveing an Exam

Exams are looming, one of these is a particularly nasty exam that involves a random discussion with a consultant/registrar about anything of there choice. From what I have gathered this is easier to fail then the MCQ type of exam medical students must also jump through.

Thus tips on how to survive

1) ABCDE, this will get you a mark and if your really stuck then go on an hours discussion explaining what each one means.Downside is a good chance of pissing said examiner off
2) Dont say the first thing that comes into your head, knowing that snake venom can cause pancreatitis is nice, not so good is being asked to name said snake, where it comes from etc
3)"As per BNF guidelines," may work or at the least raise a smile if the examiner has a sense of humour. Easier when asked to say what antibiotics you would use, there are local, national guidelines and a conversation can be furthered by pointing this out
4) Have some structure, anyone can blurt out one or two complications of surgery. Whats more impressive and will get you more marks is to say how you would classify them before you give some examples.

This type of examination is dying out, from what i've gathered its the best way of preparing you for being being an FY1 when your consultant decides to grill you in between patients.

Bloated BBC

Absolutely love the BBC, but they do annoy me at times especially as we are all having to tighten our belts.

1) I Player, amazing, but why do they have to change the format on its website - it was fine how it was. If it aint broke, dont fix it

2)Watched Dr Who Confidential, saw that they went on a tour of the UK in a special bus to promote the new series. Why?

3) Can they stop changing the BBC logo they use for each channel in between programs

No excuse for all of the above. Completely uncalled for.