If I could turn back time

Medicine is one of those few professions where we have the benefit of constantly being imparted wisdom from people further along the path. 

When I became an intern, there was a whole lot of stuff that I wish I'd known (and done) during med school, so here are a few bits of advice for the med students…

Study

When you begin medicine, everyone is a bit overwhelmed by the vast amount of knowledge that needs to be attained.  But you think that somehow after five or six years of study you’ll pop out an all-knowing doctor.  You won’t. 

Learning medicine is a continuous process – med school teaches you just enough to be a (mostly) functional intern.  So be smart when you study – use guidebooks and past exams to make sure you know what you need for exams, practice, practice, practice objective structured clinical examinations, make sure you learn the basics really well, and don’t get too caught up in the detail.  There’s the rest of your life for that.

See patients and what gets done to them

When I was at uni, everyone was always telling you to see patients.  But it was only when I started working that I realised why this was so important. 

Despite what people say, interns aren’t just paper monkeys.  You’ll frequently have to be a real doctor – especially on cover shifts and in ED. 

You’re often the first and only one to properly look at a patient.  When you assess an abdominal pain or shortness of breath, you need to be able to trust that your clinical skills are accurate – that you are feeling guarding or hearing creps.  You can call a registrar for help, but they’re not always going to come and see the patient, and they will be relying on what you tell them.  Additionally, it’s your name at the bottom of the notes.  So see patients!

Also, go and watch patients’ tests and procedures – you won’t get a chance to do this again, and sometimes I wish I knew what I was sending people off to have done!

Look after relationships

As a busy med student, it can be easy to neglect relationships with family, friends and partners at bit.  But starting work is really stressful – everyone finds it hard.  It can put strain on your close relationships at a time when you really need support.  You need to nurture your important relationships so that they can be there for you when you need them.

Look after yourself

Doctors are incredibly bad at looking after their own physical and mental health.  When you’re busy and stressed it’s easy to eat poorly, not exercise, not sleep, and party too much.  Learn how to look after yourself when you’re a student, as it’s the habits you form then that will help you later on.
Don’t stop doing the other stuff

Under no circumstances should you put down your guitar, paint brushes or cricket bat for the sake of study.  Too many medical students drop the other things in their lives because it’s hard to find time.  But make time.  It’s the things outside of medicine that enrich your life and keep you somewhat normal!

Dr Sarah Mansfield
Secretary/Hospital Liaison Officer
AMA(Vic) DiT Subdivision