And just like that, 8 weeks of surgery are done and we are already half way through psychiatry! As we are nearing the tail end of our clinical rotations, I thought it would be good to put together a list of things we’ve learned that have helped us get through clinicals as a family and as individuals. So, here are 10 tips to survive and thrive during clinical rotations from a med spouse and med student.
From the Med Wife
- Rely on your tribe. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for my people! Several times I had friends randomly drop off dinner or invite me over to do something. I also took the initiative to reach out for support by getting together with others. This is all part of learning to be independent as a medical spouse. If possible, visit family or have family visit you for a time to break up the longer or harder rotations.
- Ask questions! Many of these rotations, while demanding, can come with some pretty exciting and crazy stories. This is often been something I look forward to hearing about each day. Some of my favorite stories have come during OBGYN, surgery, and psychiatry so far. You get to learn more about what your med student is doing each day in the OR or clinic. Personally, hearing about his experiences has helped me feel included and invested. It’s also a great way to connect and spend some quality time together.
- Know what to expect. Talk about the coming week and what would be helpful for both of you. For me, I just tell my husband to text me when he’s in his Jeep and on his way home. Otherwise, a text that’s just says, “we should be done soon”, makes me anxious. Plus, the majority of time “soon” is an hour or more later. So, despite the unknowns that clinical rotations can bring, try and take as much of the guess work as you can out of the equation.
- Be real with each other. When you can understand the other’s stresses, you can be merciful and offer grace when the other is having a hard time. When we feel understood, it helps maintain healthy relationships.
- Get your sleep. BOTH OF YOU. The first 5 weeks of surgery, E was waking up 5xs a night (give or take). Blade needed sleep because he was waking up at 3:30/4am and would be assisting in surgery. We came to an understanding that I would handle E each night, but if I needed to tap out I could wake him for help. I’d try to nap when the kids would nap during the day. Most weekends, we’d often trade off sleeping in which I truly appreciated! You both need sleep to stay somewhat sane during clinicals. So figure out the stressors you’re both facing (kids, work, OR, studying), make a plan, and take care of each other.
From the Med Student
Here are a few tips from Blade about making the most out of clinical rotations as a medical student.
- Treat each rotation like it is the specialty you want to go into. Show up, be energetic, be helpful, and willing to try new things. Attack the day with excitement. Ask questions. Follow up with assignments or topics you’ve been interested in. You’ll not only enjoy the rotation more, but you’ll create good relationships and stand out as a student. Your colleagues will think of you as someone who wants to be a good physician. Not just a good surgeon, dermatologist, or ENT.
- Remember you’re still a learner so it’s ok to make mistakes. It’s ok to try things and NOT be good at it. Don’t be so worried about not honoring because of feedback given to you. It’s common for students to get bent out of shape because they are worried about not looking good, writing the perfect note, or presenting the patient how the surgeon wants. But this is a time for you to learn, make mistakes, and decide how you want to conduct yourself as a physician in the future. You are still a student.
- Being a great surgeon doesn’t mean you have to be an ass. Humanity and kindness is crucial in making a good surgeon. In general, being a great doctor doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk.
- Clinical rotations are mental exercises. For instance, during a surgical procedure, you are constantly troubleshooting, making micro adjustments, and altering plans so the surgery is a success. It is also as much of an art as it is a skill-based practice. When you are assessing a patient, you are constantly getting new information and adjusting the plan. That’s why we round every morning. If the information changes, so does the plan. Stay on your toes. Be involved in the discussion. Don’t get so set on one idea to fix something, you’ll likely have to change it anyways for the betterment of the patient.
- Dedicate some of your energy in recognizing and helping the support staff on the team like nurses, secretaries, and other students. You’ll get extra exposure in various tasks and they in turn will watch your back to make sure you don’t do something stupid.
The third year of medical school can be rough with so many transitions to each rotation’s schedule. We hope you find these 10 tips to thrive during clinical rotations helpful!
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