stethoscope

Settling In – The First 6 Weeks

/ Katie Burrell

It’s hard to believe that it has only been 6 weeks since that oh-so-exciting first day. My flatmates were my main concern – what are the chances of 8 complete strangers getting along? This was followed closely by – wait, hold up a sec. I’ve been working my socks off to become a med student for years and now I’m here, is this what I want and will I be able to do it??

Thankfully those questions were swiftly answered. Fresher’s week melts away any fears about not making friends. Standard cliché line but – everyone is in the same boat, and Lancaster make sure that you have a great time. Flat reps: one thing that I didn’t know about beforehand – so listen up. When you arrive, each flat is assigned two reps (older students) that take you under their wing. They aren’t like controlling parents sticking their noses in, they’re a bit like cool older siblings who are the pool of all Lancaster wisdom and can answer everything; taxi numbers, which bus to get or luckily for one of my flatmates even how to replace a snapped door key at midnight.

For the anxious parents out there, the reps also make sure you get home okay during the first week. Sounds silly now – but trust me, when you’re having a fab time at the paint party (100% would recommend) and realise you’re covered in UV paint, it’s 2.30 am and you’re in a totally new city (maybe had a few too many), you’ll be glad to know there’s someone looking out for you.  My personal highlight of fresher’s was the silent disco – I challenge you to name something more fun/cheesy than dancing the night away to the likes of Mr Brightside and all the S Club classics.

Staying with the guidance theme, as a 1st year med student we are assigned a medic parent (second year) and a medic grandparent (fourth year).  We meet with them during fresher’s and they are there to help with absolutely anything. It’s a brilliant way to get to know the upper years and all the secrets, tips and tricks on how to survive and thrive.

Moving on to the course – it’s definitely lived up to expectations. I absolutely love it, especially clinical skills. We spend two hours a week at the hospital and have very interactive sessions. The first time I used my stethoscope to learn how to examine the abdomen, that’s when it felt very real. Luckily for me, my flatmates are more than willing for me to practice on them. Unluckily for them I’m not quite the doctor they think I am yet and unfortunately don’t know the cure for the dreaded fresher’s flu. (Naps. Naps solve everything. I didn’t tell you that though.)

I’m also a part of Teddy Bear Hospital, a society run by med students who go to local schools and lead sessions with children, aiming to reduce anxiety and fears about hospital. The kids bring their ‘sick’ teddies in and then we work through diagnosis and treatment. (Let me tell you, you soon rediscover how fun toy thermometers and bandages are.) It’s something both fun and meaningful and really gives you some perspective, especially if you’ve been in a little study bubble all week.

I could write pages on how fabulously crazy the past month has been; I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks bring.

 

9th November 2016

Mel Sarigul

/ Lauren Kennedy

First term complete, bags packed, presents wrapped and I am ready to return home after a busy semester.

I am now more comfortable with PBL. I still have the odd feelings of being left to drift alone in a vast, empty ocean worrying that I have missed something important but these pass fairly quickly. The learning objectives we come up with as a group on the whole match the intended learning objectives and the lectures continue to give us guidance on depth. Our group has really learnt how to work effectively together and we have a great dynamic. Aside from the educational perspective PBL has meant that students get to know each other and I have made great friends. I will be sorry to change my PBL group but also excited to work with a range of people.

I was quite late in ordering my stethoscope because I had to make the very important decision of what colour I wanted (turquoise or classic black? Smoke or brass tip?) and what to have engraved (should I include my full name or just my surname? Would ‘Life is short’ be inappropriate? Why isn’t ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ 24 characters long?!)  I was glad I waited though as often you are given a discount voucher at Fresher’s fair.  My stethoscope arrived as we were learning to do a cardiovascular examination and I got childish pleasure listening to a friend’s heartbeat. That’s one of the great things about Lancaster – medical students start their clinical training early on. Since you are practising on healthy individuals usually you can’t feel/hear much but the emphasis in first year is normality. The idea is that if you know what normal feels like you will immediately be able to identify when something is abnormal later on in your studies.

We have started Communication skills which teaches how to effectively take a history from a patient. It is nerve racking to have to get up and interview a stimulated patient with a camera and 5 sets of eyes focussed on you! Trying to uphold an image of calm and reassurance when in reality your mind is desperately searching for the next open ended question to ask all whilst nodding and maintaining eye contact. As embarrassing as it is to watch yourself back it gives you an opportunity to evaluate what you could improve on.

I feel that I am in a better position now than I was at the same time 4 years ago when I was doing my first degree. I have been practising clinical skills on anyone I could get my hands on, annoying friends with open ended questions and PBL means that I have made most of my notes already and remember the main concepts. Now comes the hard bit of learning the nitty gritty stuff in time for exams in January.