OB/GYN
6 weeks
The first 4 weeks of my OB/GYN service consisted of surgeries, clinic, and deliveries. My last 2 weeks I was stationed on the Labor & Delivery floor. I did not work weekends. I took one 36 hour call-shift per week.
SCHEDULE:
6:30am - arrive at hospital. Look at surgery list. Look at labor list.
7:00am - scrub into and assist in surgeries (usually Monday - Wednesday).
- See morning clinic patients on Thursday & Friday.
12:00 - 12:30pm - done with surgery. Each lunch before 1pm clinic patient.
1:00pm - 5:30pm - clinic
ONCE A WEEK - usually Thursday or Friday - stay in house (in the hospital) for a call-shift through the night in the call room with the physicians then work the next day. It ended up being 36 hours total in the hospital. Get there at 6:30am Thursday, leave Friday at 5:30pm.
SETTING: in the hospital (OR and L&D floor) & attached clinic
- when patients were in labor, I would run up to L&D, take a H&P, write my notes, then head back to whatever I was doing. Once it was time, I would assist in the delivery. By the 2nd week, I was solo delivering babies (with my attending standing next to me) at the approval of parents.
- The last 2 weeks, I was on L&D so I would stay on that floor - no surgery. no clinic. I would assist nurses in caring for their patents during the entire labor process. I would then deliver or assist in C-Sections.
- When we had scheduled C-Sections, I would assist in every single one. Where there was an unexpected "crash" section, I would jump in if in the hospital or on-call. SIDE NOTE: C-Section is my favorite surgery of all of 3rd year!
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: 12+ hour days, 5am wake up calls, multiple surgeries every morning, labors sporadically in the middle of it all... The learning curve was steep, especially since it's my first clinical rotation, but my preceptors were a great balance of teaching vs. just go do it! I felt a sense of panic multiple times but also saw my own patients, sutured during surgery, created assessments and plans, and successfully completed 6 different 36-hour call shifts on top of it all. The staff I've worked with (surgical techs, nurses, schedulers, etc) have all been so kind and helpful!
My advice to myself and others is always admit when you don't know, ask someone to show you or explain. Always ask the patient if it's okay if you do something. That should be your first move when introducing yourself. Take a deep breath and don't make it awkward. ACT PROFESSIONAL. All in all, it was exhausting but I am learned SO MUCH! This rotation is a combination of both surgical and clinic, plus call shifts! I created an excellent foundation during these 6 weeks.TIPS FOR THE SHELF EXAM: similar to Comquest, APGO website is a great resource
- Screening & prevention - timeline, who gets it, who doesn't, how often
- STIs and how to treat them
- Labor - timeline, medications, when to intervene vs. the natural process
- Breast pathology
- Pelvic innervations & autonomic levels (DO students)
- Vulvar vs vaginal disease
- Menstrual cycle