Intro to CP1

 I’m Helena, a third year medical student reaching the end of my first month of our first placement, CP1. Having spent two years in lectures, half a year doing dissertation and countless hours working for exams it definitely felt like the time to finally get onto the wards. Now surrounded by the people putting this …

The pros of living out

Hi everyone, it’s TJ again. As you might know, most medical schools like to ensure you go to a range of different hospitals for your clinical placements. The first time you are sent away, it can be a bit daunting to be in a new place, far from all your friends but today I’m going …

More tips for the wards!

Hi everyone, Jon again with some more high quality wisdom for clinical placements! 3. Learn the surgical sieve This. Consultants have a habit of asking medical students what the causes of things are. My go-to move when that happens is to physically and mentally freeze up, look around me in a panic as if the …

Tips for the wards

Hi there, my name’s Jon and I’m a fourth-year medic doing Specials at Mansfield at the moment. Equipped with six months and two weeks worth of hindsight, I’m hoping to provide some honest and practical tips to help you make the most of your clinical placements / work experience attachments. Even if you aren’t starting …

What qualities make a good doctor?

This was a question I was asked during my med school interview at Nottingham. At the time, I reeled off the key qualities I felt were important, such as leadership, team working, communication and time-keeping skills as well as empathy. At the time though, I didn’t fully grasp how these qualities made a good doctor. …

Exams exams exams…

Hi, it’s Hannah again! So no-one likes exams and I’m sure it’s at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds at the moment with GCSE, AS and A level exams coming up soon. I am also unfortunately revising at the moment for end of fourth year exams which are my last set now before …

Transitioning from pre-clinical to clinical phase

Hi! I’m Abby. I’m a third year medical student, which means I only started my clinical phase only a month ago- and I simply can’t believe it because time has flown by so so quickly! Clinical phase is really an exciting time because you finally feel like you’re studying to be a doctor. You wake …

A day on the wards

Hello! I’m Hannah and currently on the same rotation as Rob who posted last week (Obs and Gynae) and I thought I’d share with you my typical day. If there is ever such a thing in medicine… 8am: Ward round with my consultant. In obs and gynae this consists of seeing any new admissions that my …