Before Your First Day on the Wards

In this episode, we discuss how to best prepare for your time on the inpatient wards, including how to prepare before the rotation, how to pre-round, how to present a patient, and how to be an effective team member. Before the Rotation  Reach out to your team.. Understand what first day expectations are.  Peruse the patient list. Identify what study materials and resources will help you excel. Come ready to learn and have fun!  How to Pre-round Collect information on previous day and overnight events - includes talking with resident or night team, reading all notes from day prior Review all vitals from past day Review and calculate “Ins and Outs” Review all labs Check to see what medications, including PRN meds, your patient got Introduce yourself to patient and family - get their input on how patient is doing  Collect your thoughts, interpret your data, and formulate your assessment and plan for your presentation and note How to Present a Patient on the inpatient wards service Begin with one liner Subjective: interval and overnight events Any patient or caregiver concern or question noted when you prerounded Ins and Outs Vital signs Head-to-toe physical exam Labs, microbiology, and radiology Assessment one-liner Plan How to be an effective team member Touch base with a resident to run through your assessment and plan.  Show initiative Be honest and direct On rounds, listen to all patient presentations, not just your own Follow up on tasks for your patients (and other patients on the team) and make sure they are carried through Revisit your patients to keep them updated Write notes and ask for feedback on your notes

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