zrf80
Forum Elite
Topics: 40
Posts: 236
|
Just trying to vent.......your opinions are most welcome. I started an observership last week at a university affiliated hospital (dont ask which one). It's pretty official; I got a batch, and all my hours are noted in a log book. I only go 3 days a week for 4 hours/day.
However, it is nothing that I expected. I basically walk around in circles; sometimes if Im lucky, I find a doc that will actually talk to me. A couple nurse practitioners are nice, and try to get me "involved". The problem is that the observership is in the ER, and as you guys are well aware.......ER is pretty fast paced. Everyone has a certain reponsibility, and it seems like Im just in thwe way.
Anyways, Im trying to make some headway within the program. It seems that they havent been able to get much interest from medical students, so they've resorted to high school students to volunteer. Which has kind of taken away from the director's original intentions, which was to "educate" IMGs like us.
Anyways, I ve already got a letter from them that states I am enrolled, PLUS I put it in my ERAS application.
Any advice, fellow brothers/sisters ? 
|
| linaorvos
Forum Elite
Topics: 47
Posts: 258
|
it's good that you are experiencing the American system, better than lots of us...GL
|
| priyagrove
Forum Elite
Topics: 34
Posts: 428
|
observerships as the name explains are quite boring, I remember my time last year. You are the most useless person there. Don't worry! Stay there, show your face and despite all this try to learn. YOu will benefit in some or the other way out. And if they have already given you LOrs dont run now, Show your face to them. And this shall pass tooo!
___________________
"Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes." Oscar Wilde
|
| prader-willi
Forum Elite
Topics: 28
Posts: 364
|
zrf80..
hang in there buddy...it must be fast paced im sure...but try to look out for any attending who atleast looks interseted in teaching....u can ask him if its ok for u to observe him as he goes about 2-3 cases...show interest...open ur mouth...ask questions to show ur interest...with time he/she will know that u r a dedicated guy...ask if ther is anything u can do to reduce his load...u know like gettin a form or talkin to a patient...it worked for me...by the end my lor writer was very impressed nd told me dat he s written a very strong letter....so try as hard as u can
gud luck
___________________
hang on in there......u will survive....
|
| SSCOOL
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 117
|
Hi priyagrove,
I won't agree totally with your opinion,
It depends on the place where we do it and dept,,we work in,
In my case I'm doing my observership in a university hospital under IM,where they ask me to come at 7 in morning daily and present cases,examine pts on my own,elctronic medical access,
As zrf80 said,In ER you can't expect teaching and presentation,may be he shud work in IM floors.
I'm sorry if I'm wrong.
All the best to all of us.{POSTMESSAGE}
|
| ssrpk
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 154
Posts: 2,797
|
i agree with sscool and pradder-willi,
i am currently doing observership in vascular surgery and its going pretty awesome....yeah it was boring the first day or two as i felt like being in the way of jujst about everyone but i knew that that wud pass and it did, hanging out with the residents is probablyu the best thing to do, because after a while they have let me do everything, taking rounds, h&p, consults, at times they even ask me to write down the orders. in or, they let me scrub in and teach me lots of kool stuffs, and even allow me to do the closure despite the fact that i am not allowed to, but the attendings felt very comfortable with me doing those things and sothey let me.....
just hang in there guys
good luck
___________________
life is guud
|
| decide
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 145
|
Hey guys, doesnt observership by rule says no patient interaction
|
| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 171
Posts: 2,227
|
and, also a LoR from observership cannot talk too much about your patient interaction. by the end of it, you may have learnt loads, but can ALL of it be represented in your LoR?
___________________
Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
|
| AAzad
Forum Guru
Topics: 55
Posts: 456
|
no body said it was easy,but it helps to get there
___________________
AAzad
|
| medmal
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 41
|
It was so relieving to see that someone has experienced the same feeling as I had during observerships......I did two observerships...at two hospitals...both were totally different....
One hospital was a very very busy one..or at least they make everyone feel that they are busy..and as an observer, I was the odd man out..no one was interested in me..no one even acknowledged the fact I am there....everyone was running around so busy...no one had time to talk to me...I didn't get any opportunity to ask questions....and to make the things worse, there were medical students rotating with me...and it was so humiliating to see that the doctors allow the medical students to elicit certain findings on the patient and wouldn't let you do..and above all that proclaim loudly that you are not allowed to touch the patient...and they always asked questions to the medical students only, never ever to me..!!!! There was no proper shcedule for my rotation..I was left to go with any resident who came in front of me...so often I had to go around looking for some resident and half of my time in a day will be wasted looking around for residents, as if there are no new patients being admitted, the residents will disappear somewhere after the rounds...and in meetings and discussion groups, you will be the only one without any company...medical students will group together, residnets will group together...and no one will include you in their group...I somehow wanted to escape from the place...and in spite of all these I was supposed to impress them...!!!!! I hadn't had the faintest idea fo how to do that...!!!
But my second observerhip at another hospital was a completely different one...it was also a busy hospital, but everyone was very cool..I had a fixed schedule....and the faculty even allowed me to examine the patients, do case discussions...senior residents allowed me to write notes on the patients file, gave me access to electronic records, asked me to prepare topics, present them...and the greatest point was that they considered me as a part of their team, even considered me as an intern..it was a great experience and I learned a lot...
So it all depends on which hospital you get into....when I came into this country everyone told me you have to talk continuously, whatever nonsense it could be, to impress someone in this country because if you are silent that means you are a dumbo in United States in contrary to the fact that in India the saying goes like ' the one who knows will remain quiet/silent".... or being modest and quiet is considered as good manners in India..
Oh.... so relieved as I vented out my feelings....
|
| zrf80
Forum Elite
Topics: 40
Posts: 236
|
Thanks for the thoughts guys. I am "assuming" things will get better as time passes. The problem with ER is that you have MANY different doctors coming in and out; so there really isnt any type of consistency. Ive been introduced to quite a few MDs already. Like I said, some are nice, and willing to chat. But its ER ! And when something DOES happen, it's like everyone gets up and runs around trying to complete their tasks. After everything is said and done, they just sit around and start chit-chatting.
I think my problem stems from what happened to the program. Like I said, the director started it with the intentions of having people like us shadowing docs and nurse practitioners. However, he didnt get too much interest.......and instead, he started getting high school volunteers, who were lazy and didnt really care for it (he told me this himself). In essence, the program changed from a "teaching and learning" experience into a "who gives a shit, just come and go" type experience.
Personally, I dont need a recommendation letter from them (kind of late anyways). I have a completion letter, which proves I was actually in the observership. I only go 3 times a week, and maybe one day I'll latch on to one of the residents. If not, I guess Im just buying my time until my rotation is over, and 'll have something ot talk about at interviews.
|
| PGI2alpha
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 447
|
are any of u guys who hv the GOOD observerships based in NY?? I am bored to death in my current observership place...already hv an lor frm thr...and i wanna switch...
|
| SSCOOL
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 117
|
I don remenber anything from NY,
It's my personal opinion,
All the best PGI 2 alpha.
|
| PGI2alpha
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 447
|
thanks sscool
|
| ssrpk
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 154
Posts: 2,797
|
yeah, i can understand how does it feel when you feel like you are left out of the group, i had that feeling too but i told myself right from the very beginning and i started talking sometimes like crazy and now everybody keeps telling me, that for god's sake man, don't ask too many questions....but its fun, its a giood program, and yeah i will agree with others that it all also depends upon the program somewhat.
anyway i am almost done now, three more days to go.
good luck everyone
___________________
life is guud
|
| AAzad
Forum Guru
Topics: 55
Posts: 456
|
well this feeling may bealso experienced at first half year of your internship
Good luck
___________________
AAzad
|
| yvonne
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
|
to SSRPK,
hi , I read in this post that you are doing a vascular surgery observership. I am really interested in the same. Only applying for next year's match. Please give me some advice. I am in NY. I have tried so much but so far no luck.
please help me.
|
| ssrpk
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 154
Posts: 2,797
|
hey yvonne,
i don't know how can i help you in this regard,
but you may try to apply to the same program where i did my rotation.
its in charleston, CAMC memorial in west virginia.
good luck
___________________
life is guud
|
| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 35
Posts: 2,218
|
Q1: how much does it cost to get an obvservership?
Q2: arent the hospitals or institutions who offer it supposed to provide mentors or teachers to help you out? if not, then whats the use of it? youll be more like a ghost!
___________________
2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ........ My Blog
|
| zrf80
Forum Elite
Topics: 40
Posts: 236
|
^^^^^^^
Q1: depends. Some programs may offer it for free, while others charge you a nominal fee. The ones that charge you usually make sure that someone is around to assist you, teach you, etc. If you do a free observership, sometimes just a volunteer job, you have to pave your own path.
Q2: yes, you may be a ghost, but it looks good on your ERAS application. It's a good gap filler, but if you want a LOR from the institution, then you have to make sure you are known.
Good luck......
|
| yvonne
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
|
To ssrpk,
thanks a lot for the info.Did you apply after being certified? Did you have any contacts or did you just apply without contacts? I have been trying but to no avail.
How long was your rotation for? How much before hand did you apply?
sorry to bother you with so many questions, it is just that I am desperate.
GL in matching this year.
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
