Monash General Chat

[pi]

Oh okay. I can see that you've got a long road ahead of you (by looking at that medicine course map you posted some time ago), at least you know what you enjoy, and what you find boring. Could you tell me a bit more about surgery, the ICU and ED (ER?).

I've always been interested in working in an emergency department, it seems so exciting and exhilarating, but super stressful at the same time. But from what I understand, ED doctors don't really get to know their patients, and they are just a room number to them, unlike something like an ICU.

(N.B. Keep in mind I've had quite limited exposure to some of these areas, especially ICU)

With regards to surgery, I just don't see the appeal of it. Hours seem miserably long (not that they aren't long elsewhere!) and the surgeries themselves seem repetitive and long (my poor feet get sore standing relatively still for hours on end LOL) and as a result don't interest me. I think many people get over the "omg this is so cool" factor once they actually see some surgery. Furthermore, and on a controversial note, from my experience surgery seems to be bit of a "boyz club", which (even though I'm a guy) is a little unappealing. I remember this one orthopaedics list the surgeons spent the whole time talking about their expensive cars, their surfing adventures, and making crass jokes (which were admittedly funny hahah). That sort of environment is not my cup of tea.

With regards to the ED, I've only had a few weeks in third year and a paediatric ED week in fourth year (so hardly any exposure), but I don't think I'd be a fan of two things in the ED. Firstly, shift work, not a fan. Secondly, no long-term patient relationships, that's a big disadvantage for me. The work itself is pretty awesome though, I don't mind acute medicine, lots of variety and you have to be able to think quickly on your feet (not to say you don't need that skill elsewhere in medicine though!). Again controversial, but with so much pressure on ED physicians to control "waiting times" (hospitals can get fines etc.), ED can sometimes be more about triage and less about the diagnostic challenge. ie. they just have to call the right team, start to order some relevant tests and control acute symptoms, rather than make a diagnosis and initiate the bulk of the management. That also doesn't appeal to me.

[DeezNuts]

Interesting

Pi why you no Lyk paediatrics ?

[pi]

I very much enjoyed the contents of paediatric medicine (the theory) however the reality of what are the "bread and butter" of paediatric is honestly a little depressing. Surprisingly, a somewhat inevitable proportion of cases will include child psychiatry and intellectual disability (including the plethora of genetic causes). Usually I don't have a lot of trouble emotionally with medicine, but it's really sad to see kids with such a "low" quality of life and I don't think I'm the best person to manage them or talk to their parents.

Having said that, other aspects of paediatric medicine are awesome, but that one inevitable part drew me away.

[Orson]

(N.B. Keep in mind I've had quite limited exposure to some of these areas, especially ICU)

With regards to surgery, I just don't see the appeal of it. Hours seem miserably long (not that they aren't long elsewhere!) and the surgeries themselves seem repetitive and long (my poor feet get sore standing relatively still for hours on end LOL) and as a result don't interest me. I think many people get over the "omg this is so cool" factor once they actually see some surgery. Furthermore, and on a controversial note, from my experience surgery seems to be bit of a "boyz club", which (even though I'm a guy) is a little unappealing. I remember this one orthopaedics list the surgeons spent the whole time talking about their expensive cars, their surfing adventures, and making crass jokes (which were admittedly funny hahah). That sort of environment is not my cup of tea.

With regards to the ED, I've only had a few weeks in third year and a paediatric ED week in fourth year (so hardly any exposure), but I don't think I'd be a fan of two things in the ED. Firstly, shift work, not a fan. Secondly, no long-term patient relationships, that's a big disadvantage for me. The work itself is pretty awesome though, I don't mind acute medicine, lots of variety and you have to be able to think quickly on your feet (not to say you don't need that skill elsewhere in medicine though!). Again controversial, but with so much pressure on ED physicians to control "waiting times" (hospitals can get fines etc.), ED can sometimes be more about triage and less about the diagnostic challenge. ie. they just have to call the right team, start to order some relevant tests and control acute symptoms, rather than make a diagnosis and initiate the bulk of the management. That also doesn't appeal to me.

Surgery seems to be exactly what JD from Scrubs said it was; a boys club, and how they are all "slice em' and dice em' ". I understand the boys club being in Engineering, and its not something I really like. Anyway, the way you've explained both my interests has kinda got me thinking, maybe surgery isn't my thing.

How long were your placements? What hospitals (if you don't mind me asking)?

[pi]

How long were your placements? What hospitals (if you don't mind me asking)?

Medical and surgical rotations roughly 18 weeks each; paeds, psych, GP and obs/gyn 9 weeks each (so far)

I've had placement at: Monash Medical Centre, Kingston Centre, Casey Hospital, Box Hill Hospital, Maroondah Hospital, The Angliss Hospital, and now Epworth Richmond Also had a few clinics in The Alfred Hospital too.

[Orson]

Medical and surgical rotations roughly 18 weeks each; paeds, psych, GP and obs/gyn 9 weeks each (so far)

I've had placement at: Monash Medical Centre, Kingston Centre, Casey Hospital, Box Hill Hospital, Maroondah Hospital, The Angliss Hospital, and now Epworth Richmond Also had a few clinics in The Alfred Hospital too.

Whoa dude. You've been around...

[Floatzel98]

Has anyone done the PASS program for any of their units before? Just wanted to know what people thought about it. I can't actually go to them anyway because two of the sessions are clashes and the allocation I wanted filled up immediately.

[odeaa]

I've had placement at: Monash Medical Centre, Kingston Centre, Casey Hospital, Box Hill Hospital, Maroondah Hospital, The Angliss Hospital, and now Epworth Richmond Also had a few clinics in The Alfred Hospital too.

Did you happen to do your paediatric placement (or part of it) at maroondah? My old man works there and takes monash students every now and again, may have bumped into him around the place. I would pm you but I know of your apathy towards them lol

[pi]

Did you happen to do your paediatric placement (or part of it) at maroondah? My old man works there and takes monash students every now and again, may have bumped into him around the place. I would pm you but I know of your apathy towards them lol

Haha unfortunately my paeds rotation was within Monash Health! I have heard good things about paeds at Eastern though!

[anna.xo]

In people's opinions, is it better to be late for a tute or not turn up at all ?

[Orson]

In people's opinions, is it better to be late for a tute or not turn up at all ?

Late, because I'm sure the tutor will let it slide, and mark you present. (I'm not sure about your tutes, but my ones are compulsory for 10% of the mark).

[ShortBlackChick]

^This. Some might be a little touchy about it but they really have no choice. It might bring down your participation marks but defs not attendance.

[scarletmoon]

Early days for me haha! My Hons project this year is in neurology and radiology and I'm enjoying dipping my toe into each of those. Overall, I really enjoy patient contact so some sort of adult physician specialty seems likely, of which I enjoy neurology and also a few others such as rheumatology and oncology. I also haven't had good exposure to many of the others so it's likely things will change if you ask me again 5 years from now

In addition to physician training, also considering pursuing General Practice, I enjoyed the variety and long-term patient relationships that are formed when I did a rotation in it late last year. On the other hand, pretty much ruled out surgery (sooooo boring), psychiatry (I don't think I'm the right person for this, and I think it's a field that is heavily under-resourced atm), paediatrics (I can go into more detail by request), and obstetrics/gynaecology (gynaecology was the bane of my year last year...) Haven't made a call on ED or ICU, I'll get a better idea of how they work in coming years.

What do you mean psychiatry is underesourced?

[pi]

What do you mean psychiatry is underesourced?

(that reads as a bit of an attack, but I'll assume otherwise)

Just my personal opinion based on my own observations, but I wasn't super convinced that 1) people knew exactly what was going on with patients, and 2) that treatments were particularly well-targeted. Acute-care psych seemed to me to have a lot of "it could be this, let's throw the kitchen sink at it and see what sticks and what doesn't over time", which I really didn't like. Furthermore, even in my short stint in psych, there were many patients who were admitted more than once, which suggests to me that there isn't an amazing link between in-patient and out-patient services.

Just my $1.45 on it though, I'm sure other students had differing experiences.

[chasej]

(that reads as a bit of an attack, but I'll assume otherwise)

Just my personal opinion based on my own observations, but I wasn't super convinced that 1) people knew exactly what was going on with patients, and 2) that treatments were particularly well-targeted. Acute-care psych seemed to me to have a lot of "it could be this, let's throw the kitchen sink at it and see what sticks and what doesn't over time", which I really didn't like. Furthermore, even in my short stint in psych, there were many patients who were admitted more than once, which suggests to me that there isn't an amazing link between in-patient and out-patient services.

Just my $1.45 on it though, I'm sure other students had differing experiences.

wouldn't that be because psych isn't really based off physical symptoms which can be tested but rather assumptions based on behaviour and feelings of patients, which is more subjective hence assumptions are needed?

and a lot of people with mental health issues seem to be less willing to treat the issues as opposed to someone with a physical issue.