First things first plan to be in the operating room before the patient arrives. Introduce yourself to the circulating nurse who should have a desk/workspace in a corner of the operating room. Most operating rooms have a white board where they put all pertinent information for the “time out” prior to the case, where you … More OR Etiquette: Customs & Courtesies
I grew up under the notion that all bacteria is bad bacteria. Working in healthcare I am constantly washing my hands and sanitizing my phone, stethoscope and pens to kill off any lurking bacteria. When patients are sick we prescribe antibiotics to fend off bacterial infections. Everywhere we look are antibacterial wipes and sprays. All this focus on … More Probiotics & Skincare
Being in the military, moving is a frequent occurrence and I’ve often found myself in a new city not knowing anyone and not knowing where to go. I decided to create these AFB Travel Guides as a quick reference to find the places that were recommended to me, the stops I wish I had known about, and the insider tips that no one tells you! … More WPAFB Top 5: Food Stops
Last week I completed my third and final COMLEX exam, cue the celebrations! Now that I have gotten into the swing of intern year and I have board studying off of my to-do list I am back to writing for the blog. Since my level 3 experience is fresh in my mind and there have been many changes to the exam in the last year I decided to write about the good, the bad, and the ugly when it came to Level 3! Read on to find out about the test format, which study resources I thought were most beneficial, and my tips to doing well. … More COMLEX Level 3 Overview
Today, we will start with the basics: setting up an ADT rotation. All members of HPSP are required to do at least 1 ADT rotation during their 4th year. This rotation is designed to give you exposure to the specialty on a military base, exposure to the base and the surrounding areas and to give program directors … More Setting up an ADT Rotation
Now that we have rung in the new year, the countdown to graduation is on! In less than 6 months I will officially be able to add the title of “doctor” before my name. With my growing excitement also comes a pang of anxiety. With more freedom means more responsibility. This month I have been … More The (Real) Doctor Will See You Now
What is COMLEX 2 Performance Evaluation (PE)? It is a 1 day exam in which each student encounters 12 standardized patients. For each patient you encounter, you have 14 minutes to complete a history and physical and 9 minutes to type a SOAP note. The day is divided into 3 sets of 4 cases, with … More How to Crush the COMLEX Level 2-PE
I woke up feeling exhausted. My first of my 4 alarms went off at 4:15 AM. I lay in bed just dreading the day ahead of me, before finally leaving the safe confines of my bed to get ready. By 4:50 AM I was in my car heading to the nursing home where I am … More Mourning the Loss of a Patient
What is the USMLE? COMLEX? All United States medical students are required to pass a three-step examination for medical licensure. Allopathic (MD) students are required to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) whereas Osteopathic (DO) students are required to take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX). The purpose of these exams is … More Should I take USMLE Step 1?
Most people consider “doctor” and “M.D.” to be synonymous, but many people don’t know that there are actually two pathways to becoming a physician in the United States; allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO). DOs are fully qualified physicians who are able to prescribe medications, practice medicine, and performs surgery just like their MD counterparts. The … More What is a D.O.?
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