Loved the integrity. As a surgical resident, nothing is more important than trust in a team. The attending trusts me with consults. I trust the interns with floor pts. etc etc. Without trust, the system falls apart. "I don't know" is the the hardest answer to give but the one that's never wrong (although maybe add in "...but I'll do that next step.")
Great advice. The only thing I would add - and please let me know what you think Dr. Pearson - after years of painful mistakes is to "not bury the lede." Attendings, especially at night, don't want to a mystery novel. If you think it's appendicitis, start with "I think it's appendicitis." If the pt is unstable, say that "this is an unstable pt with diverticulitis." If the pt needs to go to the OR, let the attending know asap!
Love that, yes, I think putting the decision at the beginning is very smart. “We have a consult for abdominal pain in a 37y old and I think we need to go to the OR…(wait for effect)…proceed with HPI” Thanks for engaging!
I'm about to graduate med school and I'm pretty comfortable doing this... in my native languange lol but my very last rotation is gonna be a clerkship in the US and I am terrified of presenting patients in english omg
That’s a great question, say what the study found that supports your story. For example, you get a ct scan for appendicitis and the appendix is non dilated with no surrounding inflammation. Say that. You get a chest X-ray to rule out pneumonia and the image demonstrates clear lung fields with no evidence of consolidation. Say that. Let me know if that’s clear :)
