#med motivation
May 17th 2021
Night studies
May 15th 2021
May makes me in a pink mood
May 12th 2021
Neuroanatomy and coffee ☕️
May 4th 2021
My favorite corner of my room
May 17th 2022
First night in E.R. ✅
May 5th 2022
Exams are coming
Hello everyone,
Here I am again with a new post on my study methods. During this last study session, I had to face semeiotics. It was one of my favourite subjects so far, but I had to change a few things in my study method since the exam involved a written part followed by a practical examination.
I know that the structure of the course of semeiotics is different among universities, so I’ll briefly explain what it consists of in my med school.
There were 14 lectures, each of them dealing with a specific topic, explained by a different professor (for i.g., there was a lesson for the semeiotics of the heart, one for neurological semeiotics, etc.)
Also, there was a period of internship in the hospital. There we could learn how to do a physical examination on the patient.
Last, there was a lesson in a simulation lab in which the professor could control a dummy to allow us to exercise in recognising heart and pulmonary sounds.
Theexam consisted of a written test on all the topics. Students who had passed the test could access the second part of the exam. It was a practical questioning in the simulation lab, during which the professor could ask further questions.
I decided to organise so that I had studied everything before the internship. Indeed, I wanted to make the most of my first experience in the hospital and knowing the basis was a fundamental prerequisite.
The material to learn was not that much, so I spread it a lot during the days. I had other subjects to study, which were much more demanding, so I decided to do semiotics in the evening. I managed to read all the material a couple of times, and I recalled everything before my access at the hospital.
I was at internal medicine, which is fabulous as a first experience. Indeed, it allowed me to do many physical examinations. All patients were distinct, and I had to check different organs and functions. Residents in my hospital ward were willing to answer all my questions and explain manoeuvres.
At the end of the day, I wrote in a copybook what I had learnt. It became a journal of my internship, and it was helpful afterwards. Explanations of residents sometimes were better than the professor. Furthermore, remembering what I did on a patient made remembering semeiotics easier.
During the week of the internship, I compared myself with a friend who was in nephrology. We recalled all the topics, sharing what we had learnt in the hospital.
After that, I recalled all the material again, with more awareness. This time I also focused on the practical aspects. I used many different links to auscultate hearts and pulmonary. There is a suitable app from Littmann, but videos on YouTube are good too.
Behind all these months of studying, I did not do anything the day before the exam. This exam was particularly a satisfaction since many of my classmates undervalued it. I am proud of how I faced a test different from all the others I did so far!
What do you think? How did you cope with your first internship? Let me know your thoughts and good luck to all of you with your studies.
Hello everyone,
Here I am after another exam session. As usual, I would like to share with you my study method to help someone who is struggling with the same exams. Also, I would appreciate it if you gave me your feedback and advice to improve my approach.
So, let’s start.
Microbiology is a unique subject, and many students have difficulties with it. It might seem all about mnemonics, but it is fundamental to understand the mechanisms at the base of infection, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapies of viruses, bacteria and parasitics.
First of all, I thinkattending lessonsis vital. Books are full of notions that might be confusing and having an idea of what to focus on can help, at least at the beginning. I went to classes, took notes, and tried to understand the basics of microbiology.
After classes, I made mind maps trying to organize notions: a branch for microorganism’s structure, one for the cycle of replication, one for symptoms and pathogenesis, one for diagnosis and one for prophylaxis and therapies. I used X Mind for my digital maps, and I find this app extremely efficient (and also, it is free).
Behind having assimilated these basic notions, I read the book and inserted more details on my map. Integrating with the book was fundamental to understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis and infection. Also, adding information can make it easier to remember the essential ones.
When classes were over, I started reading all the material again and used my mnemonics techniques. I think it is useless to memorize notions at the beginning of the study because, sometimes, understanding the concept makes it easier to learn it. For example, knowing the mechanisms of action of an antibiotic will help to remember which bacteria can defeat. Anyways, some notions (such as the name of some antibiotics or antiviral) need to be learnt by heart. For this purpose, mnemonic techniques (acronyms, short stories, etc.) are a great help.
Next, I started recalling all the topics many times. Trying to explain the matters out loud helped me comprehend whether I had learnt them or not.
Last, I recalled all the subjects with my usual studybuddy. This part is essential because she always knows something that I do not and vice versa.
Also, we do all the previous exams together. It may be unfair, but the best way to get a high score on the test is to understand what the professor focuses on.
I have to confess that I studied the day before the exam. By the way, it was a complex situation. Generally speaking, I advise resting before an exam to be relaxed and stress-free during the test.
And, that’s it! Let me know whether you agree with my study method or you would change something. Also, good luck with your studies
January 17th 2022
“Nothing will bring you peace, you must bring yourself to it”
January 15th 2022
Microbiology and coffee ☕️
January 11th 2022
I finally started my internship ⚕️ I’m assigned to internal medicine and I think that’s a great hospital ward to start, even though I don’t think it’s what I want to do in the future. My supervisor is cute and I’m learning a lot during these days
December 3rd 2021
I love my outfit of the day it made me feel way more confident
November 28th 2021
Unexpectedly, I find microbiology interesting somehow
