.....back soon.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Metalicus
So right now I'm addicted to http://www.metalicus.com/ clothing. They are basic, well tailored, and fit perfectly. They go with everything and I've owned many over the years. They last really well and you always get your money's worth. If I had to sum up my style with one line of clothing, Metalicus would be it.
As I said in my last post, I just splurged on some new tops. Well, I've just done it again with a new dress and another top and leggings and an under skirt. I'm pretty tight with cash atm due to med school fees, but I would have to say the number one reason I'm studying at OUM and not a "traditional" medical school in Australia is due to money and lifestyle. I want to maintain my lifestyle as much as possible. I work so friggin hard and sometimes I think it's necessary to stretch the budget for yourself. Don't tell OUM but I would seriously consider deferring for up to six months if push came to shove. I want to keep my house (mortgage), to buy the nice organic foods, and to dress not like a student, but as a sophisticated woman. I'm 32. I was a student forever (it felt like) before ambulance. I absolutely love medicine, and really really want to be a doctor. But the present is so important to me. It always has been, even before I was an ambo.
Apart from all that, I just connected my Wii to the internet. I don't need an lovely Mac afterall. I havent' sussed out how you save files etc, but most of my online time is not spent with saved files, it's with reading data. A lovely big plasma screen will make things so much more enjoyable. I also just traded in 8 Wii games for Zumba for Wii. Good trade, I say. The games I traded were rubbish, like Grey's Anatomy The Game - rubbish.
I'm now watching perhaps one of my favourite episode of ER - "A Long, Strange Trip" from the final season. It has a character in it which was instrumental in developing trauma centres and modern Emergency Departments. I like it. He is also aged and has dementia, and diagnoses cryptic TB. Nice. It was World TB Day yesterday. I'm pretty obsessed with TB.
So.... how's my Masters going? It;s not. Geebus!!! what am I going to do? I don;t know yet, but whatever it is it wont happen until Monday now.....
As I said in my last post, I just splurged on some new tops. Well, I've just done it again with a new dress and another top and leggings and an under skirt. I'm pretty tight with cash atm due to med school fees, but I would have to say the number one reason I'm studying at OUM and not a "traditional" medical school in Australia is due to money and lifestyle. I want to maintain my lifestyle as much as possible. I work so friggin hard and sometimes I think it's necessary to stretch the budget for yourself. Don't tell OUM but I would seriously consider deferring for up to six months if push came to shove. I want to keep my house (mortgage), to buy the nice organic foods, and to dress not like a student, but as a sophisticated woman. I'm 32. I was a student forever (it felt like) before ambulance. I absolutely love medicine, and really really want to be a doctor. But the present is so important to me. It always has been, even before I was an ambo.
Apart from all that, I just connected my Wii to the internet. I don't need an lovely Mac afterall. I havent' sussed out how you save files etc, but most of my online time is not spent with saved files, it's with reading data. A lovely big plasma screen will make things so much more enjoyable. I also just traded in 8 Wii games for Zumba for Wii. Good trade, I say. The games I traded were rubbish, like Grey's Anatomy The Game - rubbish.
I'm now watching perhaps one of my favourite episode of ER - "A Long, Strange Trip" from the final season. It has a character in it which was instrumental in developing trauma centres and modern Emergency Departments. I like it. He is also aged and has dementia, and diagnoses cryptic TB. Nice. It was World TB Day yesterday. I'm pretty obsessed with TB.
So.... how's my Masters going? It;s not. Geebus!!! what am I going to do? I don;t know yet, but whatever it is it wont happen until Monday now.....
Nerd
So what kind of nerd do you have to be to get more excited about the second-hand pharmacology text arriving in the mail than the $300 gorgeous Metalicus tops the day before? Answer: this kind of nerd.
I flicked through Lippincotts Pharmacology and I'm already excited because I like the way the meds are grouped in a way that makes sense to my brain for gestalting purposes. Yay!
My weaknesses are pharm, biochem, and anatomy. This text will/should gain me a lot of ground...
Just got Zumba Wii which is also very exciting seeing as the weather is already turning horrible and my desire to exercise outdoors is decreasing rapidly. It's making me think I might be besy aiming for the half marathon in Oct and training over Summer for the full at about this time next year....
Thursday, March 24, 2011
My dog
My dog is so spoilt. We've been hanging out a lot this week since I've been on leave and trying hard to not to spend too much money at the shops.
I'm smart
I sat the Mensa test a few weeks ago and got my confirmation letter today stating that I'd passed.
So what does this mean? Well to get into Mensa you need to prove you have an IQ in the top 2% of the population. But IQ tests are flawed, and you would be misguided to think they were a measure of one's true intelligence as they have been proven to be linked to socio-economic status - that is, if you were fortunate enough to grow up in a situation where you had the opportunity to learn, you're more likely to have a higher IQ.
So why did I join? In modern Western society I feel there is too much importance placed on looks and sporting ability. I felt I needed to counter-act the balance in some way and maybe meet some nice people at the social events they have. I also wanted to prove something to myself. Studying at OUM is great, but there's always that lingering, annoying doubt about why wasn't I "good enough" to get into an Australian medical school. Well, I'm not sure if I've talked about this here, but in actual fact I am "good enough" by the basis of my GPA and GAMSAT scores, I just didn't make the cut for the 3 grad-entry programs in my state in the 2 years I applied...
So, yes, getting into med school is more competitive than getting into Mensa. Whereas Mensa purely has a fairly static aptitude requirement, med entry is influenced by the number of applicants versus places in a given year. The places are also influenced by government funding and the number of doctors required (but the later not as much as you'd think, as far as I'm concerned). I'm not sure about numbers in other countries which are considered similar to Australia (US, UK, NZ, Canada), but I would hazard a guess that the number of places vs applicants vs general population would vary. And let's not forget the thousands of doctors that come from overseas training where opportunity may be more influential than intelligence.
Funnily enough, though, I sat the ambulance service entry aptitude test three times before I went to uni to get my paramedic degree. Entry used to be via the ambulance service and in-house training was conducted. I calculated, while sitting on my break in between GAMSAT sections a few years ago, that it was more competitive to get into the ambulance service than into medicine, based purely on numbers alone. And guess what? I failed to meet the cutoff on one of those three attempts. I wasn't smart enough, that year, to be a paramedic. Now I am a paramedic, I see why intelligence is important in this job, but there are so many people that I doubt would have ever made the old cutoff that are now quite competent paramedics. Experience, the right attitude, and willingness to continue learning are what I personally consider to be more important, even in life-or-death situations, than pure intelligence or past performance in school or anything else that is measured on medical entry applicants.
The question then is raised - what does the population expect of it's doctors? Do they expect them to be in the top 0.5% of the population, or will the top 2% do? We can't have all our geniuses in medicine, they need to be solving bigger questions to do with population health, medical science, and the environment to name a few. What do I expect of my doctor? Well, I expect my GP to listen, be genuinely concerned, to be a competent practitioner, and to be up-to-date with the latest research, and then finally I would like them to be experienced. Intelligence is perhaps even after all of these things. However, I conceded that these expectations maybe higher of my specialist, but to become a specialist you go through years of post-graduate medical training (as do GPs) and I would expect them to be quite bright in the world they work in.
There are so many aspects to this.
My point really is - if you fail to get into med school, it by no means means that you wouldn't make a good doctor. And if you really want to do it, don't give up.
So what does this mean? Well to get into Mensa you need to prove you have an IQ in the top 2% of the population. But IQ tests are flawed, and you would be misguided to think they were a measure of one's true intelligence as they have been proven to be linked to socio-economic status - that is, if you were fortunate enough to grow up in a situation where you had the opportunity to learn, you're more likely to have a higher IQ.
So why did I join? In modern Western society I feel there is too much importance placed on looks and sporting ability. I felt I needed to counter-act the balance in some way and maybe meet some nice people at the social events they have. I also wanted to prove something to myself. Studying at OUM is great, but there's always that lingering, annoying doubt about why wasn't I "good enough" to get into an Australian medical school. Well, I'm not sure if I've talked about this here, but in actual fact I am "good enough" by the basis of my GPA and GAMSAT scores, I just didn't make the cut for the 3 grad-entry programs in my state in the 2 years I applied...
So, yes, getting into med school is more competitive than getting into Mensa. Whereas Mensa purely has a fairly static aptitude requirement, med entry is influenced by the number of applicants versus places in a given year. The places are also influenced by government funding and the number of doctors required (but the later not as much as you'd think, as far as I'm concerned). I'm not sure about numbers in other countries which are considered similar to Australia (US, UK, NZ, Canada), but I would hazard a guess that the number of places vs applicants vs general population would vary. And let's not forget the thousands of doctors that come from overseas training where opportunity may be more influential than intelligence.
Funnily enough, though, I sat the ambulance service entry aptitude test three times before I went to uni to get my paramedic degree. Entry used to be via the ambulance service and in-house training was conducted. I calculated, while sitting on my break in between GAMSAT sections a few years ago, that it was more competitive to get into the ambulance service than into medicine, based purely on numbers alone. And guess what? I failed to meet the cutoff on one of those three attempts. I wasn't smart enough, that year, to be a paramedic. Now I am a paramedic, I see why intelligence is important in this job, but there are so many people that I doubt would have ever made the old cutoff that are now quite competent paramedics. Experience, the right attitude, and willingness to continue learning are what I personally consider to be more important, even in life-or-death situations, than pure intelligence or past performance in school or anything else that is measured on medical entry applicants.
The question then is raised - what does the population expect of it's doctors? Do they expect them to be in the top 0.5% of the population, or will the top 2% do? We can't have all our geniuses in medicine, they need to be solving bigger questions to do with population health, medical science, and the environment to name a few. What do I expect of my doctor? Well, I expect my GP to listen, be genuinely concerned, to be a competent practitioner, and to be up-to-date with the latest research, and then finally I would like them to be experienced. Intelligence is perhaps even after all of these things. However, I conceded that these expectations maybe higher of my specialist, but to become a specialist you go through years of post-graduate medical training (as do GPs) and I would expect them to be quite bright in the world they work in.
There are so many aspects to this.
My point really is - if you fail to get into med school, it by no means means that you wouldn't make a good doctor. And if you really want to do it, don't give up.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Gunnado
I confess... I'm being a "gunnado". I was gunna lay out my running gear last night. I was gunna go for a run this morning. And I was gunna start my Masters study.... Instead I drank a bottle of red wine last night, slept in til noon, and am now watching Oprah.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Holi-da-y!
Woohoo! I'm now on annual leave. I just had my sister over and I tried on my bridesmaid dress which is quite acceptable. My house looks so lovely and I can't wait to have it even more organised.
I'm just going for a rest now before studying MIH this afternoon.
I didn't have time for my run this morning and I'm so not motivated this afternoon. So my trade-off is that I'll lay out my running gear today and go first thing in the morning.
I'm just going for a rest now before studying MIH this afternoon.
I didn't have time for my run this morning and I'm so not motivated this afternoon. So my trade-off is that I'll lay out my running gear today and go first thing in the morning.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Work
I took this photo through the windscreen of the ambulance while in Melbourne last night taking a patient into a hospital with specialist facilities.
Today is my last day of work before 4 weeks annual leave! Hooray! I just got off the phone with a fellow classmate who is ahead of me in the course. She always gives me plenty of motivation to study hard (she kicks my butt into shape). She is about to take her end of pre-clinical exam (USMLE Step 1 equivalent for OUM students not intending on practicing in the US) before starting her clinical placements in a few weeks. I'm so excited to hear which rotations she's doing at which hospitals - both in Melbourne and in Samoa. That will be me in two years time.
So hearing about her revising for the big exam made me think I really want to revise the last three module in these 4 weeks I have off. That is, of course, on top of doing my Masters subjects (which I haven't started yet, btw). Being my last day at work I'm determined to use today in getting everything here organised and I will start fresh with my studying and start back running again too. My flu/cold thing has reduced to just slightly congested nasal sinuses and my energy has come back up to par.
Anyway, I'm really excited to look at my Masters stuff tomorrow and learn about biostatistics. I know how much that will come in handy in my future dream career. I have my folder with tabs all organised and the term calendar all printed out (with the due dates of exams and assignments), so this is a good place to start.
I sometimes get frustrated because I know exactly what I want to be doing and where, but at the same time I realise how lucky I am to have this job. It's really great sometimes.
Yesterday we worked so hard - 20 hours straight. Well, I think we got two 20 minute breaks to eat. This is not really ideal. Not only did I eat absolute rubbish (there's not much healthy at petrol stations) but I also drank two Red Bulls and got to bed at about 3.30am, so I feel a bit out of it today. We had a 10 hour break and now I'm back just for 5 hours today before I finish! Yay!
Tonight I'll be putting the finishing touches on tidying my house before my sister comes over. But then on my leave I will continue more spring cleaning. I love the laundry and garage as everything that is remaining n there is organised and has some sort of useful purpose in my life. Love it.
Also,, on my four weks off I have plenty of exciting social things organised so I might feel more like a well-rounded human being again.
Alought I'm not going overseas this time, I am so looking forward to this break! I think I'm even more excited than if I was going somewhere :)
Friday, March 18, 2011
Studies
So anyway I just got a fright remembering that I've almost forgotten about my Master's studies. Next week will be week 3. I think.
As much as I want to clean and organise my house, I can't let my MIH studies get away from me because I think they aren't as difficult as med. To be honest, it's all statistics so it isn't easy.
I finally got my term results for med and I'm sorta disappointed. My overall grade as 85, which is one more than I'd expected, but it's only in the top 35% of the school for the term (other modules but same term). I can't compare my score to others in my module because it doesn't allow for identification - there's only the student number listed. So, I'm thinking maybe I aced my exam because it was easy afterall - it didn't just feel easy. I dunno - I thought my score would be in the top 25%, which it had been in the last few terms but with a lower overall mark.
Why do I care? Well, it is an off-shore medical school. Let's face it, most people would study on-shore if they could. It wasn't just about my GAMSAT scores and GPA which made me decide to go off-shore, but at the end of the day, internship places are competitive and will be more so in the near future, and when competing with on-shore grads I need to be up there.
As much as I want to clean and organise my house, I can't let my MIH studies get away from me because I think they aren't as difficult as med. To be honest, it's all statistics so it isn't easy.
I finally got my term results for med and I'm sorta disappointed. My overall grade as 85, which is one more than I'd expected, but it's only in the top 35% of the school for the term (other modules but same term). I can't compare my score to others in my module because it doesn't allow for identification - there's only the student number listed. So, I'm thinking maybe I aced my exam because it was easy afterall - it didn't just feel easy. I dunno - I thought my score would be in the top 25%, which it had been in the last few terms but with a lower overall mark.
Why do I care? Well, it is an off-shore medical school. Let's face it, most people would study on-shore if they could. It wasn't just about my GAMSAT scores and GPA which made me decide to go off-shore, but at the end of the day, internship places are competitive and will be more so in the near future, and when competing with on-shore grads I need to be up there.
No time for laziness
Trying to Spring-clean my house this weekend. There is a lot to do.
My gardens in themselves would take a full weekend. Oh, wait, I forgot I was going to do it all on my annual leave! Instead I got distracted by the fact my sister is coming over on Monday and I'm trying to make everything all perfect for her arrival. Lol
Anyway I must gey back to the dishes and garbage and laundry.
My gardens in themselves would take a full weekend. Oh, wait, I forgot I was going to do it all on my annual leave! Instead I got distracted by the fact my sister is coming over on Monday and I'm trying to make everything all perfect for her arrival. Lol
Anyway I must gey back to the dishes and garbage and laundry.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Feeling better
I think this flu thing is going away, I'm not so tired and sore and snotty.
So I've decided to stick to my original plan of having this term off med and doing my two Masters subjects. As of Monday I have 4 weeks off work with no other plans. I have been thinking about writing a sort of travel blog/journal/book which would be based around my area as a way of pretending I'm away on a holiday, but I've now decided to use my time off work to: sleep, garden, exercise, clean, and get my house super-organised. How exciting does that sound? I'll also go away for a few days with my friends down to the beach, do some other girly stuff like mani-pedis, and catch up with any friends which haven't disowned me yet.
I just spent the last two hours fully scrubbing the guest bathroom and organising all the stuff in the cupboard under the sink into little tubs. It's so pretty. Can you tell I've been working with a Type-A all week?
So I've decided to stick to my original plan of having this term off med and doing my two Masters subjects. As of Monday I have 4 weeks off work with no other plans. I have been thinking about writing a sort of travel blog/journal/book which would be based around my area as a way of pretending I'm away on a holiday, but I've now decided to use my time off work to: sleep, garden, exercise, clean, and get my house super-organised. How exciting does that sound? I'll also go away for a few days with my friends down to the beach, do some other girly stuff like mani-pedis, and catch up with any friends which haven't disowned me yet.
I just spent the last two hours fully scrubbing the guest bathroom and organising all the stuff in the cupboard under the sink into little tubs. It's so pretty. Can you tell I've been working with a Type-A all week?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
What to study now?
The med school bursar contacted me today and said I could enrol in the next term, starting on Monday, and that I would be in the gastrointestinal system module. Geez, that is tempting. I have planned to have this next term off from studying med and to do two of my Masters subjects before going back to med at the end of May. But oh how I'd love to get this medical degree done and be an intern already.
I keep thining about doing my intership in Samoa. I really want to be doing international health. I think I'll do some clinical rotations there before I make any final decisions.
I'm feeling a little burnt-out at work atm. I hope it's just because I need a break compounded with having the flu. People that call ambulances and use them as a taxi service really annoy me atm. Normally I just brush it off as part of the job, but lately ithasreallybeen getting to me. Gone are the days when people would call and ambulance for a life-threatening emergency only. Even if there is no other means by way to get up off the floor or get themselves to the GP, or even take some panadol before you call an ambulance for back pain! Seriously.
Yup, I'm burnt-out.
I keep thining about doing my intership in Samoa. I really want to be doing international health. I think I'll do some clinical rotations there before I make any final decisions.
I'm feeling a little burnt-out at work atm. I hope it's just because I need a break compounded with having the flu. People that call ambulances and use them as a taxi service really annoy me atm. Normally I just brush it off as part of the job, but lately ithasreallybeen getting to me. Gone are the days when people would call and ambulance for a life-threatening emergency only. Even if there is no other means by way to get up off the floor or get themselves to the GP, or even take some panadol before you call an ambulance for back pain! Seriously.
Yup, I'm burnt-out.
In idle
I'm stuck in idle right now, just finishing my last few shifts before annual leave, waiting for my res module results, and waiting for this flu to go away.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Funky
The funky diner where I'm having lunch today. I'm at head office doing a training day so I'm somewhere new and exciting for lunch.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Music Festival
I worked last night at the Golden Plains Music Festival in Meredith. It was so much fun (as usual). I love the music and the chilled-out crowd having a great time in their festival boots and funny clothes. There where quite a few people dressed as teddy bears etc or as other things such as in surgical scrubs. I even saw one man walking around nude during the night.
I had more fun in the First Aid tent then I would have out in the crowd I reckon because I got to work with an ED reg and a final year med student who were both more than willing to teach me a few things. I stayed behind to be taken through and assisted with sutures. It's not a big procedure but I haven't seen it be done on a live patient before. The patients had a classic vaso-vagal (faint) which was quite funny so it was lucky they were sitting on the edge of the stretcher and just had to be guided back. What was interesting was the med student said we had to wait til he recovered and ask his permission to proceed. I was like "quick let's suture him up before he wakes up again". Interesting.
We didn't have too many serious patients. Most people just require the first aid services of St John for things like minor burns, grazes, and ant bites. Some people forget their asthma reliever medication, and some people get soft tissue injuries from being in a human pyramid!
I also worked with a crit care nurse I've worked with many times before and she told me she's done the gamsat and wants to do med....but.... and there's always that "but". That's about 5 people I know and work with around here who have personally approached me about OUM and studying med. All her excuses, as the other people's, were perfectly reasonable. And maybe she will start when these things are taken care of. And I did the same thing myself - I put off starting for two years. Anyway, my point is there will always be blockages and "but"s, so if you're one of those people maybe you should think about if you want to be one of those people that "wants" to do med or "is" doing med.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The exam recap (and comparison to AMC/USMLE)
So I think if I wanted to know about a new med school like OUM I would want to know how well they prepare you for licencing exams in Australia and the US. So far I can make a good comparison with the biochem, cardiovascular, and respiratory sections.
Firstly, the AMC (Australian Medical Council) licencing exam is similar to USMLE Step 2CK and CS - there are two parts to it and you only do it once you've finished the whole med degree. There is little to no focus on biochemistry as a separate discipline, for example, and the MCQ exam focuses on internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, OBGYN, and paediatrics. They release two books to help IMGs prepare for the AMC licencing exam and I have looked at the cardio and resp internal medicine questions and they seem fairly easy - I would say of similar difficulty to the OUM exams. Then there's a section which is like a multiple MCQ where there may be more than one correct answer and you must choose one or ALL that apply. Tricky. And these ones are centred more on the way medicine is practiced in Australia. For this reason they recommend doing most clinical rotations in Australia.
For the USMLE comparison I only have had access to USMLEWorld Step 1 Qbank They say if you get 60-70% then you will get a good score on the USMLE Step 1. I got about 60-70% on the cardio and resp sections before I did my OUMexams and I got 80-85% on them. So, I would say, in that regard that the OUM exam must be fairly similar to the USMLE. However, I haven't attempted the biochem questions yet and I do very poorly there. I feel I will need to really take a lot of time to cover biochem, genetics, behavioural, and more embyol as it isn't adequately covered with the OUM modules. However, OUM does provide "lectures" on these things as links to PowerPoint presentation that you are somehow meat to do in your own time. I will do this, but I feel orry for fellow students that don't cover this stuff as it's not part of their core learning.
Time will tell, I suppose, but so far I think OUM does provide adequate preparation for the licencing exams but just like anything in life you only get out what you put in. And if anyone thinks they can coast through a medical degree and into internship then they are mistaken.
Firstly, the AMC (Australian Medical Council) licencing exam is similar to USMLE Step 2CK and CS - there are two parts to it and you only do it once you've finished the whole med degree. There is little to no focus on biochemistry as a separate discipline, for example, and the MCQ exam focuses on internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, OBGYN, and paediatrics. They release two books to help IMGs prepare for the AMC licencing exam and I have looked at the cardio and resp internal medicine questions and they seem fairly easy - I would say of similar difficulty to the OUM exams. Then there's a section which is like a multiple MCQ where there may be more than one correct answer and you must choose one or ALL that apply. Tricky. And these ones are centred more on the way medicine is practiced in Australia. For this reason they recommend doing most clinical rotations in Australia.
For the USMLE comparison I only have had access to USMLEWorld Step 1 Qbank They say if you get 60-70% then you will get a good score on the USMLE Step 1. I got about 60-70% on the cardio and resp sections before I did my OUMexams and I got 80-85% on them. So, I would say, in that regard that the OUM exam must be fairly similar to the USMLE. However, I haven't attempted the biochem questions yet and I do very poorly there. I feel I will need to really take a lot of time to cover biochem, genetics, behavioural, and more embyol as it isn't adequately covered with the OUM modules. However, OUM does provide "lectures" on these things as links to PowerPoint presentation that you are somehow meat to do in your own time. I will do this, but I feel orry for fellow students that don't cover this stuff as it's not part of their core learning.
Time will tell, I suppose, but so far I think OUM does provide adequate preparation for the licencing exams but just like anything in life you only get out what you put in. And if anyone thinks they can coast through a medical degree and into internship then they are mistaken.
Reset and recover
I spent the rest of the week since my big exam getting flogged at work. Then I finally had a free day yesterday which combined all my favourite things - sleep-in as long as I wanted, run with dog, bath, clean house again (finally), pedicure with my bestie, then out for tea, cocktails and dancing. Yep, it was a great day.
I have today off but am feeling totally shagged and I have a big day tomorrow at work at the music festival "Golden Plains" at Meredith, so I'm just chilling out today, although I do admit I was reading through some almostadoctor.com respiratory notes in the bath. I really miss not having study to do, even though I'd be too tired today anyway. Weird. I guess it's a habitual thing. I have the Masters stuff to study anyway so I might gently look through that tonight on the couch. Too bad it's so darn dry. I like learning the epidemiology stuff but much prefer clinical.
We've nearly honed in on the bridesmaid dresses and they aren't too painful. I'll be trying mine on in about a week. Oooh - that reminds me! How exciting - my workmate reminded me yesterday I only have one more week at work until four weeks annual leave! Thank the Lord!!!
I have today off but am feeling totally shagged and I have a big day tomorrow at work at the music festival "Golden Plains" at Meredith, so I'm just chilling out today, although I do admit I was reading through some almostadoctor.com respiratory notes in the bath. I really miss not having study to do, even though I'd be too tired today anyway. Weird. I guess it's a habitual thing. I have the Masters stuff to study anyway so I might gently look through that tonight on the couch. Too bad it's so darn dry. I like learning the epidemiology stuff but much prefer clinical.
We've nearly honed in on the bridesmaid dresses and they aren't too painful. I'll be trying mine on in about a week. Oooh - that reminds me! How exciting - my workmate reminded me yesterday I only have one more week at work until four weeks annual leave! Thank the Lord!!!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Post exam
So I am so happy to have my MBBS respiratory system exam out of the way. I now have 12 weeks before my next med term begins.
My MIH term started last week. Seeing as I just did the exam yesterday, I've just started looking at my MIH stuff today. I'm doing two subjects - "Research and Evaluation in International Heath" and "Heath Research Methods". They sound so similar to me right now, but I'm sure i'll figure it all out soon. The most important thing to do now is to figure out what I need to do to pass and when.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Exam time
Thankfully there's a coffee shop in the building where my exam is. I have been in commute for 2 hours so have been revising and listening to podcasts. Now I have one hour here before going up.... Nervous.... Luckily there's a bathroom here too!
Edit: just finished. Killed it at 86%. Wowsers. I even surprised myself. Thank God for USMLEWorld.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Ambulance
So I have been busy at work last night and today and I'm so glad I swapped out of my shift tonight.
I've just done the last 15 pulm questions on USMLE World Qbank and am looking forward to repeating some tonight.
Right now I'm going through the cases and making a list divided into;
- Diseases
- Sciences (mainly phys, but also lab stuff)
- Drug
- Anatomy (as 23% f the exam is anat)
Also, thanks to my new love almostadoctor.com I have awesome free revision notes for my train trip, that will go in my First Aid for the USMLE text. I wish I found Almost a Doctor earlier as it is a great site.
Now going to finish my list and watch the two final pharm lectures I got from Doctors In Training.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Distracting myself
About to go to bed. So I did do about 30 or 40 Qbank questions and score pretty good now. I have done all of the pulmonology ones except about 20 I think. I don't know if it's just me but they seem to get more and more thinly related to pulm as I whittle down to the last few - I wonder if there's any sort of discrimination in this way? That would certaily be smart technology. I'm really happy to be watching the cumulative score line graph steadily rise to meet with other test-takers average. Oh, to be average....
I found myself watching Doctors In Training pharm lectures by the end of the day. The one on asthma and COPD meds was excellent, but it only covered one page of the FA text! I just watched one on protein synthesis inhibitor ABs, but that was a bit of a waste of my 54 minutes and $12 (as it was not very well related to my module). I have also orded two other pharmacology ones - one about mycobacteria and one about HIV anitvirals. Can't wait to watch them tomorrow - it's so great to have a different voice and different perspective on these topics. I was more excited to watch the one tonight than Big Bang Theory. I'm quite happy about the quality, but am disappointed on the limited viewing availability (onne purchase = one watch). At least they are affordable.
And, yes, I still need to asimilate the FA res chapter and go through my quizes, tasks, and learning objectives and I don't have enough time. I have one day left and I'm working. I wish I was this motivated during the term, but I just wasn't. Even when I look back through the tasks to try and revise now they don't seem to gel with me. I don't get it - what's the problem? Is it because they're opened-ended and/or ambiguous? Is it because they are asked in a way I would not ask the same question to myself when studying? What's blocking me?
I think part of the problem as they are given to us in a mixed-up order - something to do with being randomly assigned questions or something. I don't get it. So even reading through the questions, there is no gestalting process happening from the get-go. Then, the questions are not in line with the case study for the week, although they generally relate to one of the cases for the term, but are again or mixed up. And, yes, I tried to rearrange them into a better order but it was time consuming and annoying.
So I don't know why I've got such a bee in my bonnet about this. I guess it annoys me that they sucked up so much time and are probably going to be so useless to me come exams. Actually, I am interested to see that if on the exam there are more questions related to these darn task, or if I got more out of FA. I'll get back to you on that one in less than 48 hours.... I may have to eat my hat...
.......
I just got out my CVS stuff to see if anything rang any bells re what was tested - FA, tasks, or cases, and I can't really remember! I can't remember anything on the exam except that I had to do one or two phys equations because they gave us this funny whiteboard thing to use instead of paper. I think I remember there was pretty well evenly space across the cases, so I think I really should have a look through the RES ones again tomorrow. Geebus. Oh, I remember a few clinical presentation and "name that disease" ...hmmmm....
One thing that has motived me in the past two days is that I read on the USMLE World website that there is a correlation between MCAT performance and USMLE Step 1 performance, and none in regards to school or mode of curriculum. Seeing as my GAMSAT score was so on the lower end of average, I realise where my place is in the overall scheme of things. When I started I knew I'd have to work hard to keep up, but then I started to coast a little. It's good to be realistic. I need to put in a lot more effort.
I found myself watching Doctors In Training pharm lectures by the end of the day. The one on asthma and COPD meds was excellent, but it only covered one page of the FA text! I just watched one on protein synthesis inhibitor ABs, but that was a bit of a waste of my 54 minutes and $12 (as it was not very well related to my module). I have also orded two other pharmacology ones - one about mycobacteria and one about HIV anitvirals. Can't wait to watch them tomorrow - it's so great to have a different voice and different perspective on these topics. I was more excited to watch the one tonight than Big Bang Theory. I'm quite happy about the quality, but am disappointed on the limited viewing availability (onne purchase = one watch). At least they are affordable.
And, yes, I still need to asimilate the FA res chapter and go through my quizes, tasks, and learning objectives and I don't have enough time. I have one day left and I'm working. I wish I was this motivated during the term, but I just wasn't. Even when I look back through the tasks to try and revise now they don't seem to gel with me. I don't get it - what's the problem? Is it because they're opened-ended and/or ambiguous? Is it because they are asked in a way I would not ask the same question to myself when studying? What's blocking me?
I think part of the problem as they are given to us in a mixed-up order - something to do with being randomly assigned questions or something. I don't get it. So even reading through the questions, there is no gestalting process happening from the get-go. Then, the questions are not in line with the case study for the week, although they generally relate to one of the cases for the term, but are again or mixed up. And, yes, I tried to rearrange them into a better order but it was time consuming and annoying.
So I don't know why I've got such a bee in my bonnet about this. I guess it annoys me that they sucked up so much time and are probably going to be so useless to me come exams. Actually, I am interested to see that if on the exam there are more questions related to these darn task, or if I got more out of FA. I'll get back to you on that one in less than 48 hours.... I may have to eat my hat...
.......
I just got out my CVS stuff to see if anything rang any bells re what was tested - FA, tasks, or cases, and I can't really remember! I can't remember anything on the exam except that I had to do one or two phys equations because they gave us this funny whiteboard thing to use instead of paper. I think I remember there was pretty well evenly space across the cases, so I think I really should have a look through the RES ones again tomorrow. Geebus. Oh, I remember a few clinical presentation and "name that disease" ...hmmmm....
One thing that has motived me in the past two days is that I read on the USMLE World website that there is a correlation between MCAT performance and USMLE Step 1 performance, and none in regards to school or mode of curriculum. Seeing as my GAMSAT score was so on the lower end of average, I realise where my place is in the overall scheme of things. When I started I knew I'd have to work hard to keep up, but then I started to coast a little. It's good to be realistic. I need to put in a lot more effort.
Horizon
The end is on the horizon. I take my RES exam in two days. Between then ad now I have to work one night of call and one day shift.
I've got somesort of viral tonsillitis. Again. Every time I get run down I get viral tonsillitis. What is it with my pharynx? I have been sleeping plenty and eating fairly well (for my standards) and yet I'm imploding. I haven't been running to conserve energy. I don't get it. My lecturer for biochem was a bit of an alternative medicine guru in his spare time and he told my to rub my thymus. I'll give it a go.
So today I'm about to do more Qbank, then I'll try and assimilate the res chapter of FA. Then I absolutely must check with my cases studies that I've covered all the learning objectives, as some lie in other chapters of FA (ie HIV). Then I need to print out my quizzes and tasks for the module and make sure I have read through them all by the end of tomorrow. I really hope it's not too busy at work tonight or tomorrow.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Help
I didn't think I'd find myself crying out for help, all alone in my study, at the computer! I was taking another mini-quiz on the USMLEWorld Qbank when it froze on me! And just when I'd gotten 70% finally.
So I don't know if the questions are getting easier, if I'm getting my brain into gear for test-taking, or if I'm actually learning something, but my Qbank grades are going up rapidly.
When you order a subscription to access the Qbank you just get all of Step 1. I am only using the pulmonology section atm, and I only used cardiovascular last term, but oh well, that's all I have time to access in 30 days anyway. For $100, it's well worth it in my opinion. And they will be getting plenty more of my money in the coming years.
Doctors In Training is the organisation my uni recommends for USMLE prep. DIT recommends doing 2000 Qbank questions, reading the First Aid for the USMLE 3 times, plus BRS phys and patho, as well as the first 7 chapters of Robbins Pathology, plus their 15-day course of course! I'll be doing the first two (Qbank and FA), but only the relevant respiratory sections. So, I wont be doing 2000 questions (I think there's only ~300 in pulm), but I will at least be doing every pulmonology question at least once before Tuesday. Actually, I only have 50 to go, so I hope to go through them all twice.
I have read all of the respiratory section of FA, but I need to go through it again and this time try and remember it! It's so dense. I also have to look at other subjects that we covered such as HIV....
Anyway, enough blogging, I am motivated, I am on a good run (metaphorically, not literally), and I need to make the most of the next 4 days.....
(PS I have not been on a run yet this week and my dog hates me, and I have resorted back to my terrible ways with energy drinks and lollies - I almost forgot how good they were... Can't wait for this exam to be over as the skinny jeans are being put back in their draw for now.....)
So I don't know if the questions are getting easier, if I'm getting my brain into gear for test-taking, or if I'm actually learning something, but my Qbank grades are going up rapidly.
When you order a subscription to access the Qbank you just get all of Step 1. I am only using the pulmonology section atm, and I only used cardiovascular last term, but oh well, that's all I have time to access in 30 days anyway. For $100, it's well worth it in my opinion. And they will be getting plenty more of my money in the coming years.
Doctors In Training is the organisation my uni recommends for USMLE prep. DIT recommends doing 2000 Qbank questions, reading the First Aid for the USMLE 3 times, plus BRS phys and patho, as well as the first 7 chapters of Robbins Pathology, plus their 15-day course of course! I'll be doing the first two (Qbank and FA), but only the relevant respiratory sections. So, I wont be doing 2000 questions (I think there's only ~300 in pulm), but I will at least be doing every pulmonology question at least once before Tuesday. Actually, I only have 50 to go, so I hope to go through them all twice.
I have read all of the respiratory section of FA, but I need to go through it again and this time try and remember it! It's so dense. I also have to look at other subjects that we covered such as HIV....
Anyway, enough blogging, I am motivated, I am on a good run (metaphorically, not literally), and I need to make the most of the next 4 days.....
(PS I have not been on a run yet this week and my dog hates me, and I have resorted back to my terrible ways with energy drinks and lollies - I almost forgot how good they were... Can't wait for this exam to be over as the skinny jeans are being put back in their draw for now.....)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thank God
Thank God for:
- Red wine
- USMLE World Q Bank
- First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 (in print and Kindle)
Problem child
My lecturer just sent me an email and he said I was his "problem child"! hahaha Well, I'm not sure it is all that funny, I don't want to be the problem child, but it's too late! It's even funnier, because his native language is not English, to use such an expression. It makes me concerned he has picked that term up from someone else in describing me.
I don't want to be anyone's problem child.
So, how did this happen? Basically as described in previous posts - they changed the compulsory time commitments with NO notice, putting extreme pressure on my work commitments. And, I guess, I was much less willing/able to budge than the other students. Must be that Eureka Stockade blood in me.
Actually, it comes down to prioritising and if my uni/lecturer can't see that paying my bills and keeping my job is superior to making lectures, and I'm happy to wear the loss in 3 marks for the term in order to work 3 extra shifts, then I become a problem child in their eyes. I think medical schools have some right in saying that medicine is really important and you need to be 100% committed, but at the same time it is not the be-all and end-all of everything. I realise I'm bucking the trend here.
My mentor says doctors can't take sickies. Ever. Reading other med student/resident blogs I see that the hospital owns you. I can see that this is going to be like the Army all over again.
So anyway I actually think my ability to see the bigger picture is what makes me a good ambo and what will make me a better doctor too. There are some things in ife worth getting stressed over, and some things which are over-emphasised. I also believe in being very thorough and meticulous, and I would never do anything half-assed, and I always make sure I'm not missing an important "red-flag", but there is always a time and place for prioritising in life and also - shock - in medicine. I am also very competitive and I think I do work hard, I am the horse afterall (in Chinese horoscope).
Ok, maybe I'm being a little naive, but I have no real way of knowing until I get out there. I lot of my colleagues say I'd make a great GP because I listen well, and I don't underestimate patients symptoms, and I always make sure I'm not missing something serious. They are always impressed by my ability to remain compassionate in trying situations. Again, I just focus on what's important - my job to treat my patients.
I don't know. Time will tell I guess. Until then I have to hit the books and make sure I get a decent grade on this impending exam. If I get a poor grade, then my lecturer was right. If I get a good grade, then I'm never turning up to another lecture. And if I get an average grade, then... I think I was lucky!
I don't want to be anyone's problem child.
So, how did this happen? Basically as described in previous posts - they changed the compulsory time commitments with NO notice, putting extreme pressure on my work commitments. And, I guess, I was much less willing/able to budge than the other students. Must be that Eureka Stockade blood in me.
Actually, it comes down to prioritising and if my uni/lecturer can't see that paying my bills and keeping my job is superior to making lectures, and I'm happy to wear the loss in 3 marks for the term in order to work 3 extra shifts, then I become a problem child in their eyes. I think medical schools have some right in saying that medicine is really important and you need to be 100% committed, but at the same time it is not the be-all and end-all of everything. I realise I'm bucking the trend here.
My mentor says doctors can't take sickies. Ever. Reading other med student/resident blogs I see that the hospital owns you. I can see that this is going to be like the Army all over again.
So anyway I actually think my ability to see the bigger picture is what makes me a good ambo and what will make me a better doctor too. There are some things in ife worth getting stressed over, and some things which are over-emphasised. I also believe in being very thorough and meticulous, and I would never do anything half-assed, and I always make sure I'm not missing an important "red-flag", but there is always a time and place for prioritising in life and also - shock - in medicine. I am also very competitive and I think I do work hard, I am the horse afterall (in Chinese horoscope).
Ok, maybe I'm being a little naive, but I have no real way of knowing until I get out there. I lot of my colleagues say I'd make a great GP because I listen well, and I don't underestimate patients symptoms, and I always make sure I'm not missing something serious. They are always impressed by my ability to remain compassionate in trying situations. Again, I just focus on what's important - my job to treat my patients.
I don't know. Time will tell I guess. Until then I have to hit the books and make sure I get a decent grade on this impending exam. If I get a poor grade, then my lecturer was right. If I get a good grade, then I'm never turning up to another lecture. And if I get an average grade, then... I think I was lucky!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Differences
Some more insight into the differences between studying medicine and paramedics;
Paramedics - ..trachea, bronchus, bronchi -> terminal bronchi, alveoli.
Medicine - .... trachea, bronchus, bronchi -> terminal bronchi, - > acinus =respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli.
Paramedics - Trachea/bronchus - cartilage rings, bronchioles - smooth muscle, alveoli - single-cell thick.
Medicine - Trachea/bronchus - cartilage ringes, pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, goblet cells, bronchioles - smooth muscle, ciliated, Clara cells, alveoli - Type I pneumocytes, Type II pneumocytes, macrophages, PLUS name that histological picture(s)....
New thing I learned today - bronchioles are only <1mm in diametre! No wonder they get clogged up with secretions for poor people with asthma...
Lunch
Had a nice lunch with a friend at the local cafe - was supposed to be just a quick coffee, but the menu is so beautiful and a nice glass of red went down so well with it.... I only had half my glass and am now drinking an energy drink to level-out. Feeling pretty good and ready to study....
On day 3 of 8 revision days. Not covering as much as I'd hoped (I'm nearly recovered from viral tonsilitis now), but things are sounding familiar as I read them. Hope it's enough.....
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
PFPS
I have PFPS - patellofemoral pain syndrome - "runner's knees". I blame work for making me sit in an ambulance for 9 hours two nights ago, after I had already done my 11 hour day shift. Runner's World magazine lists PFPS as the top runner's injury and to remedy it by reducing mileage or running uphill only (ie on an incline of the tready), or to cross-train to rest the knees and build quad and hip muscle strength. Looks like the WiiFit is going to get some use this week.
I have just completed my last shift for the week. We have been busy at work and I have come home now, already tired, to begin my study for the day. Ugh. I still have those tasks to do before my online lecture in the morning, which, if I want 8 hours sleep before, I need to be in bed in 3 hours... which is not going to happen because my body-clock is set to nights.
Anyway, no use complaining, must get to it.
I have just completed my last shift for the week. We have been busy at work and I have come home now, already tired, to begin my study for the day. Ugh. I still have those tasks to do before my online lecture in the morning, which, if I want 8 hours sleep before, I need to be in bed in 3 hours... which is not going to happen because my body-clock is set to nights.
Anyway, no use complaining, must get to it.
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