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A clinical rotations medical student asked:
There is no simple answer to your question and hopefully you can get a variety of answers. I will provide some thoughts from a faculty perspective and hopefully some of our students will provide their insights as well.
First, although like anywhere else in the world, trainees (students/residents/fellows) can get "reputations", I think that at the medical student level in particular, attendings on new services are less likely to carry a strong bias based on this. First of all, they are unlikely to have heard much about what happened and second of all, attendings generally trust their own insight into medical students more than what they've heard before.
What you need to do then, is be up-front about the problems you know you have performing well. At the beginning of the rotation, tell the senior resident that you are not comfortable and ask them how you can work well on the team. Ask them to give you reading or other assignments to present to the group that will show your strengths better than may come up in rounds.
If you start to see a problem develop on a rotation, go to the attending very early. Do not wait for the middle or end of the rotation. Honestly explain what is going on to the attending and ask for advice. Listen to what they want you to do to succeed.
Finally, if you have any say in it, try to set yourelf up so that you have a rotation or two that is relatively benign. In other words, look to do a couple of core rotations in areas known for less "pimping" to help develop your confidence.
Good luck!
There is no simple answer to your question and hopefully you can get a variety of answers. I will provide some thoughts from a faculty perspective and hopefully some of our students will provide their insights as well.
First, although like anywhere else in the world, trainees (students/residents/fellows) can get "reputations", I think that at the medical student level in particular, attendings on new services are less likely to carry a strong bias based on this. First of all, they are unlikely to have heard much about what happened and second of all, attendings generally trust their own insight into medical students more than what they've heard before.
What you need to do then, is be up-front about the problems you know you have performing well. At the beginning of the rotation, tell the senior resident that you are not comfortable and ask them how you can work well on the team. Ask them to give you reading or other assignments to present to the group that will show your strengths better than may come up in rounds.
If you start to see a problem develop on a rotation, go to the attending very early. Do not wait for the middle or end of the rotation. Honestly explain what is going on to the attending and ask for advice. Listen to what they want you to do to succeed.
Finally, if you have any say in it, try to set yourelf up so that you have a rotation or two that is relatively benign. In other words, look to do a couple of core rotations in areas known for less "pimping" to help develop your confidence.
Good luck!
