Ever wondered what it’s like to do a placement in surgery as a medical student? I’ve been doing exactly this for a few weeks. Here’s some of what I’ve gotten up to recently!

Finding a balance between studying and placement 

My schedule has been a bit hectic; I’ve been balancing placement with studying for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) – these are the somewhat dreaded clinical exams we do at the end of each year in medical school. They are designed to test all of the skills you have learned on placement throughout the year. For me, they were a big adjustment to how I study. Unlike written exams, we have to memorise skills and practical procedures. I try to do this with learning steps by muscle memory and also by coupling this with reading from my favourite study book – OSCE Stop.

^{Studying hard alongside placement}

We also get some formal and informal teaching on placement from the doctors. This has been a good break from some of the clinical work. It allows you to ask more questions and to get help with topics you’re struggling with. Also, shout out to the admin team within the medical education team at my hospital. They are AMAZING, everything is organised for us with military precision and they arrange catering for our tutorials. To eat while we learn just changes the game!

For me, one of my favourite parts of placement is actually just chatting with patients. I’m not sure that surgery is for me as a career, so I love getting to chat and learn about patients’ experiences. Patients I have seen over the past year have taught me so much about different cultures and living circumstances, about hobbies and jobs I’d never heard of, and about their experiences in healthcare. In surgery I’ve learned about patients’ worries and concerns about going for an operation. This has emphasised how it is so important that doctors are empathetic. I believe that people are healthier when they are happy and comfortable. This is something I’d like to put into practice myself. Learning this has been as important as any clinical skill.

Real life Grey's Anatomy

As this is a surgery placement I’ve had opportunities to go into theatre. It has been a bit like Grey’s Anatomy in real life. This week I’ve been in breast surgeries and in a few laparoscopic cholecystectomies – this is basically a fancy way of saying keyhole removal of a sick gallbladder. Also, the surgical caps and crocs really make for an interesting outfit (even if it’s not the most flattering!)

^{Craic is 90 on surgery placement!}

It’s a strange feeling to be in theatre as a member of the medical team. I was shocked by how many people are involved in a surgery and it was great to learn from not only the surgeons but also from the nursing team and the anaesthetics doctor. I find anaesthetics fascinating so I particularly enjoyed speaking with them about how patients are kept safe and comfortable in surgery and afterwards as they recover.

Burning the midnight oil

One particular week was interesting because in addition to working at outpatients clinics in 2 different hospitals, I also did 2 evening shifts. In one I stayed until 1:30am and the other until around midnight. I didn’t expect to enjoy these and thought I’d be walking around the hospital like a zombie. Actually, I surprisingly loved them. For me, they are quite fast paced and because they are led by junior doctors (with consultants on call) I have had really good craic! I had the opportunity to put in some cannulas, watch patients be admitted through A&E and watch an emergency removal of an appendix in theatre. Some caffeine definitely did help, though.

 

Note: All patient stories and details of placement have been fully anonymised in this blog by altering details and amalgamating stories where appropriate.

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Medicine at Queen's

Placement Opportunities for Medical Students

Patrick Doherty (He/Him) 2nd Year Undergraduate Medical Student | NI I'm a 21 year old currently in my second year of studying Medicine here at Queen's University Belfast. I was a school-leaver when I came to university, having went to school in Ballymena beforehand. I'm not sure what I'd like to do when I graduate although the idea of writing or medical education appeals to me.