101 Things To Do with Spare Moments on the Ward

Dason E. Evans, MBBS(Lond), MHPE(Maastricht), fHEAHonorary Senior Lecturer in Medical Education,Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry,Queen Mary, University of LondonSpeciality Doctor in Sexual Health, St George’s NHS Trust Nakul Gamanlal Patel, BSc(Hons), MBBS(Lond), MRCS(Eng)Plastic Surgery Specialty Registrar East of England Deanery Norfolkand Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustAddenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustSt Andrew’s Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns,Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS TrustLister Hospital, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

• Foreword viiAbbreviations and Medical hierarchy viiiIntroduction xAcknowledgements xivTable of tasks xixSection 1 Teaching, Testing and Learning 1Memory aids and mnemonics 2Building quizzes 5E-learning resources 8Section 2 Clinical Communication 12Narrative – the patient’s story 15Preparation 20History taking 22Observing communication 26Section 3 Physical Examination 31Peer practice for physical examination 33Examining patients – systems examinations 36Examining patients – holistic assessments 40Spot diagnosis 44Exploring around the patient 45Section 4 Practical Procedures 49Know your equipment 50Peer practice of practical skills 55Hidden teachers, hidden opportunities for practical skills practice 63Infection control 70Section 5 Prescribing 75Navigating around the drug chart 77Preventable human errors in prescribing 83Your peripheral brain – the BNF (British National Formulary) 86Hidden teachers in pharmacology 90Transition to junior doctor 93Section 6 Being Curious 95A doctor’s best friend: the nurse 99Who are the players? 102Communication 107Section 7 Data Interpretation 110Patient notes 111Patient ECGs (Electrocardiogram) 115Imaging 118Section 8 Getting Teaching 123Motivating people to teach you 123Finding other teachers 126Section 9 Effectiveness and Efficiency 129Knowing your own motivation 130Fun and flippant suggestions 133Never too early to think about your future 136Organisation and efficiency 136Section 10 Over  to You 143Task 101 143Index 144

“This is an easy-to-read, quick guide to spare-time activities that enhance learning for third-year medical students about to begin clinical rotations. It is not intended as a formative text for rotations.”  (Doody’s, 17 August 2012)