EURO Challenges

Back at it… but this time MD2.
Already 5 weeks in and feel like I’m drowning. It must have been a good break as I’d forgotten the expected speed with which we are learning.
NEURO block has been interesting but there’s so much to know - if only the brain could help with that!!!

Highlight so far is the GP placement block I’m on. Everyone is so chill and friendly there. Rural life beats metro every time.

I think I need to try and organise practice sessions to keep on top of all the hands-on skills.

Moving into renal now…. So help me 😕

And just like that MD1 learning is complete. I had my last day in my booth (so naturally I had to take some photos).

Our team achieved 2nd place for both the semester chase and the year chase - such a great crew of genuine people… and the other half of our squad got 1st for the year (but didn’t place for the semester).

I have my final exam for MD1 next week and will need all the thoughts, prayers & good vibes I can get. It’s going to be a doozy. Then it’s holidays until next year (definitely have to keep up with the study though!!)

Honestly it’s been a crazy few weeks. Term 3 was going well and then the universe decided to shake things up.
My poor brain is trying to hold on to the new knowledge over this break week. I have to get back to normal study as of tomorrow as I have 2 exams coming up pretty quickly.

Had a few big days on campus. Winter hours are horrible. Have had a few freezing starts and dark drives home. Passed my most recent GIT examination and got some great feedback. Managed to step foot back in my booth and it was so nice. Also had first GAF class of the semester.

Undergrads/rest of uni back this week for their classes so I’m preparing for parking issues and long lines for food. I can’t believe how quickly this term is going.

Today I at least got a bit of a sleep in (not that you can tell by this photo). Was at Herston today learning venipuncture. I have had my one lesson and probably will never be shown again (as with all the skills we are learning). I made sure to ask lots of questions so I feel a bit more ok with the fact that I am now technically allowed to do this in the presence of a supervisor. 😱

Back at uni for semester 2. It was definitely a hard day yesterday heading back to campus after 5 weeks off. I think it was a big shake-up for the whole family.

No rest for the wicked though - it was GO-GO-GO as soon as we stepped through the doors. We were given this resource for our Cultural Awareness & Cultural Safety class this week. It's interesting to reflect on some of the things that are taken for granted on the daily (eg. able-bodied, native English speaker, own property, Australian citizen).
Unfortunately my mid-sem professional development log has already been submitted, otherwise I could have reflected on this resource but I can always include it for the final.

On another topic, I got my results back & I passed my 2nd exam. 🥳

This term we are focusing on GIT. So far we have looked at nutrition throughout life and bacterial/viral infections of GIT. I'm also in the process of working with a group for our main project on bioprinting & 3d printing in the medical field. Time to look for some awesome medicine themed prints to take in for props.

Finished semester 1. That’s 1/8 or 12.5% of the way through. Had an exam yesterday and some Q’s smashed through and others I had to take my time and critically think about. Really hard to know how I went but I’m hopeful.

Came home to a nice surprise from my boys - a little congratulation note and some pretty lights hanging up. Celebrated with an easy dinner and a nice chilled evening.

Grateful to have the next few weeks to recoup and spend time with family before doing it all over again.

Coming up is the rural immersion project (I have a virtual meeting with people in Theodore), another group project (topic this time is bio printing & 3D printing in medicine - helps to have done undergrad with a focus on these topics)… and finally I have to submit my professional development mid-year journal.

I need all the good vibes, thoughts, prayers and whatever else to get good marks for this latest exam - so send them my way!

Hard to believe I’m already 1/2 way through term 2 of med school. This term is flying by… not long and I’ll have finished semester 1 (only 7 more after that!!)

I’ve changed up my study style after the last exam - though still trying to perfect it - & everyone knows where to find me studying (if only I could take the booth with me when I’m done). I’ve had more visits to the anatomy labs, looked at what feels like 100s of micro slides, played with ECGs, did my first respiratory exam assessment, learnt how to intubate a mannequin, found at least a handful of disorders that can result in death in under 10 minutes (!!!!) and even had a group assignment to squeeze in there.

What a crazy ride it’s been. One highlight was listening to a podcast about diagnoses and managing to work my way from ‘patient with persistent cough’ to *he’s got something wrong with his ear that’s stimulating the nerve and causing a cough reflex*. Look out Dr House. 😂 It must be all those critical thinking classes.

Finished term 1 of med. Had first exam yesterday - 40 MCQs in 60mins. Now to wait for results. Some Q’s I felt confident in answering and some I definitely needed to use those critical thinking skills they’ve been trying to drill into us.

But as they keep reminding us - it’s a data point on a long journey and is “learning for learning’s sake”.

I have 1 week off now (doesn’t line up with he boy’s school holidays which is a bit annoying). I’ll be reflecting on my study methods and just enjoying not having to drive hours a day.