101 Things to Do With Spare Moments on the Ward

Nakul Gamanlal Patel, BSc(Hons), MBBS(Lond), MRCS(Eng)
Plastic Surgery Specialty Registrar East of England Deanery Norfolk
and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
St Andrew’s Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns,
Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
Lister Hospital, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Foreword vii

Abbreviations and Medical hierarchy viii

Introduction x

Acknowledgements xiv

Table of tasks xix

Section 1 Teaching, Testing and Learning 1

Memory aids and mnemonics 2

Building quizzes 5

E-learning resources 8

Section 2 Clinical Communication 12

Narrative – the patient’s story 15

Preparation 20

History taking 22

Observing communication 26

Section 3 Physical Examination 31

Peer practice for physical examination 33

Examining patients – systems examinations 36

Examining patients – holistic assessments 40

Spot diagnosis 44

Exploring around the patient 45

Section 4 Practical Procedures 49

Know your equipment 50

Peer practice of practical skills 55

Hidden teachers, hidden opportunities for practical skills practice 63

Infection control 70

Section 5 Prescribing 75

Navigating around the drug chart 77

Preventable human errors in prescribing 83

Your peripheral brain – the BNF (British National Formulary) 86

Hidden teachers in pharmacology 90

Transition to junior doctor 93

Section 6 Being Curious 95

A doctor’s best friend: the nurse 99

Who are the players? 102

Communication 107

Section 7 Data Interpretation 110

Patient notes 111

Patient ECGs (Electrocardiogram) 115

Imaging 118

Section 8 Getting Teaching 123

Motivating people to teach you 123

Finding other teachers 126

Section 9 Effectiveness and Efficiency 129

Knowing your own motivation 130

Fun and fl ippant suggestions 133

Never too early to think about your future 136

Organisation and effi ciency 136

Section 10 Over to You 143

Task 101 143

Index 144

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