Prof's Study Tips For Students

Got some great study tips from one of our Paediatric professors yesterday for all those studying medicine (well you can apply them to any course really):

• After seeing a patient or having a tutorial go home that evening and study extensively around that topic from your text book, focusing on signs you picked up. The next day, 10 min before you start your other work, go back to that patient and look for the extra signs and symptoms you read about*.

• Use more than one text book. Different textbooks teach different sections differently so you may get great notes about pneumonia from one but better notes about gastro in another.

• When you're struggling to study: rather than reading for study sake, read as an examiner**. That is: look through the chapter for questions an examiner might ask about that topic i.e. definitions, classifications, important things on history, clinical signs you may illicit on examination, differential diagnosis, investigations and management. Write these out as quick point-form notes*** (makes later revision much easier).

If you're studying and have any valuable tips you've picked up along the way, PLEASE SHARE!


*Principle: Revision, revision, revision and the age old study technique of "see, hear, write and DO" (in order on increasing memory reinforcement)! For something to really stick you've got to revise the topic within 24 hours, then 7 days, then again during exam revision.

**This method really helps when you're bored, lacking motivation and need to get your studies focused i.e. those times you find yourself reading this first line: "this is a common disease" over and over again!

***Other than this I never make study notes anymore, in fact I haven't made any in years! In my opinion they're just a waste of time: you're wasting valuable time making pretty notes instead of actually studying and getting the info into your head; if they're messy you'll never read them again; you've tricked yourself into thinking you've studied but actually you've just had a arts and crafts session; you may accidently write something down wrong and then spend ages revising a mistake and lastly a text book is the best study note anyway - nothing you make will look or be as good!

Barbie Goes Backpacking - Bright Bags for College

image: Garance Dore

I'm looking to buy a few bright bags for work. I usually use a messenger bag but I fill it with so much stuff that by the end of the day it's given my shoulder a partial subluxation. They're fine as overnight bags when on call though. 

I really love the colours of the new Kipling range and I might just get the matching fanny pack too... I've never been a huge fanny pack fan but it's growing on me! These ones are chic and practical and anyway who would say no to a Louis!

Bright Pink and Powder White Kipling Seoul Backpacks with Laptop Protection, Kipling fanny pack, Louis Vuitton fanny pack

Speed Racer: Louis Vuitton denim fanny pack with tassel, Ashish studded fanny pack

Acid Trip: Sonia by Sonia Rykiel yellow bag, Chanel quilted purse, Dsquared2 backpack, See by Chloé nylon key chain (on yellow bag);

L.A.M.B. graffiti bag, LeSportsac yellow bag.

Kipling backpack, See by Chloé tote

images: Teen Vogue

Backpack For:
Macbook Pro/iPad
The odd textbook
Pencil bag
Small makeup bag of essentials (concealer, bronzer, lipliner, liquid-liner, mascara, lipgloss)
Perfume and deodorant
Johnson's and Johnson's cleansing wipes
Alcohol hand sanitizer 
Tissues
Sun lotion + Raybans (for the odd venture outdoors)
Car keys

Litmann stethoscope

Otoscope and ophthalmoscope

Protective glasses

Lunch box

Water bottle

Moleskine weekly notebook and ruled notebook

Quick Access Fanny Pack For:
iPhone
iPod nano
Country Road Sharni Zip Around wallet
Neutrogena Norwegian anti-aging hand cream
Clorets Eliminator chewing gum
Pen, pencil + mini Stabilo Boss highlighter
Bobbie Brown Lip Balm SPF 15
My new Kodak easytouch digital camera!  

ENT Week 1 Has Been So Much Fun - Career Possibility??

Quick phone pic of Thursday's ENT clinic outfit - trying to chanel Addison Montgomery in a Mango suit dress with Mango nails.

It's quite tricky dressing in a hospital. You've got to look smart but be able to work in a setting that often involves body fluids... I'm sure you can imagine the sartorial problem that creates! The male doctors all wear suits and ties but the woman, I don't know, they generally look sloppy and most op for black slacks and pumps. Us girls have to get a uniform going, I personally love suit dresses - they're conservative, fitted and professional. If I know I'm going to get dirty I'll put on a plastic apron. Ta-dah!


Shoes:
Kitten heels - you can run in them, wear them all day and look chic!
Stilettos are a no no. They can look gaudy in a clinic and are completely impractical for manual labour. 
Pumps just make me feel short and frumpy. 


Hair:
Smooth and styled. In the morning I quickly blow-wave my hair and then pin it out the way into a bun, french twist, chinon or slick pony tail. I just use 3 pins.


Make-up = Simple:
-Bobbie Brown Under Eye Concealer to hide circles form all- nighters
-A touch of BB tinted moisturizer
-BB Bronzer
-Curl lashes & apply mascara


**Top 2 photo's taken with my new Kodak camera! Whoop Whoop!

Dreaming Of Beautiful Skin

*By the way: you can get Acnevelle from Skin Renewal clinics. I go to the one in Parkhurst. It takes at least 8 weeks to see improvements though...

My Studying Essentials

 I think after 6 years I can call myself a professional studier and if my dream to become a plastic surgeon is to come to fruition it seems I'll be making a career of this studying thing! 


Just finished my surgical rotation, here's what's been on my desk whilst studying for exams:

Are public health students guilty of "fatism"?

By KATHERINE HARMON

Published 16 April 2010

Weight stigma towards obese patients is very common in the health care setting and many young health students are also guilty of "fatism," a new analysis has found—but their attitudes can be changed...

Click title link to continue reading...