Medical School at a Glance

Preface vii

Acknowledgements vii

Part I Starting medical school 1

1 Starting medical school 2

2 Medicine and surgery 4

3 Understanding medical training 6

4 Different learning mechanisms 8

5 Dealing with stress 10

6 Solving issues 12

Part II Learning important principles 15

7 Important common principles 16

8 Ethics 18

9 Communication skills and teamwork 20

10 Balance 22

11 Evidence-based medicine 24

12 Understanding guidelines 26

Part III Starting clinical activities 29

13 Behaving on the ward 30

14 Behaving in theatre 32

15 Behaving in clinic 34

16 Learning practical procedures 36

Part IV Assessing a patient 39

17 Approaching a patient 40

18 Approaching an unwell patient 42

19 Taking a history 44

20 Examining a patient 46

21 Assessing a patient’s hydration 48

22 Assessing a patient’s nutrition 50

Part V Considering and managing a patient 53

23 Investigations 54

24 Considering diagnoses 56

25 Presenting a patient 58

26 Consent and capacity 60

27 Breaking bad news 62

28 Prescribing 64

29 Documentation 66

30 Discharge planning 68

31 Managing the acutely unwell patient 70

Part VI Completing medical school 73

32 Examinations 74

33 Electives and special study modules 76

34 Understanding foundation school 78

35 Understanding later training 80

36 Other uses for medical degrees 82

37 First day as a doctor 84

Further reading

Index