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