Success on the Wards: 250 Rules for Clerkship Success

Ideally, buy this between STEP 1/LEVEL 1 and clerkships and read the general sections, and then read the sections specific to the next clerkship as you go along. It has some practical advice and will tell you how to do well on your rotations when you have a preceptor too busy or too kind to tell you how to get honors. It breaks down day-to-day routine, goes over presentations, writing notes, how to introduce yourself properly, etc. With this resource, I've gotten honors from half my preceptors (my school limits the number given to 25% of students attendings precept) and high passes in the other half.

I am a PA student and will be starting my clinical rotations in a few months. I wanted to get a feel for what I would be doing on rotatoins, but mostly how interact with preceptors and attendings. This book gives concise, well formatted information for presenting cases, writing notes, and gives a framework of some things to expect.Although it is really geared towards medical students as it talks about getting particular residencies that you want, it seems to be really good book for PA students as well. I will look forward to reviewing each of the core clerkships before I start them.

I was in the break between step 1 and clinicala when I read this book. Every med student should get this book and read it before their first rotation. By the end of 3rd year, all med students will know the facts in this book but why not know them before the 1st day. That is why you should pay for this book, don't you want to honor your rotations? I know I do!!

Starting third year. I would definitely recommend at least getting this and flipping through before starting a rotation. It isn't perfect, but thats because the idiosyncrasies of each hospital/unit/team are different. It at least gives a jumping off point, so you can start your first day asking your residents or interns about specific tasks, rather than generally saying "What should I be doing?" (They have ALL responded really well to those specific questions).Keep it as a reference and refer to it after a week or two to see if there is any general gap in what you have been doing task wise (I.E. writing H+P's, but not writing progress notes). Then you can ask to do more of whatever you are missing.

I mostly used this to figure out what electives would best cater to my career goal options. The intro and pointers were good though.

No book is going to cover everything, but this has some very useful tips and shows you how to do some things that you should know already, or are too afraid to ask.Fits in a (large) white coat pocket

I love the author's books. Small accessible chapters. This is all very useful information. I also like the fact that the author cites appropriate scholarship to support almost every point.

Slightly outdated, but solid advice in for all students about to enter clinical rotations. It should be "required reading".

Useful read!