Summer for med students

chanste

Ok I haven't even started the course properly yet, but the fact that the term is 33 weeks has me thinking, whats the most constructive thing that could be done with the summer months. I mean if I want to put myself to more use than working in a shop or something (nothing against that, but I've already enough years of that type of thing behind me)

I'd be too early in my training to be any use to any medical discipline (I think?), and my previous profession as a teacher kinda becomes redundant during the summer too.

Do any of the ambulance services take on volunteers for such short periods of time or would I need to get significant training first? Or is there likely to be any potential to get involved in a research project of some description at that stage?

tallaght01

You've got donkeys years ahead of you in medicine. Stay away from it on your hols I reckon.

PhysiologyRocks

I missed it like mad this summer.

Edit: Sorry, just realised how unhelpful my post was. I've heard of med students doing nurse on call (not working as actual nurses, obviously, but working with nurses). I'm not sure how far along you must be to do it, though. I know you can't after 1st med, but 1st GEM might be different.

mardybumbum

I have stayed well away from medicine during my summer.

Well I had a brief read through a psychology book I purchased recently and went over the CNS & PNS in Sherwoods but thats because those topics interest me at the moment.

The rest of my summer has been spent,
-Giving guitar lessons
-Giving chemistry grinds
-Hunting
-Fishing
-Going to gigs
-Spending time with friends
-Spending time with my girlfriend
-Going for the odd guinness
-Travelling (not as much as I would have liked)
-Learning how to play poker
-Other things which I dare not mention here.

I agree 100% with Mr T. Take the summer off. Chillax. Kick up your feet and enjoy life.

allsaintssue

I joined nurse on call this summer as a health care assistant. I only hand to do the infection control course, which was free, as I had done the other required course in my nursing training.
They require all their HCA's to complete courses in:
>First Aid
>Manual Handling
>Infection Control
>Management of violence and Aggression

If you have done any of thse already in college, then they will accept a letter proving this to be true. Otherwise you can do the courses through nurse on call. they run a week long course each month that will do all these courses. It costs 500 euro but you get two uniform tunics included with that.
You will also need to get tested for hep C, vaccinated against hep b and prove you have had all your standard vaccinations (mmr, bcg). You can have these tests done through nurse on call or with yourown gp.
If you are not a nursing student it can be quite expensive to get set up with nurse on call, but once you are working you will easily earn it back. I have found it to be the ideal summer job because although the work is hard and for the most part you are working twelve hour days, you can pick and choose when you work, what hours, where, if you want days or nights (although they prefer you to start on days for a couple of weeks until you find your feet if you are not used to working nursing shift times) and the money is quite good, particuarly if you can do nights or weekends. All the pay rates are on their website.
It is costly and time consuming to get set up with but it would be helpful if you're interested in doing something 'medical' for the summer. I'd recommend you go in and apply a couple of months before you intend to start work though as with bloods, courses and then trying to get referees letters back it can be tricky but like I say it is worth it.
If you decide to join, pm me and I will send you a list of things you will need to bring in with you, there are a lot of little fiddly things that they don't tell you to bring on the website and it can be difficult to remember everything.
Hope that helps:)

bleh1234

I'm assuming from your post that you're a GEP student in reality you'll only have the first summer off, enjoy it travel spend time with friends, work and generally do things you're o tired/busy to do during the year. The second summer alot of students do the USMLE's I'd definately recommend doing them most people end up going to the states at some point in time & step 1 is painful however it's even more painful when you've graduated. Third summer is elective summer and fourth summer you will be a doctor.

Edit I just saw your question about research in my college there were summer research studentships for students post 1st med I presume GEP's can apply for them as well. They were generally lab based projects.

Must Have Music

I've done phlebotomy the last two summers, it's really really useful, makes things much easier when you start clinical years! Cannulas and taking bloods are no longer scary, and you know a bit about how the hospitals work! pm me if you want more info!

chanste

bleh1234 wrote: »

I'm assuming from your post that you're a GEP student...

Apologies for not making this clear. Yes I am a GEP student. And thanks for the info.

sam34

you will spend the rest of your working life wishing you had your summers off.

if its feasible financially, i would say dont work.

if you have to work, dont do something medicine realted, do something new, broaden your horizons.

likewise, when it comes to doing student electives before final med, id advise doing teh bare minimum. some people get ultra competitive and set up a few high profile ones, but i think thats just bull5hit. you wont learn much that you wont learn in final med and in your first week on the job.

believe me, there will be many many summer days and nights when you will wish yu werent working. dont throw away those days now, for relatively little in return.

WeeBushy

My advice is travel travel travel!

You're never going to have summer holidays again so take advantage of this and see the world. If you want to do something then volunteer abroad. There are loads of options all over the world. Once you've finished college you're not really going to get this chance again.

You'll be working for the rest of your life so take advantage of your time off and do something you wont get the chance to do again.

Echani

Last summer I went on holidays.

This summer I studied 6 weeks for the USMLE and am currently doing research/clinical elective stuff.

I preferred last summer.

chanste

Thanks everyone, it seems to be the general consensus that the best thing to do is simply enjoy the time off. Thing is I know myself too well... I LOVE to have a week off, even 2; but anything more than that and I start getting really bored.

I've been a teacher for the 5 years prior to beginning this course, and the ONLY time I ever just took the time off during the summer was this year... and it really kinda sucked. Other years I did projects, like Secondary Teachers As Researchers, correct exams or simply took a job.

I think my present stance on the issue is that if I can find something really interesting/appealing I'll do it, but I'm not just gonna tie myself down for the few months for the sake of masochism.

Lassiecomehome

I know how you feel. As someone who did GEM I was interested in getting medicine-related work and making the best of my opportunity. Let me introduce you to the best job ever, first aid! I don't know if you live in a big city but I did and there are a few very well run private first-aid businesses in my city. I got talking to someone at a conference, found out about my employer's business and applied. They were hiring at the time and even if they hadn't been it's worth putting your name in cos they might keep you on file. I worked completely flexible hours at both concerts and other indoor and outdoor events, got to see them completely free (suited my student budget), got paid (suited my student budget ), it looked great on my reference and probably best of all I got experience that helped me out when I started work. A nurse complemented me on my first aid skills the other day and I'd participated in my first CPR resuss and treated serious neck injury, epileptic attacks & choking incidents all before I'd qualified, not to mention countless cut fingers and blistered heels! I also loved working with other people in the same field, A&E nurses & docs, ambulance drivers, firemen and other students.

I had to to a 'First Aid at Work' 2 day course 1st which cost about €200 but I made it back quickly and it was worth it. I totally agree with the other posters in that I enjoyed my holidays and don't work any more than you have to but if you have to work make it something fun and interesting.

drzhivago

chanste wrote: »

Ok I haven't even started the course properly yet, but the fact that the term is 33 weeks has me thinking, whats the most constructive thing that could be done with the summer months. I mean if I want to put myself to more use than working in a shop or something (nothing against that, but I've already enough years of that type of thing behind me)

I'd be too early in my training to be any use to any medical discipline (I think?), and my previous profession as a teacher kinda becomes redundant during the summer too.

Do any of the ambulance services take on volunteers for such short periods of time or would I need to get significant training first? Or is there likely to be any potential to get involved in a research project of some description at that stage?

enjoy the holiday
see the world
will never have this time again
Volunteers dont get near irish ambulance service