2 Yr Transfer UF Req

What do I need to do while earning my AA degree at the community college to prepare as a pre-health student at the University of Florida?

1. Be sure that you are taking the appropriate courses for the major you are interested in at the University of Florida. If you are interested in applying to any majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, please visit http://www.advising.ufl.edu/transfer /aatransfer.html to learn what the minimum recommended courses that need to be completed for your intended major. If you are interested in a major at a different college, please contact that college directly. You can search for information about different colleges at http://www.ufl.edu.
2. Complete the following pre-health courses prior to coming to the University of Florida:
   
3. ** Two semesters of General Chemistry with the labs or its equivalent: usually CHM 2045, 2045L & CHM 2046, 2046L or CHM 2040, 2040L, CHM 2041 2041L & CHM 2046, 2046L
   
4. ** Two semesters of General Biology with the labs or its equivalent: usually BSC 2010, 2010L & BSC 2011, 2011L BSC 2005, 2007, 2008 & 2009L are not acceptable for most pre-health profession preparation.
5. **Two semesters of College-level mathematics: usually Analytical Calculus I MAC 2311 & choose as the second math course: Analytical Calculus II MAC 2312 or Introduction to Statistics STA 2023
6. Depending on the major you are choosing, there may be additional science or math courses you will need to complete prior to coming to the University of Florida.
7. ** Do not take Physics prior to transferring to University of Florida, unless you intend on selecting Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science or Geology as your major, or if you decide to choose one of the several Engineering majors. If you need to take Physics to meet the admissions recommendations to transfer to University of Florida, be sure to take one of the two series of General Physics: PHY 2053, 2053L, 2054 & 2054L or PHY 2048, 2048L, 2049 & 2049L. Some health professional schools will not accept the PHY 2004, 2004L, 2005 & 2005L series.
8. ** Do not take Organic Chemistry prior to transferring to University of Florida.
9. ** It’s always good to demonstrate success in the sciences at UF as well as at the community college.
10. Be sure to be involved with getting relevant healthcare experience while completing your AA degree.
    
11. Please take the time to know your professors at the school you are in and give them the opportunity to know you and your career aspirations. You might need a letter or two from them later on when you begin the application process.
12. What kind of support or advising is available for me at the University of Florida?
13. The University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, houses the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising (OHLPA). This office provides pre-professional advising for both pre-law and pre-health students. Individual advising is available by walk-in or appoint ments throughout the year when the campus is open. Workshops are also offered every year and the topics cover Introduction to Pre-health Professions, Preparing for the application process and interviews. OHLPA also provides an announcement based listserv that all pre-health students can subscribe. This list serv provides information on relevant current healthcare news and events, workshop announcements and research/volunteer opportunities. There is also the OHLPA pre-health website at http://www.advising.ufl.edu/ohlpa/prehealth that contains a wealth of information

http://www.advising.ufl.edu/faq/AA%20Transfer%20FAQ.pdf

UF Biology Schedule

http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/programs/majors/bio.html

Specialization: Preprofessional This specialization is for biology majors seeking admission to medical, dental, optometry, veterinary or other professional schools. Students in this track should contact the biology adviser or the Academic Advising Center (100 Farrior Hall) for specific requirements.

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Recommended semester plan

Semester 1	Credits
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)	4
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M)	4
Humanities (GE-H)	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)	3
Total	14
Semester 2	Credits
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B)	4
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (1)	4
MAC 2312 Analytical Geometry and Calculus 2 (4) (GE-M) or STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (3) (GE-M)	3-4
Composition (GE-C, WR)	3
Total	14-15
Semester 3	Credits
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B)	4
CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1	3
Elective	3
Humanities (GE-H)	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)	3
Total	16-17
Semester 4	Credits
AGR 3303 Genetics (3) or PCB 3063 Genetics (4) or PCB 4522 Molecular Genetics (3)	3-4
CHM 2211 and 2211L Organic Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (2)	5
Humanities (GE-H)	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)	3
Total	14-15
Summer	Credits
If following CHM 2210/2211 series, take: BCH 4024 Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	4
Total	4
Semester 5	Credits
PHY 2053 Physics 1 (4) or PHY 2048 Physics 1 with Calculus (3)	3-4
PHY 2053L Laboratory for PHY 2053 or PHY 2048L Laboratory for PHY 2048	1
Additional life sciences (3000 level or above; biology adviser or Academic Advising Center has approved list)	4
Composition (GE-C, WR)	3
Foreign language	4-5
Total	15-17
Semester 6	Credits
PHY 2054 Physics 2 (4) or PHY 2049 Physics 2 with Calculus (3)	3-4
PHY 2054L Laboratory for PHY 2054 or PHY 2049L Laboratory for PHY 2049	1
Additional life sciences (3000 level or above; biology adviser or Academic Advising Center has approved list)	4
Elective	3-0
Foreign language	3-5
Total	14
Semester 7	Credits
MCB 3020 and 3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms (3) and Laboratory (1) or PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function (3)	3-4
Additional life sciences (3000 level or above; biology adviser or Academic Advising Center has approved list)	4
Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option)	3
Electives	6-4
Total	16-15
Semester 8	Credits
PCB 4723C Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals	5
Electives	8-5
Total	13-10

Pre-Med Timeline

Timeline for Application/Admission to Medical School, as recommended by the Association of American Medical Colleges

COLLEGE YEAR 1
Fall Semester

1. Decide on a major and meet with your advisor.
2. Register for the Medical School Recommendation Process with the Academic Enrichment Center (Brewster B-103).
3. Successfully complete first semester of required pre -medical courses and other degree requirements
4. Begin to get involved outside of the classroom by attending a meeting of a health-related student organization, doing volunteer work, or participating in campus and cultural events.
5. Attend “Strategies for Success” programs of interest. Obtain a schedule from the Academic Enrichment Center.
6. Build a relationship with at least one faculty member. Ask him/her to complete a “Faculty Evaluation Form” for the Medical School Recommendation Process

Spring Semester

1. Re-evaluate your career path if your gpa is below a 3.0.
2. Visit “Considering a Career in Medicine” web site (www.aamc.org/students/considering)
3. Visit www.ecu.edu/advising Go to the Academic Enrichment page to learn more about applying to medical, dental, veterinarian, optometry, etc. schools.
4. Identify summer employment/medically related volunteer work.
5. Consider applying for the Primary Care Physician’s Shadowing Program for the sophomore year.
6. Successfully complete second-semester required premedical coursework and other degree requirements.
7. Build a relationship with at least one faculty member. Ask him/her to complete a “Faculty Evaluation Form” for the Medical School Recommendation Process

SUMMER 1

1. Complete summer employment/health-related volunteer work
2. Attend summer school if necessary

COLLEGE YEAR 2
Fall Semester

1. Re-evaluate your career decision if your gpa is below a 3.0.
2. Maintain contact with your advisor.
3. Successfully complete required pre-medical courses and other degree requirements.
4. Investigate medical schools and their application requirements via the web.
5. Get involved outside of the classroom by joining a student organization, doing volunteer work, or participating in campus and cultural events.
6. Attend “Strategies for Success” programs of interest. Obtain a schedule from the Academic Enrichment Center.
7. Build a relationship with at least one faculty member. Ask him/her to complete a “Faculty Evaluation Form” for the Medical School Recommendation Process.
8. Participate in Primary Care Physician’s Shadowing Program if you applied and were selected at the end of your freshmen year. You may reapply for the spring if you missed the fall deadline.

Spring Semester

1. Same as above.
2. Participate in Primary Care Physician’s Shadowing Program if you applied and were selected during your 2nd year.
3. Identify summer employment/health-related volunteer work.
4. Begin investigating MCAT preparation courses, resources and practice tests.

SUMMER 2

1. Complete summer employment/health-related volunteer work.
2. Attend summer school if necessary.
3. Begin investigating MCAT preparation courses, resources and practice tests.

COLLEGE YEAR 3
Fall semester

1. Re-evaluate your career choice if your gpa is below 3.0.
2. Investigate: The Association of American Medical Colleges website for information about applying to medical school, the Medical College Admission Test and the American Medical College Application Services www.aamc.org
3. Begin preparation for spring MCAT administration.
4. Begin investigating MCAT preparation courses, resources and practice tests.
5. Maintain contact with your advisor.
6. Successfully complete required pre-medical courses and other degree requirements
7. Get involved outside of the classroom by joining a student organization, doing volunteer work, or participating in campus and cultural events.
8. Attend “Strategies for Success” programs about the application process, interviewing skills, writing a personal statement and professional etiquette. Obtain a schedule from the Academic Enrichment Center.
9. Build a relationship with at least one faculty member. Ask him/her to complete a “Faculty Evaluation Form” for the Medical School Recommendation Process.
10. Continue to investigate application requirements for the medical schools of which you are interested.

Spring Semester

1. Same as above.
2. Take spring MCAT.
3. Visit the Academic Enrichment Center to begin the final steps for the Medical School Recommendation Process.

SUMMER 3

1. Complete AMCAS application.
2. Take summer MCAT, if necessary.
3. Attend summer school, if necessary.
4. Complete summer employment or volunteer work.
5. Investigate AAMC’s website www.aamc.org for the following: Recommendations Concerning Medical School Acceptance Procedures for First-Year Entering Students and Applicant Responsibilities documents.

COLLEGE YEAR 4
Fall semester

1. Work with advisor to ensure that you will meet requirements forgraduation.
2. Turn in copy of AMCAS application and the request to send letters to the Academic Enrichment Center.
3. Visit Dr. Gerhard Kalmus to arrange for a committee interview.
4. Complete any supplementary materials for schools you have applied to.
5. Interview with medical schools.
6. Review financial aid planning information at www.aamc.org
7. Successfully complete first-semester course work and other degree requirements.
8. Apply for graduation from ECU.

Spring semester

1. Make interim and final decisions about medical school choice
2. Immediately notify medical schools that you will not be attending
3. Ensure that all IRS forms are submitted as early as possible
4. Successfully complete second-semester coursework and other degree requirements.
5. Graduate.

SUMMER 4

1. Prepare for medical school enrollment: purchase books and equipment and make appropriate living arrangements.
2. Relax and prepare for medical school.
3. Attend orientation programs and matriculate into medical school.

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/aec/upload/Timeline_For_Med_School.pdf

Updated 8/08
HEALTH PROFESSIONS OFFICE
RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE FOR TAKING PREMED COURSES
If you want to enroll in medical school in fall 2009, you must apply in the summer of 2008 and take the
MCAT no later than April 2008. You may take the MCAT in August 2008, but taking it this late can have a
negative impact on admission to medical school due to “rolling admissions”. There are 24 MCAT test
dates in 2009. For the list of courses required for entrance into medical school, please review the MSAR
(Medical School Admission Requirements) published by the AAMC (Association of American Medical
Colleges).
COURSES TO BE TAKEN BEFORE TAKING THE MCAT:
Please note: Students that come in to UCSB with AP credit need to be aware that some medical schools
restrict the use of such credit.
Physics w/ lab Physics 6A/AL, 6B/BL, 6C/CL or 1, 2, 3/3L, 4/4L (if you can't complete 6C
before the MCAT, learn optics on your own)
Chemistry w/ lab Chemistry 1A/AL, 1B/BL, 1C/CL (or the 2 equivalent)
Biology w/ lab MCDB 1A/1AL, 1B, MCDB 1BL or EEMB 2L, EEMB 2, EEMB 3/3L
Organic Chemistry Chemistry 109A, 109B, 109C
Organic Chem. Lab Chemistry 6AL (Chem 6BL is also required for medical school admission, but
does not have to be taken before the MCAT)
Other MCDB 101A and 108A and 111 (if you can't take this course, learn physiology
on your own. You may also want to take an Anatomy course at SBCC –
BIOMD 107)

http://www.ltsc.ucsb.edu/health/info_sheets/recommended_schedule.PDF
RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE
Fall: Winter: Spring:
Freshman Chem 1A + 1AL Chem 1B + 1BL Chem 1C + 1CL
Year: Math 3A or 34A Math 3B or 34B Math 3C or Stat
Writing 1 Writing 2
Sophomore MCDB 1A + AL MCDB 1B and EEMB 2 EEMB 3 + 3L
Year: Chem 109A MCDB 1BL or EEMB 2L Chem 109C & Chem 6BL
Physics 6A + 6AL Chem 109B & Chem 6AL Physics 6C + 6CL
Physics 6B + 6BL
Junior Year: MCDB 101A - genetics MCDB 111 - physiology Writing 109HP*
MCDB 108A - biochemistry
*if not a specific Biology major, MCDB 108A is not required for your major, and you
can take MCDB 110 as your biochemistry course
*EEMB 129 can be taken instead of MCDB 101A and EEMB 154 can be taken instead of
MCDB 111
Note: This schedule lists only required pre-med courses, as well as those that help on the MCAT but it does
not include general education and major requirements. Because of the competitive nature of the application
process, at least three upper-division biology courses should be taken (see medical school requirement
sheet).
Please keep in mind the above schedule is only a recommendation. Schedules can be adjusted to meet the
needs of individual students. Please consult with the Health Professions Office for suggestions.
*Writing HP 109 gives you extremely valuable assistance in writing your personal statement, which is a
very important part of your medical school application. It is offered every quarter but don't postpone it to
Updated 8/08
the last available quarter because it is always overenrolled. Also keep in mind that 1 more quarter of
English is required beyond Writing 2 and Writing 109HP.
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE FOR APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
Junior Year
• Enroll in MCAT prep course in summer or in October
• Take MCAT in April/May
• Open up a letter file at Career Services
• AMCAS opens in May – begin filling out application and request to have all
transcripts sent from all post-secondary schools you attended
• AMCAS sends out earliest applications on June 5th
• After you receive your MCAT scores and spring quarter grades are in, submit
your application – admissions are “rolling”, so the longer you wait, the less
chance you have of being admitted. You do not need to wait until grades are
on the official transcript.
• If MCAT scores are low, retake MCAT in the summer (there are now
multiple test dates)
• Over the summer, verify that all of your letters of recommendation arrived in
the Career Services building, and request that letters be sent to schools from
whom you received secondary applications and to non-AMCAS schools
• Send back secondary applications as soon as possible after you receive them
Remember, the sooner you finish your applications, the better
• Verify with each school to which you applied that your application is
complete
Senior Year
• Prepare for interviews in the fall
• If you still haven’t heard from a school about the status of your application,
call them
• If fall quarter grades are good, send them to all medical schools to which you
have applied
• Good luck on all your interviews!
• Accept a school’s offer of matriculation
• May 15 is the date by which you have to make a commitment to only one
school
Things to keep in mind:
• Volunteer and extra-curricular activities should be started as soon as possible
and continued throughout your stay at UCSB
• Look in to doing research with a professor through URCA’s FRAP program
• Join the Health Professions Association (hpaucsb@gmail.com)
• Get to know your professors by attending office hours – you’ll need them to
write letters of recommendation
• Set up your letters of recommendation file at Career Services early
Note: Most allopathic medical schools belong to AMCAS – 114 out of 126 schools participate
All osteopathic medical schools belong to AACOMAS
All Texas medical schools (MD and DO), except Baylor, use TMDSAS
Note: This is just a recommended timetable. Many students push this back a year in order to take
a year off between college and medical school to travel, work, fill in gaps, etc.

So you wanna be a Med Student

Yes Code has decided that info about the application process should come before her messy interview transcript. OCD she knows, but shuddup.

So you wanna be a med student. First things first, get your priorities straight. It’s not all glitz and glamour. Work, work and MORE work. Shit load of things to study, and when you get to work the hours are hardly 9-5. So say goodbye to your social life because your friends are gonna be having alot of gatherings without you. This is sort of what Code believes, to quote a certain JE worker, “Your holiday is forever my working day.”

Of course, Code is just m1, and she hasn’t started working yet. But she’s heard the stories XD In any case, she isn’t going to deny that society doesn’t award med students/doctors with a certain degree of respect, but if that’s your main reason for applying Code feels there are better jobs out there to do. Oh and yes, the $. Seriously, So you wanna be a med student/doctor ≠ So you wanna be a millionaire. Go into business. Or invent something. Going YLL isn’t the way.

Anyway, the journey into med school [because yes, yll's application process is most definately a journey in itself] begins first with your A level results [or quite possibly sooner] slash GPA [remember our famous 2 poly grads XD]

Code is going to assume, for the sake of convenience, that you have got straight As, blah blah blah and are more than qualified to at least get shortlisted. If you is looking for info on grad requirements, go look at the nus website or google it cause Code can’t be bothered to do it for you XD

Step 1: Apply to NUS via Online Application Portal. Your school will provide the fine details

Step 2a: Wait for the letter than tells you You’ve Been Shortlisted! In no less than 32896572896 words.

Step 2b: While waiting, prepare your dun dun dun duuuun PORTFOLIO. Which equals 2 letters of recommendation, 1 personal statement, 1 CCA list/resume. And prepare 6 copies of it. Details, hm. Maybe Code will do another post on that. Qn: Why prepare now? Cause there may only be a min of 6 days between shortlisting letter and interview date. Code had 6 days yes, but was required to send documents in 3 working days before hand, and there was a weekend and public holiday conveniently right smack in the middle of her 6 days.

Step 3: Send in portfolio 3 working days before interview date to the Dean’s office. Code recommends you hand it in personally to avoid nasty mishaps. Besides, what’s wrong with taking a look around your soon-to-be new home? [Code assumes, at least]

Step 4: Prepare for your interview! [Or Essay, whichever comes first. Code had interview first, so she is following such a timeline.] Abuse google and any other forum/site/blog/etc in your search for advice, past interview qn and such. There are other transcripts floating around on the World Wide Web; Code found at least 2. Don’t mug for the interview, it’s not an exam. They wanna see your personality, Ok? Code does however, believe that a little preparation [NOT FAKING/SMOKING IT] never killed anyone. Self-reflect. Know yourself and your reasons above all else.

Step 5: Go for interview. Code will give you details, but that is a story for another post.

Step 6: You may/may not prepare for the essay. Code tried, but essay topic was as far away from her preps as the sky is from the seabed. Go figure.

Step 7: Waiting game. Just play the waiting game. Or rather, writh hopelessly in the agony of waiting. Being in limbo is NOT fun. And you’ll be in limbo at least a month after start of interviews.

Step 8: Because it’s all happy in Code’s world, wait for the thick brown letter that says Congratulations! You have been offered Medicine! in no less than 89038239548375849320 words. Alternatively, check the Joint Applications portal, the one that shows you offers from all the 3 public unis if you’ve applied to them.

Step 9: Join Medicamp, join precamp tea, join rag and flag, take part in White Coat Ceremony. Start your Med journey before school even starts. Congratulations! You are now a med student.

Step 10: [Because Code is OCD and doesn't like to see only 9 steps instead of a nice perfect 10.] Get ready, get set, Goodbye outside world!

There is a saying. There are 3 things you wanna have in med school. Imagine a triangle. You’ll never attain all 3 points, if you do, you are seriously good. Or insane. 1 – Social Life, 2 – Grades, 3 – Sleep. Take your pick.

And there you have it, Code’s 10 step guide to becoming a med student at our dear yll. XD

How to Prepare for the MCAT

About the MCAT
The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is a standardized exam required as part of the application to US medical schools. The test is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The MCAT is designed to test knowledge of basic science concepts, problem-solving skills, critical thinking ability, and writing skills. The MCAT consists of four scored sections that always appear in the same order:

• Verbal Reasoning
• Physical Sciences (physics and general chemistry)
• Writing Sample
• Biological Sciences (biology and organic chemistry)

MCAT Timing is Important!
The MCAT is offered at scheduled times throughout the year. Registration is about 5 weeks before the test. You can register online or mail in your materials. The test costs money (presently $175). Also, you may need to travel to take the test, which can add the expense of transportation and a hotel visit. This is important: it takes practically forever (seems that way at least) to get your scores after the test, so don't put off taking the test until the last minute! I know some academic advisors will caution you to wait until you have taken all of the related coursework (e.g., physics, organic, biochem) before taking the test. Well... ideally you would take those courses as a sophomore and junior to free up your senior year for interviewing. Even if you haven't taken the courses, you will probably delay entrance to medical school by a year if you don't take the MCAT early enough. Don't assume that the medical school will cut you any slack for either low scores or missing coursework; they won't. Applications are competitive.

Practice Makes Perfect
My recommendation? Take the April MCAT a year and a half before you plan to enter school. Unless your scores are marvelous, take the August test too. That way, if you have a summer or early fall interview you can say that you are retaking the test... shows a self-improvement goal if nothing else. The August test seems more laid-back to me. Also, I think your scores are likely to look better because the test has a lot of procrastinators or poor planners who weren't there in April, making you look better in comparison. Remember, your scores are given in relation to that of other test-takers. DO NOT wait until August the year before you plan to attend and certainly don't wait until April the spring before classes start. Your scores will take too long to arrive and the classes may be full before you get reviewed.

Take an MCAT Test Prep Class or Not?
There are several excellent courses you can take to prepare for the MCAT. Among them are the Kaplan Review, Princeton Review, and Berkeley Review. The AAMC says that taking a review course has no statistical impact on your scores (and how do you objectively test the null hypothesis, I ask you?) ... I disagree with them and I'll tell you why: the reviews don't just go over the course material, they teach to the test, meaning that you focus on test-taking strategies and review only the information that may be on the exam. That said, I don't recommend everyone take a review course (I didn't). Many students tell me they aren't taking the review because of the cost involved. Wake up call! Medical school costs thousands to a hundred thousand dollars! Don't skimp on preparation, either for the test or for the interview! If you think the review will help you, then plan for the cost.

As I said, not everyone will benefit from taking a review course, but I do believe everyone will benefit from studying the text materials used for the review course (get a 'used' copy for a bargain). You will get practice tests and a focused, concise study guide. Using the review texts is much more helpful than randomly scanning your biology, chemistry, and physics texts.

The possible writing sample topics may be viewed online at the MCAT website. Obviously you shouldn't practice all of them, but do look them over and practice this part of the test, timed, for a few topics. Neatness counts! I had a student (I kid you not) who got a 0 (zero, not the letter given to you to score this part of the test) because his handwriting was so psychotic (ran up and down the page and off the lines) that the test scorers wouldn't read his essays.

The Test Day
The big day has finally arrived! Ideally, you want to get a good night's sleep the night before (uh huh...). No matter what, try to relax. Really tense people might find studying relaxing; otherwise turn your brain off and take it easy. Make sure you locate the test center before test day. Eat breakfast! Get to the test center bright and early with pencils, pens, and erasers in hand. Food and drinks aren't allowed in the test room, but hard candy may take the edge off, especially if you have butterflies. Do not bring a calculator or anything with an alarm. Be considerate... no cell phones, pagers, etc. Don't berate yourself if you have trouble with a section. Just shrug it off and move on. It may be helpful to bring a lunch, especially if traffic is a concern. You don't want to be late for the afternoon fun and games! If you are like me, your brain will be pretty fried after the test. You'll get out around 5 pm. If travel is required, plan wisely.

100 Med Resources

If there is one thing a med student could use, it would be more time (well, that and maybe an endless supply of Cherokee Workwear Scrubs). This list can help reduce the amount of time you may spend hunting for specific resources and may even provide some unknown jewels that will make your time in school more productive. From medical libraries to medical student blogs, you will find something to make your life a little easier.

Medical Search Engines

Medical students are guaranteed to be doing research. These 25 search engines can take the work out of the Internet search for you. From searching the PDR to finding journal articles, you are sure to find helpful sites to bookmark on your computer from the list below.

1. OmniMedicalSearch.com. Gathering information from many of the top medical professional sites such as PubMed, NIH, and Merck, this search engine provides information from peer level sources. They also offer a "reference desk of hard-to-find medical resources."
2. MedNets. This metasearch engine provides information from journals, associations, news sources, and more. MedNets offers a search specifically for medical professionals in addition to one for the general public.
3. Hardin MD. Sponsored by the University of Iowa, this site allows you to search for a disease or general health topic alphabetically to get links to a variety of online articles and photos about each disease. You can also view photos from classic medical books via this site.
4. Healthline. Healthline searches the best of the health sites available on the Internet, reducing your search time. Browse by topic or use their keyword search.
5. PubMed. Sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, this database provides access to citations going back for the past 40 years. You must register (free) with NCBI before having access to this powerful search engine.
6. Entrez. Hosted by NCBI, this life sciences search engine searches across all the available databases which gather information from journal articles, books, online books, and more.
7. MedicalNDX. Search for medications, information in specific journals, medical definitions, medical books, articles, and web searches and much more.
8. HONMedhunt. Not only can you search for specific topics on any imaginable health topic, but once your results pop up in the window, you can click on different tabs to find conference information, news, and images that relate to your query without re-typing the keyword.
9. PubGene. Specifically geared to searches for genes and proteins, this search engine relies on text mining PubMed articles to find any source with a specific gene or protein mentioned in it.
10. Journal Watch. Monitoring 350 medical journals, this site offers both journal searches as well as short, daily email updates. Choose between Primary Care Physician, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, and other specialties to specialize the content according to the type of medicine you practice.
11. MDLinx.com.This site reviews over 1200 journals and provides a search by specialties and subspecialties. In addition, they offer conference and job listings. You must register, but it is free of charge.

Medical Libraries

The busy med student does not have a lot of extra time to be surfing the Internet looking for the best places to bookmark. Hopefully the sites below will help save some time in the search.

12. eMedicine. Describing itself as an "open access comprehensive medical textbook," eMedicine offers over 6,500 clinical articles written by contributing physicians. eMedicine also offers free accredited CME courses for physicians.
13. Welch Medical Library. While this site is specifically for those associated with Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, it offers a search feature for articles published in medical journals and online. They also have Subject Guides under the "eResources" section that offers links to topics ranging from Alternative Medicine to Grants and Funding to Writing and Publishing.
14. MedConnect. This site features four interactive journals for primary care, managed care, emergency medicine, and pediatrics.
15. Intute. Out of the U.K., this site offers searches on a wide variety of topics under medicine, nursing/midwifery, medical history, and other fields in the health sciences. They also provide links to a handful of resource brochures and training site tutorials.
16. rmLibrary. This database service provides access to all the major databases and organizes them by specialty. This service costs $35.95 for a 30-day pass or $299.95 for an annual subscription.
17. MedBioWorld. Available at this site are Reuter’s health and medical news from the past three years, access to online journals, full access to scholarly publications, and access to a highly-rated genomics blog.
18. HighWire Press. This database provides access to most of the major news and research publications in the life sciences. Almost half of the full-text articles available are free of charge.
19. MedicalConferences.com. Find international conferences and CME events in this searchable database. The site also provide a resource listing of major medical sites in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
20. Antibiotic Guide. Browse this guide by specific antibiotics, diagnosis, pathogens, management, and vaccines. Look for free, updated CME programs that are also available.
21. American Hospital Directory. Having access to information for hospitals is always handy. Keep this search nearby for the next time you need to contact a hospital anywhere in America.

Sites Specifically for Med Students

These sites offer everything from how to approach studying to using modern technology to enhance your experience.

22. MedicalStudent.com. This free and incredibly comprehensive site provides links to online medical textbooks, medical journals, continuing education/board exam information, and more. Check out their page of awards, reviews, and comments.
23. Medscape Med Students . Get news, industry updates, and viewpoints from other med students on this section of Medscape especially for med students.
24. MomMD. This site is specifically for women in medicine and offers forums, articles, and resources for med students as well as practicing physicians.
25. Student BMJ. For med students interested in international medicine, this site offers articles on education, life, and research.
26. A Student’s Guide to the Medical Literature. This helpful guide offers suggestions on how to approach learning medical literature and also offers a glossary, calculators, and a downloadable version for your mobile device.
27. Med School Chat. This international site offers top news stories, medical school reviews, forums, and more for the med student.
28. Forensic Medicine for Medical Students. Out of the U.K., this site offers a wealth of information for forensic medicine, legal medicine, and forensic pathology.
29. Real Doctors. This site offers lots of resources for med students such as an essential guide to becoming a doctor, video tutorials, downloadable software, and more.
30. The Efficient MD. Not just for med students alone and technically a blog, this site touches on electronic stethoscopes, iPhones for doctors, the professional benefits of using Twitter, and tips for surviving residency.
31. Braniacs. This site from Vanderbilt Medical School is designed specifically for medical students studying neurology. Find tons of links to enhance your studies.
32. Med-Source. Find all sorts of resources here to help you learn information, plan your course of study, and more.

Sites by Specialty

These links offer helpful information based on medical specialty. Whether you will practice in this field or are just studying it, these sites will offer plenty of information.

33. GeneralPediatrics.com. With multiple links to almost 400 topics, this site opens up a vast amount of information on pediatric issues.
34. M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Center. Each page at this site provides a wealth of information explaining about specific types of cancer as well as topics related to cancer such as pain, fatigue, and genetics.
35. Michigan Ear Institute Medical Library. Find several articles about diagnosis and treatment of ear issues in this online library intended for both professionals and laypersons.
36. ClinicalTrials.gov. Search this world wide registry of "federally and privately supported clinical trials." Search almost 57,000 trials by condition, drug intervention, sponsor, or location.
37. Trials Center. This site offers information for all medical trials available. You can find trials by geographic location, types of cancer, or by other diseases.
38. Aegis. Find information about HIV/AIDS at this information clearinghouse. Search by topics, find conferences, and read fact sheets on this comprehensive site.
39. South Carolina Department of Mental Health. Geared toward both the professional and clients and their families, this site offers a wealth of information from the diagnostic stage to treatment.
40. Internet Mental Health. Learn about disorders or join a discussion group in this comprehensive site designed to raise awareness about mental health issues.
41. ObGyn.net. This comprehensive resource for professionals offers databases, webcasts, and much more. You can also keep up with the latest articles published in the field.
42. Clinical Neurophysiology on the Internet. In addition to the detailed information about clinical neurophysiology on this site, find information on books, journals, conferences, forums, and more.

Pharmaceuticals

These websites offer a vast amount of knowledge on prescription medication, over-the-counter, and alternative medicines.

43. PDR.net. Access one of the most well-known and frequently used resources for FDA-approved prescription drugs. You must register to use this service, but it is free of charge to all U.S.-based medical professionals.
44. Antibiotic Guide. Browse this guide by specific antibiotics, diagnosis, pathogens, management, and vaccines.
45. Drug Digest. This non-commercial drug information site offers a drug library complete with drug comparisons, interactions, and side effects. Photos of the pills are also available.
46. RxList. Find information on any prescription medication on this site. They also offer a pill identifier where you can search by imprint code, color, or shape.
47. Drugs.com. Not only can you learn about prescription drugs on this site, you can also keep up with the latest pharmaceutical news and articles.
48. Electronic Orange Book. Updated daily, this online resource monitors generic prescription drugs and posts updates with new generic drug approvals, application approvals, discontinuations, patent, and exclusivity information.
49. Kaiser Permanente Drug Encyclopedia. Search for information by drug name or browse alphabetically by drug name or drug condition to find what you need to know. The information is also available in Spanish.
50. MedLibrary.org Medication Library. You can find information on prescription drugs, but also learn about generics and the FDA, read drug literature, or learn about clinical trials.
51. Personal MD Drug Database. Search for both prescription and over-the-counter medications on this site.

Reference Material

Sometimes you want to find a very specific bit of information. Whether you need to have an easy way to remember medical terminology or want to find a local chapter of a health organization, the following sites will provide you with a wide range of facts and even a bit of trivia.

52. Medical Mnemonics. Any student who has tried to memorize lots of information knows how helpful mnemonics can be. This resource offers handy ways to remember all that medical information.
53. Merriam Webster Online Dictionary. Look up any medical terminology in the medical dictionary trusted by many. You can also go to the pronunciation and explanation guides for more help.
54. Online Medical Dictionary. Enter a word to search for the definition or browse alphabetically.
55. Health Services/Technology Assessment Text. The National Library of Medicine provides full text surgeon general reports, information on AIDS, clinical practice guidelines, community preventive services, and much more. You will need to read through the list on the left to find your topic of interest.
56. Who Named It?. This fun resource will let you discover the origin of medical eponyms or medical phenomena named for a person. Search alphabetically or browse to find descriptions of the condition and biographies of the people who lent their names.
57. Encyclopedia of Psychology. This site run by Jacksonville State University provides links to anything related to psychology. Read about organizations, learn about the major theories, or find out about a career in the field.
58. Directory of Health Organizations. Use the keyword search to find listings of all health organizations for each disease or disorder. The results bring up full descriptions of the organizations as well as complete contact information.
59. Health Guidance. If you are looking for online articles about specific health topics, this is the place to go.

Anatomy Resources

Studying anatomy is a big part of medicine, so make use of these great online anatomy aides.

60. Visual Medical Dictionary. Start typing a therapy, disease, or medication and you will receive an outline of potential subtopics. Click on each one to receive in depth information on drugs and biologics for that subtopic.
61. The Virtual Body. Choose English or Spanish to get started exploring this virtual guide through the entire human body.
62. Children’s Hospital Boston Interactive Features. Click on these features to make neurons fire, see cell growth as you travel through cancer stages, create red blood cells, and more.
63. Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body. Search this classic book online with 13,000 entries about the human body. Enjoy the original engravings as well.
64. Human Anatomy Online. Start this interactive search by selecting one of ten anatomical systems. You can then pick from a list of specific parts of that system and learn about each by reading the information or zooming in for a more detailed view.
65. Visible Body. Sign up for free to take advantage of this visualization tool to help you learn about the human anatomy.

Online Study Help

From online texts to courses to academic papers, you will find something to help your studies.

66. Case Based Pediatrics for Medical Students and Residents. This text designed by the Department of Pediatrics at University of Hawaii’s medical school is specifically designed for med students.
67. LearningRadiology.com. This online text offers a special section specifically for the med student including quizzes.
68. Tufts Open Courseware. Tufts University has put several courses online for anyone to access. Their medical school offers many courses that you may want to take if you feel you need a bit more help with some of your coursework.
69. Supercourse. View almost 3500 lectures from scientists around the world in this repository of information on public health and prevention.
70. Medexam. Get free or full versions of this software that helps prepare you for many of your med school exams.
71. CiteULike. Save and organize academic papers you are reading or search for papers that may help your studies. You can share with friends, too.

Med Student and Resident Blogs

Learn from those who are experiencing what you are with these informative, supportive, or just plain entertaining blogs.

72. Blogs of Medical Students. This med student posts with interesting med student blog information from around the world. The posts are not as frequent lately, but many of the blogs are still going strong.
73. blogborygmi. This resident in emergency medicine keeps an entertaining blog on medicine as well as other interests such as competitive eating.
74. jenniferhawke.com. Follow the life of this Canadian in med school in the Caribbean as she posts about text books, life as a student, and more.
75. Not Rocket Science. This resident posts about his experience as a neurosurgery junior resident.
76. CCLCM Student Blog. Follow this student blog through a research MD program in Cleveland.
77. Doc Amazing. This Texas med student blogs about his experiences through each of his rotations. The blog is not kept current, but still offers great insight.
78. Anatomy Notes. Find out tons of interesting information about anatomy from this anatomist-turned-med student.
79. Ramble Strip. This third-year med student recently took a break from school due to medical reasons and is starting back to school. Find pop culture mixed with medicine in this blog.
80. the underwear drawer. This anesthesiology resident blogs on medicine and life in New York.
81. The Ablution Block. Two bloggers, one resident and one med student, post here about their experiences in Africa and life in America.

Organizations and Support for Med Students

Find groups with a specific purpose or general support and information groups from these resources.

82. Healtheva. This organization is for physicians, researchers, and med students who are interested in research, paper collaboration, and start-up opportunities.
83. National Society for Non-Traditional Premedical and Medical Students. Also known as OldPreMeds.com, this group is specifically for older students who didn’t come straight through high school and college. The organization offers support via forums, an annual conference, and more.
84. Medical Students for Choice. This non-profit advocates to "destigmatize abortion provision among medical students and residents" in order to provide well-trained physicians so that women may truly have a choice with their reproductive health.
85. American Medical Student Association. This national organization organizes activism for med students to help prepare them for a more compassionate service as a physician.
86. Association of American Medical Colleges. From considering a medical career to your residency, this site offers articles and resources to help guide you.
87. Studentdoc. This site offers help on topics such as the MCAT and finding a medical school. Join a forum for personal support from other students.
88. The Student Doctor Network. Find plenty of articles here that offer support and suggestions for med students as well as a forum.
89. Playing Doctor. This insightful article describes how the writer underwent 23 physical exams by 23 med students performing their first solo physical exam. Her experiences are a helpful view from the other side of the otoscope.
90. SocialMD. Join this social network for med students, residents, fellows, and physicians to network for a whole host of medical support.
91. TiroMed. This social networking site is specifically for med students and physicians to help you "research and learn, and connect with others in your field."

Finding a Residency and Beyond

While med school may be your first step toward becoming a doctor, you will need to prepare for the next phase of your career by seeking a residency. These resources will help you along the way.

92. Medical Students’ Guide to Writing curriculum vitae and Personal Statements. This online guide will help you get your CV and PS together to help you land the residency you want.
93. Medfools. Medfools is a resource for pre-med, med students, and residents–run by students and residents–to help prepare them for a career in medicine.
94. Match A Resident. This service takes your qualifications and runs them through their database to find residency programs that might be willing to accept you based on the information you provided. Basic membership is free.
95. Electronic Residency. Create an electronic residency file with all your residency application information and send it immediately to hundreds of residency programs with this service.
96. How to Prepare for the Medical Residency Interview. Follow these suggestions to make the most of your residency interview.
97. How to Prepare for a Residency Interview. This article offers tips on how to interview for a shabbos-friendly residency program.
98. 25 US Residency Programs Aimed at Better Preparing Surgical and other Specialty Residents to Care for Older Patients. From Medical News Today, find the top 25 schools preparing residents to care for the growing population of geriatrics in America.
99. How to Get the Right Residency Program. This helpful guide offers a timeline, suggestions, charts, and more to help you land the perfect residency.
100. How to Prepare for USMLE Residency Tests. This straightforward outline makes completing your USMLE exams seem downright easy.

Keywords For Your Surgical Rotation In Med School

Bonjour everyone! Today, I’m going to share with you some high yield keywords that should hopefully help you breeze through your surgical rotations in med school. Call it a checklist if you will. The objective is to facilitate memory recall and help you gear up with areas that you just have to familiarize yourself with, ideally before the start of your rotations. Understand that these are just keywords, with a special emphasis on surgical instruments, and you’ll really need to read some good books to develop your knowledge base. For a rapid-fire review I suggest Surgical Recall. For basic surgical skills, you might like RM Kirk’s Basic Surgical Techniques. It is also a good idea to refer to specific sections (for pictures of incisions, instruments, etc.) of a good reference book on the surgical specialty you’ll be rotating in. Finally, like we all know, surgery is an area that is incredibly skill based and different people have different preferences when carrying out the same thing – be it tying a knot, controlling a bleeder or what have you. You’ll learn to modify the way you do things depending on the specific ways of your surgical team.

I’ve also interspersed keywords specific to two areas that I have an interest in with regards to surgery, or rather surgical oncology to be exact – general thoracic surgery and colorectal surgery.

I shall be updating this list as the need comes. Comments, corrections and feedback are always welcome! Bye for now !

Copyright © Firas MR. All rights reserved.

Know The Institutional Setup

The Building And Its Parts

• Floor (a.k.a the inpatient ‘ward’. The terminology comes from the fact that often high rise hospitals dedicate entire floors to a specific inpatient service. Eg: Pediatrics floor, ICU floor, etc.)
• Nursing Station
• Fellows room / doctors’ backroom (seating area for all of the doctors on a floor with computer workstations, etc.)
• Conference room (where meetings between doctors or between doctors and their patients can be conducted.)
• Storage room (a floor typically keeps its supplies in a ’storage room’)
• Treatment room (some floors will have a designated ‘treatment room’ for minor procedures such as gynec exams, etc.)
• Clinic (the outpatient clinic)
• SDH (’surgical day hospital’, a section of the building dedicated to outpatient based procedures like colonoscopies, etc.)
• PACU (post-anesthesia care unit, a.k.a the ‘post-op’ ward. Sometimes this area is also were patients scheduled for surgery stay during the immediate pre-op for marking of the surgical site, any last minute changes in consent, etc.)
• OR suite (where all of the main ORs are)
• Core (some facilities have the entire suite of ORs categorized by specialty. A set of ORs meant for a particular specialty requires its own specific instruments, computer monitoring, etc. A ‘core’ is an area adjacent to these ORs that houses all of this equipment. Sometimes a core will have dedicated OR techs to look after the functioning of its set of ORs.)
• OR Suite Control Room (located adjacent to the suite of ORs. Helps with the logistics and monitoring of activity in all of the ORs. Eg. movement of patients in and out, updating the progress of surgeries listed on the ‘greaseboard’, etc.)
• ICU
• ER (sometimes known by other names such as “Urgent Care”. Referred to as the “A&E” or “Casualty” in many other countries. The ER is often the first point of contact between a patient and a care provider at a hospital.)
• Swing (as in a particular section of a ward)
• Pneumatic tube (on a floor eg. to collect and send blood samples, etc. to a lab)

The Staff

• Intern
• Resident
• Chief Resident
• Fellow
• Attending
• Hospitalist (a physician who is solely involved with inpatient care and who does not see outpatients.)
• RN (Registered Nurse)
• NP (Nurse Practitioner)
• PA (Physician Assistant)
• Floor Nurse
• Nursing Assistant
• IV Nurse/Team (puts in i.v. lines, etc.)
• Floor Clerk (looks after phone calls to the floor, transfer of patients to and from the floor, etc.)
• Preop Nurse
• Circulating Nurse
• Scrub Nurse (a.k.a. ’scrub tech’)
• OR control room nurse/tech
• Wound Nurse (some facilities will have a wound nurse dedicated to care of specific wounds in a given area, like a colostomy site.)
• Wound Team (sometimes there’s a special team of nursing staff that takes care of stuff like ‘wound-vacs’, plastic surgery skin flaps, etc.)
• Orderly (responsible for moving patients around in wheel-chairs, helping with hygiene, etc. People from the Indian subcontinent might be familiar with this job as the ‘ward boy’ [male] or ‘daya’ or ‘aaya’ [female].)
• Nutritionist
• PT/OT (Physiotherapist – can be specialized like ‘pulmonary PT’, etc.)
• Case Manager (usually there’s at least one for a selected group of patients on any given floor. Also known as the ’social worker’, this person deals with financial and ethical issues surrounding the day to day care of patients. Examples of these activities include setting up hospice, medical insurance issues, dnr and health proxy issues before, during and after surgery in concert with the doctors, etc.)
• Other techs (portable x-ray tech, EKG tech, etc.)
• Chaplain (or priest)

Before The OR

• The Greaseboard (the live electronic display of OR events and surgeries on a monitor)
• Surgical scrubs
• Mask – with or without eye shield. Learn to identify the individual sides of a mask. A mask will not allow air to pass freely from the wearer’s mouth to the other side. But it will allow air to easily pass from the other side to to the wearer’s mouth. The objective is to prevent contamination of the surgical field, but not complete prevention of inhalation of airborne droplets.
• Respirator – Unqualified, it filters air from the outside to the inside. Some will filter air in both directions.
• Goggles
• Shoe covers. ‘Booties’ are special kinds of shoe covers that cover the feet all the way up to and including the ankles.
• Cap
• Wet scrub
• Dry scrub – a chemical that you just rub on without having to wash away.

In The OR

• Step (a wide platform with four short legs on which one could stand on)
• OR table (that usually has an electronic control)
• Positions of the OR table – Trendelenburg, Reverse Trendelenburg, Flat, ‘Drop-the-shoulder’ (where the table is ’tilted’ right or left, ‘Bend’ (where the table is bent in the middle, such that it forms an arch with a convexity facing the ceiling.)
• OR flatscreen monitor (for displaying the surgery, pathology slides, etc.)
• Time-out (the OR staff including the surgeons and anesthesiologists run through a safety checklist before, during and after the surgery. Ex: saying aloud the name of the patient, age, gender, scheduled surgery, incision site, counts of mops and instruments, etc.)

General Surgery Instruments

• Shaver / Hair trimmer
• Overhead light
• Head light
• Suction canister
• Mop – wet or dry
• Mayo tray
• Kidney tray
• Bovie (a.k.a. ‘diathermy’ or ‘cautery’. This specifically refers to the ‘Unipolar’ cautery. Named after its inventor.)
• Bovie tip – flat or pin-point/needle
• Bove tip – long or short
• Bovie holder/container (plastic holder/container for keeping the Bovie, when not in use)
• Pinpoint current
• Spray current
• Coagulation current (intermittent, high-amplitude)
• Cutting current (continuous, low-amplitude)
• Bipolar cautery
• Tissue link cautery (a special kind of bipolar cautery that also has a tubing connected to a bag of saline, allowing for simultaneous cauterization and irrigation)
• Argon beam (a unipolar cautery that spits out argon gas that is then electrified to produce a spray of current focused around a given area. Due to the pressurized escape of gas, the electric current or its heat can reach some distance away from the tip of the cautery.)
• Ligasure (a machine that uses heat generated from ultrasound to seal or anneal tissues together. Used instead of stitch sutures.)
• Purse-string applicator (a device that can apply a purse-string suture by the mere press of a button)
• Bonney forceps (a.k.a a toothed forceps with two teeth on one prong and one tooth on the other prong)
• DeBakey forceps (a.k.a. ‘pick-ups’)
• Adson forceps
• Cushing’s forceps
• Rat-toothed forceps (a forceps with a single tooth on either prong)
• Tonsil forceps/clamp
• Kelly forceps/clamp
• Mama Kelly forceps/clamp (just a big Kelly)
• Kocher forceps/clamp
• Allis forceps/clamp
• Babcock forceps/clamp
• Ring forceps/clamp (to sample lymph nodes, etc.)
• Hemostat or Halstead
• Towel clip/forceps/clamp
• Right-angle forceps/clamp (a.k.a. ‘the Mixter’)
• Barracuda (a forceps, the tips of which resemble the head of a barracuda [fish])
• Sponge stick (a.k.a. ’sponge holding forceps’)
• Peanut (a forceps with a tiny rolled up wad of gauze between the tips)
• ‘Tie on a passer’ – A suture thread held by a Right angled forceps used to allow easy passing of the suture around a structure such as a vessel.
• Tie – just a suture thread without a needle attached.
• Stitch – a suture thread with a needle attached on one end.
• Suture material of different types – nylon, prolene, monocryl, vicryl, PDS, silk, etc. Monofilament vs. Multifilament. Braided vs. Non-braided. Absorbable vs. Non-Absorbable.
• Pop-off (a suture with a needle on one end. The needle is very loosely attached to the thread and can be easily popped off by gentle pulling.)
• Clip (metallic clip applied to vessels, etc.)
• Clip applier
• Metzenbaum (a.k.a. ’tissue scissors’)
• Mayo scissors (a.k.a. ’suture scissors’)
• Bandage scissors
• Bard-Parker knife handle (a.k.a. ‘BP handle’)
• Blades – different sizes and shapes
• Yankauer’s suction
• Plastic suction
• Pool multiperforated suction
• Weitlaner retractor (a.k.a. ‘the weaty’)
• Sweetheart retractor
• Richardson retractor (also referred to as ‘the Rich’) – can be large or small
• Deaver retractor
• Kelly retractor
• Army-Navy retractor
• ‘S’ retractor (a retractor that is S shaped)
• Morris retractor
• Goligher retractor
• St. Mark’s retractor – shallow or deep
• Vein retractor
• Loop retractor
• Malleable retractor
• Buchwalter
• The Ring (of a Buchwalter)
• Box-cars (of a Buchwalter)
• Right-angled retractors (of a Buchwalter)
• Bladder blade/retractor (of a Buchwalter)
• Liver retractor
• Balfour retractor
• ‘A bucket’ – just a mug of warm saline or distilled water, used for irrigation.
• GIA (Gastro-Intestinal Anastomosis) Stapler – roticulating and non-roticulating
• Endo-GIA stapler – roticulating and non-roticulating
• TA (Transverse Anastomosis) Stapler
• EEA (End-to-End Anastomosis) Stapler
• Stapler refills – of various colors, each representing a given size.
• Round-body needle
• Cutting-edge needle (a needle that has its cutting edge facing towards the suture line)
• Reverse-cutting-edge needle (a needle that has its cutting edge facing away from the suture line)
• Needle driver (or ‘needle holder’)
• Adhesive drape (sometimes, an adhesive iodized drape is applied to the skin prior to making the incision)
• Fibrillar (something like ‘gel foam’)
• Gel foam
• Surgicel glue
• Dermabond
• Steristrips
• ‘Wet & Dry’ – a wet mop and then a dry mop. After a surgery, the incision area is first wet mopped and then dry mopped.
• Cell-saver – a machine that collects all the hemorrhaged blood and stores it to be re-transfused during surgery.
• Skin stapler
• Endoscope – rigid vs. flexible. The ‘degree’ of an endoscope, as in 0 degree, 30 degree, etc. The ‘degree’ refers to the angle at which the lens can see the tissues with respect to the body of the endoscope.
• Horizon of the endoscope
• Verris needle (for endoscope)
• Trocar (for endoscope)
• Air pump (for the endoscope, usually contains CO2)
• F.R.E.D. (Fog Reduction and Elimination Device)
• Endoscopic “catch” bag
• Alligator forceps
• Grenade (suction drain)

Instruments In General Thoracic Surgery

• Bronchoscope – rigid vs. flexible
• Bronchial stent
• Esophageal stent
• Mediastinoscope
• Mediport
• IJ canula (Intrajugular canula)
• Finochietto retractor
• Lung retractor / the ‘egg-beater’
• Sternal rib spreader
• Rib remover (removes a piece of rib, it’s almost like a ‘bone nibbler’)
• Sternal wires
• Sternal wire holding forceps
• Pericostals (stitches to be applied around the ribs through the intercostal spaces)
• Right angled needle (usually obtuse angled hypodermic needle, used for intercostal nerve blocks)
• The Noodle (a piece of hollow rubber tubing, used to pass the prongs of a stapler through a very narrow opening)
• Chest tube
• Cobb elevator
• Cushing elevator
• Duval (lung holding forceps)
• Endo-Duval (endoscopic Duval)
• Gore-tex

Anesthesia In General Thoracic Surgery

• Single lung ventilation
• Dual lung ventilation
• Bronchial blocker (for anesthesia)

Instruments In Colorectal Surgery

• Proctoscope
• Colonoscope
• Rectal/Anal retractor
• Candy-cane stirrups
• Normal stirrups
• Rectal wash setup
• Colostomy bag (or ‘appliance’)
• TEMS machine (Transrectal Endoscopic Micro Surgery)
• Ureteral catheter (helps identify the ureter)
• Lone-star retractor

Therapeutic Adjuncts To surgery

• I.O.R.T. (Intraoperative Radiotherapy) – also called ‘Brachytherapy’
• Seeds (of I.O.R.T. material)
• XRT (External Beam Radiotherapy)
• I.M.R.T. (Intensity Modulated External Beam Radiotherapy)
• Neoadjuvant
• Adjuvant

Common Thoracotomy Incisions In General Thoracic Surgery

• Lattismus sparing
• Non lattismus sparing
• Posterolateral
• Vertical axillary
• Anterolateral
• Hemiclamshell
• Clamshell
• Median sternotomy
• Chamberlain (left anterior parasternal mediastinotomy, minimally invasive)
• Extended Chamberlain (left anterior parasternal mediastinotomy, non-minimally invasive; equivalent to a left sided anterolateral thoracotomy)
• VATS (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery)
• Robotic VATS

Common Lung Resections In General Thoracic Surgery

With increasing degrees of lung resection:-

• Wedge
• Segmentectomy
• Lobectomy
• Bilobectomy
• Sleeve lobectomy
• Pneumonectomy (intrapleural vs. extrapleural)

Other Common General Thoracic Surgery Procedures

• Pulmonary toilet
• Diaphragmatic repair
• Pericardial window and repair
• Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy
• Bronchial or Esophageal stenting
• Pleurectomy / Decortication
• Pleurodesis – talc or doxycycline
• Pericardiocentesis and instillation of Thiotepa

Common Incisions In Colorectal Surgery

• Transrectal
• LAR (low-anterior)
• APR (abdominoperineal)

Other Common Terms In Colorectal and Abdominal Surgery

• xlap (exploratory laparotomy)
• bso (bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy)
• lad (lysis of adhesions)
• End-colostomy
• Mucous Fistula
• Double barrel iliostomy (loop iliostomy)
• Maturation of a stoma (for colostomy)
• Take-down of a colostomy/iliostomy
• J-pouch
• Hartmann’s procedure
• IOC (intraoperative cholangiography)
• EGD – esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Commonly Used Local Anesthetics In The OR

• Xylocaine (Lidocaine)
• Marcaine (Bupivacaine)

Things To Remember On The Floor

Procedural Stuff

• Sign-out (when patients are ’signed out’ between team shifts)
• Night-float
• Consent (Informed)

Common Medical Ethics Terms

• DNR
• DNI (do not intubate)
• Health proxy (power of attorney)

Commonly Used Equipment

• Chart (the ‘case sheet’ as it’s called in the Indian subcontinent)
• 4 x 4 (4 inch x 4 inch gauze piece)
• 4 x 8
• Clamp (any clamp)
• ABD (abdominal dressing pad)
• Abdominal elastic belt
• Kerlix
• Scissors
• Suture removal kit
• Skin stapler remover
• Foley catheter kit
• Coude catheter kit
• I.V. canula
• i.v. piggyback (ivpb)
• i.v. continuous infusion (ivci)
• i.v. bolus
• Heplock
• Infusion pump
• Pressure drip
• ‘Tele’ (telemetry)
• PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastostomy) – G tube
• PEJ (percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy) – J tube
• LP kit
• TPN (total parenteral nutrition)
• Red rubber drain
• Wet to Dry dressing
• Wound VAC (for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy or NPWT)
• Xeroform dressing (Petroleum jelly gauze)
• Primapore dressing
• Tegaderm dressing
• ‘Trach’ – tracheostomy
• ‘Embo’ – embolization
• Simple Face mask – rate and %
• Venturi face mask
• Non-rebreather face mask
• Partial rebreather face mask
• Rebreather face mask
• IR – intervential radiology
• ‘Rad onc’ – radiation oncology
• Computer pod (a computer on a trolley that can be taken about on the floor)
• PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) for radiology images
• HIS (Health Information System) – the complete electronic system for accessing patient data and placing orders

Common Surgical Knot Tying Terms

• A square tie
• Reef knot
• Granny knot
• Surgeon’s knot
• Instrument tie
• Two handed tie
• Single handed tie

Pathology Terms To Remember

• Frozen (takes minutes)
• Regular (H & E and other stains including immunohistochemistry, takes days to weeks)
• Karyotype
• PCR and RT-PCR
• FISH

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

Doctoral Preparation for Nurse Anesthetists

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is calling for the requirement of doctorate

in nursing for advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists. This new degree will be called a Doctor of Nursing Practice and, if the AACN has its way, will become the entry level for advanced nursing practice.

What is the AANA’s official position statement on doctoral education and where can
I view it?

The AANA Board of Directors’ position statement on doctoral education is: “The AANA supports doctoral education for entry into nurse anesthesia practice by 2025.” The statement can be accessed on the AANA website at http://www.aana.com/dpcrna_presentations.aspx.

WASHINGTON, DC, October 27, 2004: In a historic move to help shape the future of nursing education and practice, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing

(AACN) has adopted a new position which recognizes the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as the highest level of preparation for clinical practice. At its Fall Semiannual Meeting held October 25, 2004, AACN member institutions voted to move the current level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice roles from the master's degree to the doctorate level by the year 2015.

"This courageous move on the part of nursing education represents a milestone in the evolution of the nursing profession," said AACN President Jean E. Bartels. "This bold first step puts in motion a future that recognizes and validates the unique expertise of nurses engaged in clinical practice at the highest level."

Currently, advanced practice nurses (APNs), including Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Mid-Wives, and Nurse Anesthetists, are prepared in master's degree programs that often carry a credit load equivalent to doctoral degrees in the other health professions. AACN's newly adopted Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing calls for educating APNs and other nurses seeking top clinical roles in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. The changing demands of this nation's complex health care environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure high quality patient outcomes.

The Practice Doctorate is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice, and offers an alternative to research focused doctoral programs (i.e. PhD programs). Though only a handful of practice doctorates currently exist, more than a dozen new programs are taking shape nationwide, and several have expressed interest in seeking accreditation. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the nation's premier accrediting agency for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, has agreed to initiate a process for the accreditation of practice doctorates.

http://www.aana.com/uploadedFiles/Professional_Development/Nurse_Anesthesia_Education/Educational_Resources/DTF_Report/focus_sessions.pdf

FSU Nursing Req

Prerequisite Coursework:
The following courses or their equivalent must be completed prior to entry into the nursing major. 15 hours of these should be used to satisfy Liberal Studies/General Education (6 hours Natural Sciences, 6 hours Social Sciences, 3 hours for the second mathematics course).

1. BSC X085, X085L (3,1) Anatomy & Physiology I with lab, or acceptable alternative
2. BSC X086, X085L (3,1) Anatomy & Physiology II with lab, or acceptable alternative
3. CHM 1030, CHM 1030L or CHM 1032 (4) Survey of General Chemistry
4. DEP X004 (3) Developmental Psychology or acceptable alternative
5. HUN X201 (3) Science of Nutrition or NUR X192
6. MCB X010C (4) Microbiology with lab or acceptable alternative
7. PSY X012 (3) General Psychology or SOP X004 Social Psychology
8. STA X023 (3) Statistics or STA X014 or STA X122 or STA X022
9. SYG X000 (3) Introductory Sociology or SYG X010 or SYG X013

Steps To CRN

If you want you can start out earning your Associate's Degree to get your RN license, then get working for a facility that will pay tuition assistance to help you complete your BSN. You will need your BSN (or a bachelor's in another field - but you're better off with the BSN) to get into a graduate degree nurse anesthesia program. You also are required to have at least 1-3 years of work experience in a critical care / ICU unit. All anesthesia schools require this.

The CRNA program itself is about 2-3 years in length. It's a very very very competitive program to get into, some schools get hundreds of applicants for only 10-20 spots, so you have to keep a high GPA, do volunteer work, and other things that show you're a stand out, a super star. They only take leaders.

Education and experience required to become a CRNA include:

	A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or other appropriate baccalaureate degree.
	A current license as a registered nurse.
	At least one year of experience as a registered nurse in an acute care setting.
	Graduation with a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program. As of February 1, 2004, there are 92 nurse anesthesia programs with more than 1,000 affiliated clinical sites in the United States. They range from 24-36 months, depending upon university requirements.
	All programs include clinical training in university-based or large community hospitals.
	Pass a national certification examination following graduation.