Just relax. Not much is expected of third years, especially during their first week. The key is to improve and not make the same mistakes, regardless of medicine, peds, or ortho. Tips for sucessful third year rotations are do whatever possible to DECREASE the amount of work your intern does. Ask to help even if it means you have to do scut work. Believe me, a little scut now will help in getting procedures later. Not knowing what is expected of you is pretty much what the third year is about. As soon as you have some comfort in a rotation it means it's time to go on to something completely different or getting an attending or senior resident who does stuff completely different. Just relax and try to LEARN. That's what you're there for.

Try to be as much of a sponge as possible. Poster above is right about first week not being that crucial. Just listen carefully when others present and make notes to yourself how they do it and the order. ASK NOW IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO SOMETHING! If you wait a couple weeks and then ask, they'll wonder where the @$%& you've been the last 2 weeks (they may actually ask you that). So if you don't know how to do something (presenting, writing notes, orders, whatever), ask someone. Your intern is the best person to ask for basic stuff like presenting, writing notes. More advanced questions should be directed to more senior residents. Don't ask attendings about how to do floor work...that's for the residents - ask attendings about transverse myelitis.

It's hard knowing what to do. I was in your shoes too and just kind of roughed it out and learned along the way. You'll have people in your class who seem to know how to do basic stuff like presenting...but remember many med students have parents who're physicians and they teach them these things. People like us kind of have to find our own way. It's tough but you'll get it.

It's hard to know who to impress. Some attendings get lots of feedback from residents and interns. Others just fill out your eval forms in their bedroom. Help out your intern and he/she will put in a good word for you if he/she is not a tool.

Hang in there bud. Ask now (first week or 2) or you'll be in the dark for a long time. You'll look like a good student if you ask how to present your first day or first week on service. If you wait till week 3, you'll look like an idiot.

Here are some basic tips:
1) make intern's life easier
2) oral presentations are to the point and much shorter than written H&Ps. Ask your intern what the current attending wants to hear.
3) Keep track of labs. Make a card/sheet for every patient with history, PMH, Meds, Allergies and keep a running labs list.
4) Never complain because the intern's life is always worse.
5) Read about your patients. Maybe get an interesting article about the pt's dz or meds for the team
6) Ask to help, but don't crowd. I know this is difficult, but don't stop asking just because they turn you down once.
7) Be the first to volunteer, but don't forget "the 2 second rule"--- wait a few seconds before you ask a question or volunteer. This will ensure that you are not showing-up your classmates (don't be a gunner, but work your @$$ off)
If you're not a "study an hour a day" kind of person, become one now. It really adds up if you try to cram. Plus you want to come in with some new knowledge everyday. Graders really like improvement. However don't slack early to look good later- not if you want honors, that is.
9) If they say go home (sleep, lunch etc), go!!
10) Be a scut monkey and look like you're loving it. Just don't forget to learn along the way :roll smile:

Thanks everyone for the replies. Today was definitely better and after I get my first patient tomorrow I should be able to focus on what to research/read on and start asking some relevant questions. Thanks again.