General Medicine Questions Flashcards
Why medicine?
A career I have had in mind for a while, and volunteering at the hospital for the past year has helped me see the NHS in action and sparked my interest.
Volunteering here I saw - all types of peoples - at their lowest point - and my presence - tea/coffee made a real different to their evening. And I desire to go into a profession where I can make a difference at a personal level. I saw doctors provide treatment plans, whilst showing empathy and later on seeing the patient recover was really enlightening. I have that empathetic nature and I want to carry on that doctor patient relationship.
I learn that doctors are a scholar, scientist and practitioner. Dynamic in the job.
Medicine has endless opportunities to explore in the scientific field. Biology workshops led in school, dissections, reading around the topic led me to even conduct an EPQ on a potential disease that could increase in the future - EVALI. I know that keele are developing research and I am excited to be part of the research and scientific breakthroughs.
I believe a lot of my personality is geared towards what is required in healthcare.
Why at Keele?
- Keele for two reasons, the course structure itself and also the surrounding.
- Top ten medical schools, small and friendly medical school
- The integration of science and clinical learning through the 5 years, and spiral curriculum so being able to revisit topics at different points in the course, first developing the scientific foundations and then developing pathological/clinical aspects.
- 100 weeks of varied clinical experience
- Problem based learning and dissection
- Increasing focus on global health – as a geography student
- Innovative technology - Hugo robot assisted surgery.
Surrounding
Largest campus In the UK, you can study in all kinds of environment and thrive. Its a beautiful and spacious green campus.
All courses from arts to science, all different kinds of people you can meet.
Lively social life centred on the students union, sports and societies.
Close to Peak District for a walk - collate thoughts, city centre
All forms of societies - women in surgery, dance society etc
Why not nursing?
Throughout life, I have interacted with nurses, doctors and HCA. Nurses have a vital role in MDT and share many aspects.
Difference: Nurses have overlapping aspects such as hands on procedures, helping patients and building a rapport. They work together with other health care professionals in the treatment and help the doctor with data/updates for the decision making process but doctors usually take the lead and have the ultimate responsibility for the patient and their treatment.
Justification: This is a challenging job as you have to ensure the correct diagnosis is given for the patients survival, as well as making use of my scientific knowledge and leadership skills for patient treatment and coming to a final decision.
Point 2:
Difference: Nurse practitioners undergo similar training to medical student however medical students go to medical school for 5/6 years
Justification: In medicine you go into greater detail with the scientific foundations of disease, learning anatomy through dissection or prosection and the much larger scientific exposure intrigues me. Doctors are provided with a general training that ensures knowledge and experience of clinical areas are met beyond the speciality, this helps in the management of a patient when matters beyond that speciality are important.
E.g TB specialist nurse managing a patient with a history of liver problems may run into problems when considering anti-tuberculosis treatment and hence needs doctor involvement.
Conclusion:A nurse would be enjoyable as there is a clear overlap however I am a keen individual to take that leadership, decision making, extra science knowledge and involved in constant teaching and research activities aswell.
What would you do if you don’t get accepted?
Firstly, I would ensure I improve my chances of getting in the following year - identifying what was weaker in my application then working on that deficiency and dedicating time for it.
Point: Finding a job as a HCA or volunteering longer at the hospital - more job opportunities .
Possibly abroad - to see how different healthcare systems work and expose myself to variety of cultures
Explanation: To gain clinical exposure
Point: Personal growth - learning how to code a website.
Explanation: Writing to labs and applying for lab interns skills that I can use in the future.
Could also benefit me as a doctor - improving efficiency of IT services in the NHS.
Conclusion:
Honestly, I would prefer to get in this year and fit these activities in the summer break however I am determined on reaching med so try my best and part large sums of effort to get there.
Outside of academics what have you done?
I do team sports such as dance with friends. It is a great way to destress and I particularly enjoy the competitions and shows that we are involved in.
I also love playing the piano, I teach it to students in my area and I am very passionate about it. I love when they are able to play a piece of music and the effort I go into to teach them and send them to competitions so they can perform to communities aswell. I find that playing and teaching piano enables me to clear my head, which helps me to be more focused.
Volunteering at the hospital - weekly basis, I get exposed to new people new fields, helping the staff and the patients. Making it easier for patients to come to at the hospital
Charity event - Burma - military coup
Tell me about a non - academic project in which you were involved.
The non academic project that I am most proud of is a charity event that I helped set up to help with the civilians in Myanmar who are against the military coup. They are trying to protect the citizens who are dying and are going to war – they need food,, clothing , first aid and so much more. So monthly, the community get together and sel food and do talent shows to raise money and I have helped raise £2000. I have also donated clothes that I wear, to the people.
I also teach students in my area piano, so whilst they are learning a music, I am also getting some money which is donated to them. From this project, I learnt attention to detail, negotiation skills, multitasking and effective communication
What did you learn from your work experience.
When I was doing my work experience at my local GP, I noticed that patients came in demanding the treatment, understandable as they are in ill heath, but sometimes doctors need to conduct an investigation plan –> referrals to hospital.
Therefore are not giving the best help straight away but telling them the truth and not giving them false hope –> From this I learnt the act of honesty and integrity.
What steps have you taken to find out whether Medicine is the right career for you?
Going to open day –> gave me a chance to discuss my aspirations with people who work in the field and it was informative. They discussed the challenges such as work life balance–> but I believe my extra curricular and my adequate organisation skills can manage this.
Work experience –> Empathy to patient –> I believe I have that empathetic nature due to experiences where I have listened to younger students about their problems –> Through medicine building doctor patient relationship to better their recovery
Learning that doctors are scholars, scientists and practitioners. They are involved in research. My curiosity of the wider world and science –> led me to conduct EPQ likewise I believe my curiosity and research skills correlate to being a god doctor.
Hence why medicine is right for me
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Medical school will have given me a good background and a solid base on which to build a career as a doctor. During my work experience, I really enjoyed shadowing a GP, and I see myself taking up a speciality and problem solving to provide best treatment plans for patients - I believe through keeled integrated learning and medical training over the next 5 years I will learn the skills and my eyes will open up to more opportunities.
Academic perspective - interested in teaching. Teach piano right now. I have conducted research, and later on want to do clinical research and get involved at some stage. Keele pushing towards global health.
From my Rand R and ps you can see I am someone who enjoys taking responsibility. During my volunteering I saw many meetings within the healthcare and saw that there are many opportunities for doctors to be involved in managerial activities which I am keen to be part of.
In my spare time, I will still want to carry on my hobbies such as dance and piano.
How important is IT in medicine
Able to process reports and send database to relevant departments more quickly , and easy to retrieve
Robot assisted surgery - more precision
Research method - genetic biotechnology
Analysing data is easier
COVID - online gp appointments
What are the extended roles of nurses in healthcare?
Clinical nurses - a lot of experience in one speciality and can take on some of the duties - can take histories and examine patients.
Nurse managers - taking managerial roles
Research nurses - a small number research
If a benefactor offered you a large amount of money to set up a Medical Research Centre and invited you to run it - what area of research would you choose to invest in and why?
I would be interested in teen Health research
To prevent self inflicted disease its the next generation
Mental health research
Its something close to me as many kids at the age of 16-18 go through it
Age of curiosity
