Beginning FM1/IM1
This has to be my most requested topic. A blog detailing my journey through the clinical semesters. Well, we have finally reached that point, so I figured I’d update you on my first steps!
Let’s start from the beginning: getting through the paperwork and submitting for my rotation site. The paperwork is tedious but not that difficult. The biggest thing was just making sure to pay attention to detail. I ended up retaking my drug test three times because I didn’t pay attention to the specific requirements they were asking for. So tip number one: Read Carefully!
I then was put in contact with my clinical coordinator. We met and discussed my plans for my rotations. I wanted to stay in Ohio, mostly because its only 3.5-4 hours away from where I live in Michigan so I could stay close to my husband and family (if I ever have time to visit LOL). It took a couple weeks, but I was finally confirmed for starting FM1/IM1 at Trumbull Regional. That brings us to today …
HOUSING
I found a cute one bedroom, one bath apartment with a very short commute!
Highly recommend finding time to drive to the area if you are uncertain of where you’d be okay with living.
About three weeks before rotations started I decided to take a drive to the area where I would be doing rotations. While it’s true I live near the state, I had never been near this area at all, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I had heard on the news was worrisome to say the least for a younger female living on my own. However, after visiting the area and talking to the locals, its actually a very cute and quiet town. It is low-income, so that means crime rates are a little higher, but absolutely no reason to not be comfortable living in the area. I find the town itself adorable and am actually excited for this change (although I’m NOT excited to be anywhere near Ohio State fans, but that’s a story for a different day; GO BLUE).
My biggest recommendation when it comes to housing, at least right now, is to check FaceBook Marketplace. I tried apartments.com but the problem is none of the apartments in the area had availability, even though it said so on the site. We visited a ton of different apartments and struck out every time. The apartment complex managers even tried to get ahold of their contacts and there was nothing available. It’s just too short of a time frame, and all these places have waitlists. I ended up finding this VERY reasonably priced apartment on the top level of a house. It’s less than $700 a month and has an in-unit washer and dryer. I don’t know how much experience you have working in a hospital or any medical environment, but laundry in-unit was my ONLY must-have. You end up doing laundry nearly every day because of having to wash all your clothes as soon as you get home to avoid contamination. I’m not sure yet how much the hospital is going to launder our scrubs, but it doesn’t change the fact that laundry is a regular thing in the healthcare field.
The hospital did send out an email with some leads on housing. However, most of what they sent out was short term. So if your plan is to do FM1/IM1 then leave, you might want to wait on that email. I am choosing to stay in this area for about a year before finishing up my cores elsewhere, so I was looking for a long-term lease. And, choosing to rent from a private landlord has so many more personable benefits. The landlord is REALLY nice, and I am confident that if anything comes up, I won’t have any issues.
FM1/IM1 Pre-work Weeks 1 to 3
They send out the information packet about a month in advance, and there is quite a bit of work to be done before you start your rotations. You have work to do with the school, a packet, and a test to fill out for the hospital itself. I’m not sure if this is the same as FIU, but I assume it is. It’s all standard information: HIPAA, privacy policies, recognizing abuse, and other very important real life topics you will be expected to have some knowledge about prior to beginning. I pulled up these documents on my iPad and just started reading through everything and filling out the forms as needed. They need you to submit a photo for you ID badge as well, so I just used the same photo I submitted for my clinical rotations packet through AUA. The nice part is that since you already filled out the clinical packet, AUA can just forward all of the information for you, so you don’t have to do double duty and resubmit everything again, which is a very valuable time saver!
You also have modules to complete on Blackboard for you rotations as well. Most of it is due prior to the start of the rotation, but really pay attention to your due dates. I always keep everything on my calendar so I get multiple reminders and never miss a deadline. There are a few very important items to be completed, one of which is your Cultural Competency, which is necessary for licensure and great to have it done already to place on our CVs. So far, the outline of the program is great. I’m glad we have things to prepare us in advance so we don’t go into this rotation completely blind. However, there are some things I plan on doing beforehand as well to prepare for this first rotation.
Before Beginning a rotation
I must admit, I’m a BIG fan of Rachel Southard on YouTube. She has been a big inspiration and has some really amazing advice preparing for rotations. A few of her recommendations I have already, and a few of these books I bought because of others who have advised to do so (these are Amazon Affiliate Links):
Step 2 CK Prep Specific:
Rotations Specific:
Clothing Specific (there have been some suggestions made on must haves for long rotation days):
I also already bought Boards & Beyond for Step 2 as well as Amboss. From the research I’ve done so far, these two resources are really great for not only preparing for Step 2 but also prepping for the Shelf Exams after each core rotation. Before starting FM1/IM1, I am planning to start binge watching Boards & Beyond and also completing questions from Amboss (and don’t forget going through my Anki cards!!!!!!)
Thus far, I’ve heard the best way to prepare for Step 2 is by using these resources to study for your shelf exams. If you can get through each of the materials for each core rotation, you’ll be setting yourself up for less cramming during dedicated study for Step 2. I will of course update on how those materials are working out and how the Shelf Exams are going. But for now, this is the strategy I have laid out.
I also am planning to start practicing suturing ASAP. This is another tip I’ve received from many different resources because its a great way to get your residents and attendings to trust you. However, that’s only one skills component, you also need to prepare yourself well for the “pimping” that happens; a.k.a asking you a ton of questions about your patients that you will be rounding on or any other generalized topics related to that day on your rotation. There are other specific resources that were recommended to prepare for this, but that’ll be another thing I update on once I’ve actually experience this lol. For now, the goal is to prepare as best I can to avoid embarrassment!
And that’s it so far! Not much as of yet. But, as I get more information and start to learn more things, I plan on updating this blog at least twice during each rotation. One half way through, and one after the shelf exam. I’m super excited to get to the hands on learning aspect but also nervous. While I have worked in healthcare for nearly 7+ years, this is a whole new side of things and I am eager to learn more about the life of a physician. I’ll potentially post video vlogs in the future, thoughts? And of course, if anyone has been through this process and has any other tips for beginning FM1/IM1, be sure to leave some suggestions in the comments!
