In this episode, we discuss how to best prepare for your time on the inpatient wards, including how to prepare before the rotation, how to pre-round, how to present a patient, and how to be an effective team member.

1. Before the Rotation
   1.  Reach out to your team..
   2. Understand what first day expectations are. 
   3. Peruse the patient list.
   4. Identify what study materials and resources will help you excel.
   5. Come ready to learn and have fun! 
2. How to Pre-round

1. Collect information on previous day and overnight events - includes talking with resident or night team, reading all notes from day prior
2. Review all vitals from past day
3. Review and calculate “Ins and Outs”
4. Review all labs
5. Check to see what medications, including PRN meds, your patient got
6. Introduce yourself to patient and family - get their input on how patient is doing 
7. Collect your thoughts, interpret your data, and formulate your assessment and plan for your presentation and note

1. How to Present a Patient on the inpatient wards service
   1. Begin with one liner
   2. Subjective: interval and overnight events
   3. Any patient or caregiver concern or question noted when you prerounded
   4. Ins and Outs
   5. Vital signs
   6. Head-to-toe physical exam
   7. Labs, microbiology, and radiology
   8. Assessment one-liner
   9. Plan
2. How to be an effective team member
   1. Touch base with a resident to run through your assessment and plan. 
   2. Show initiative
   3. Be honest and direct
   4. On rounds, listen to all patient presentations, not just your own
   5. Follow up on tasks for your patients (and other patients on the team) and make sure they are carried through
   6. Revisit your patients to keep them updated
   7. Write notes and ask for feedback on your notes

About the Speaker:

Host: Krista Roncone, MD – Krista Roncone, MD, FAAP completed her pediatric residency at the University of Virginia. She is a board-certified pediatrician with interests in humanitarian assistance, global health, and medical education.

Clerkship Ready: Pediatrics is a podcast aimed at medical students doing their clinical clerkship in Pediatrics. The views expressed are the speakers' own and do not constitute medical advice.