Medicine and surgery rotations: what to expect
Medicine is about thinking, follow-up and long lists. Surgery is about speed, pre- and post-op care and theatre time. Both reward the house officer who keeps the list tight.
Medicine
Typical work: long ward rounds, multiple admissions, investigations, interpreting results, referrals, OPD.
Common calls: fever, low BP, low urine output, high sugar, chest pain, breathlessness, confusion.
How to do well:
- Know every patient's results before the round.
- Learn to read ECGs, chest X-rays and blood gases fast.
- Learn fluid prescribing properly (write-up fluids).
Surgery
Typical work: pre-op preparation, consent, theatre lists, post-op care, dressings, discharges.
Common calls: post-op fever, pain, low urine output, bleeding, nausea and vomiting, wound problems.
How to do well:
- Make sure pre-op investigations, consent and cross-matching are done.
- Know post-operative complications by day.
- Get into theatre and assist whenever you can.
Frequently asked questions
Which is harder, medicine or surgery house job?
It depends on the unit. Medicine is often more mentally demanding; surgery is often more physically demanding with longer days.