What Happens In Final Year of Medical School?

Summary

In this video, a final-year medical student from the University of Manchester shares her journey through the hectic final year of medical school. She discusses the busy placement schedule, transitioning from observing to actively participating in patient care, and the various exams like the SJT and PSA. Additionally, she explains the complex foundation job application process and the challenges of juggling placements, exams, and personal life. Despite the overwhelming workload, she reflects on the sense of accomplishment and the exciting next steps as she prepares for her future career in medicine.

Takeaways

• 😀 Final year of medical school is extremely busy and hectic, with a lot to juggle including exams, placements,Key Takeaways Summary and job applications.
• 😀 In final year, placements are more hands-on compared to previous years, with students expected to perform tasks similar to foundation doctors.
• 😀 Students gain confidence through hands-on experiences, including patient examinations, contributing to their transition from medical student to doctor.
• 😀 There is a significant focus on practical skills such as making calls to departments, arranging tests, and completing discharge paperwork.
• 😀 Final year exams are scheduled in close succession, adding to the stress and making time management crucial.
• 😀 The SJT (Situational Judgment Test) is a key exam in final year, contributing 50% to the overall score for foundation job allocation.
• 😀 The Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) is another important exam, testing the ability to prescribe safely, and it must be passed to practice as a doctor.
• 😀 The foundation job application process starts early in final year, with students needing to rank deaneries and hospitals without having full information on their SJT scores.
• 😀 The job allocation process is complex, involving multiple stages including ranking trusts, jobs, and ultimately being assigned a non-negotiable positionFinal Year Medical Takeaways.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, students often feel grateful when they secure their preferred trust and specialty for their foundation year, especially if they can stay close to home.
• 😀 Final year requires significant personal sacrifice, including less social life and limited time for personal activities like making YouTube videos.

Q & A

What was the main reason the video creator has been so busy in their final year of medical school?

The creator was extremely busy due to their final year exams, placements, job applications, and the need to balance preparation for several major exams like the SJT, PSA, and finals. They also had to manage additional responsibilities, such as attending conferences and preparing research presentations.

What is the general structure of final year placements in medical school at the University of Manchester?

Final year placements at the University of Manchester consist of five blocks: four placements in the first semester (GP, general medical, surgical, and acute specialty) followed by a research block and a final clinical placement that is student-selected.

How do final year placements differ from previous years in terms of involvement and responsibilities?

In final year, medical students are expected to take on more responsibility and become more involved in patient management, similar to what a foundation doctor would do. They are expected to examine patients, form management plans, and handle administrative tasks such as organizing tests and discharge paperwork.

What is the concept of 'assistantship' in the final year of medical school?

'Assistantship' refers to the role medical students take on during their final year, where they are expected to do the day-to-day tasks of a foundation doctor. This includes patient examination, contributing to management plans, attending multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, and making calls to organize patient care.

What kind of exams do medical students in their final year face?

Final year medical students face multiple exams, including the Situational Judgement Test (SJT), Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA), and written and practical finals. These assessments occur throughout the year and require significant preparation alongside clinical placements.

How does the SJT exam impact a medical student's future job application?

The SJT exam makes up 50% of the score used to rank students for foundation jobs. It is an exam of employability, assessing whether students understand the values set by the General Medical Council (GMC). It plays a crucial role in job allocation across the UK.

What other exams, besides the SJT, do students need to prepare for in their final year?

Besides the SJT, students need to prepare for the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) and their final written and practical exams. The PSA is focused on assessing a student's ability to prescribe safely, which is crucial for their ability to practice as a doctor.

What challenges did the creator face while balancing final year exams and the job application process?

The creator had to juggle studying for exams like the SJT and PSA while simultaneously navigating the complex job application process. This included ranking deaneries, trusts, and job positions, all while still attending placements and managing their academic responsibilities.

How does the job application process work for medical students in their final year?

The job application process begins in September of final year, where students fill out their applications and receive a decile based on their academic performance. After sitting for exams like the SJT and PSA, they rank different deaneries and trusts where they would prefer to work. Finally, they rank job positions within those trusts and are allocated a job based on their scores.

What job did the creator end up receiving, and how did they feel about it?

The creator was allocated a job at North Manchester General Hospital, which was their first-choice trust. Although it wasn't their first-choice job position, they were extremely grateful to stay in Manchester and to have secured a job with Pediatrics, their top priority in the Foundation Year 2 roles.