CORE SURGICAL CLERKSHIP

Surgery

Introduction

During this 8 week clinical Surgical clerkship, you will focus your complete attention on the science and art of surgery. It will be a demanding and time consuming period in your clinical training, but one that can successfully prepare you for the practice of medicine in the years to come, regardless of your ultimate career goals. This clerkship demands interaction between the student, faculty and resident housestaff, and an understanding of the responsibilities each must fulfill if the objective of excellence is to be met. This manual will help define the goals and objectives of the junior medical student CORE Surgery Clerkship, the responsibilities of the student, and the responsibilities of the Department of Surgery towards the attainment of this goal.

Departmental Expectations

Appearance:
The student will at all times reflect a proper professional decorum when working in the hospital. Men are expected to wear shirts and ties and appropriate trousers, and women must maintain a modest and professional appearance. Scrub suits may be worn but must be covered by a clean white lab coat. Name tags, in the from of student ID badges, are to be worn at all times.

Conduct:
While on the floors the student will maintain a concerned and professional demeanor while dealing with patients, family members, and other members of the health care team.

Punctuality:
The Department of Surgery expects each student to be punctual for all scheduled meetings, conferences, operating room responsibilities, and rounds. Schedules will vary by service and institution. The student will be informed of his/her schedule on the first day of the clerkship.

Reliability:
Each student is expected to fulfill all call days to which he/she is assigned and to remain on the floor each day until he/she is dismissed. Each institution will construct its own call schedule; in no instance should night call exceed one in four nights. Students will be exempt from call and hospital duties on all applicable student holidays.

Student, Patient and Faculty Relationships:
Each student must see the patient as an individual and act with compassion, kindness and respect at all times. The patient's privacy and their dignity must be protected, not only in the physical sense, but in all matters pertaining to illness, treatment and prognosis. Any discussions regarding the patient's problem, whether with the patient or his family, must be done with the Senior Resident's or Attending's knowledge and permission.

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OR Scrub Attire

Please note the following mandated by state regulation:

Absolutely no jewelry is allowed in the operating room.
When leaving the operating room area, your scrubs must be covered by a full length lab coat.
No hats or shoe covers are to be worn outside the department.
No scrubs may be worn to and from work.
No scrubs are to be worn outside of the hospital. This includes the outpatient clinics, medical school, or Hines-VA Hospital.

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Special Request for Leave of Absence

Students rotating on the surgical clerkship have been given the privilege of functioning as members of the surgical team. With this privilege goes the responsibility to carry out assigned duties as determined by the Chief Resident and the Attending Service Chief. Arbitrary time off during this experience is not permitted. For academic purposes (student presenting original work at a meeting) or in "exceptional" family circumstances, requests must be made at the time rotation choices are submitted to the Office of Education and prior to commencement of the clerkship. The procedure is as follows:

Send a letter requesting the time interval with supporting documentation (meeting brochure if presenting or an invitation to event for an "exceptional" circumstance.)
The Surgical Course Director will need to review and approve the time off. This discussion may take place with the Attending Service Chief.
Time off exceeding three days requires approval through the Dean's office.
If approved, the information will be forwarded to Terry Wronski for the student's permanent file.

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