Medical Student Role on Trauma Shifts

This is unpublished

Medical Student Role on Trauma Shifts

  1. Care for a minimum of 2-3 patients primarily each shift. Present to EM R3+attending, EM R4, or attending.
  2. For modified and full trauma codes:
    a. Have shears, cut clothing/expose when directed by R4 or attending.
    b. Provide warm blankets for exposed patients.
    c. Stay with team and participate in rolling party.
  3. Are encouraged to do the following procedures on with appropriate supervision: laceration repairs, IVs, foleys, ABGs, I&Ds, splinting, and bedside US.
  4.  In quieter moments, explore trauma topics. Do some independent study using clerkship and other resources on the following topics first and then discuss with your attending and/or residents:
    a. Have someone walk you through a FAST exam on a stable patient, and review info on sonoguide.com.
    b. Learn the NEXUS and Canadian C-spine spine clearance rules, and discuss how to clear spines.
    c. Discuss appropriate suture choices for a variety of lacerations.
    d. Discuss wound care instructions for a variety of lacerations.
    e. Learn closed head injury decision rules (Canadian, New Orleans, PECARN for pediatrics).
    f. Learn Ottawa knee and ankle rules.
    g. Discuss the primary and secondary survey of ATLS.
  5. As with all other shifts, provide documentation for all of your patients and receive feedback on documentation as well as shift performance by supervising MDs (R4 + attending, or attending primarily).