Psychiatric Rotation

I just finished my psych mod...I didn't find it difficult, just a little frustrating because there are a lot of gray areas and I didn't always agree with the "textbook" approach that we were taught.

If you want to get a leg up, start studying your meds! Especially Lithium, MAOI's and antipsychotics. There are some serious side effects and important information about those-specifically learn about extrapyramidal side effects (EPSE's) and nueroleptic malignant syndrome for the antipsychotics, learn the drug and food interactions for MAOI's (there are a ton) and the therapeutic serum level for lithium, how it's metabolized and excreted...and so on.

You could also just familiarize yourself with the common disorders-schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression were the ones we spent the most time on. But don't go too crazy (no pun intended, lol) it's really not that bad, IMO.

I found it easyer than the other clases, it has a lot of gray area but in the same time it is comon sense. Good lock to you.

And by the way I founded the clinical in psych very interesting. Is a different experience.

I'm currently during my psych rotation and taking my med surg part II at the same time.. I think in that aspect it makes psych a little difficult because the way you need to think for med surg doesn't really mesh well with psych.. I think its all about if you are able to get into the thinking and switch between med surg thinking and psych thinking..

In my honest opinion.. I like the class.. find it a lot easier than med surg.

For the poster who said it's all about common sense... that is completely 100% true..

I'll be starting my psych rotation next week. I heard both ways so I guess I'll have to see for myself. I just printed off the syllabus and it all seems to confusing, lol. Anyway good luck to you!