Sheffield Flashcards
Applying to University is not just about the course but also the place where you will be studying. Why is Sheffield the right place for you?
Named most affordable student city by Royal Bank of Student Living Index 2021:
- Money is a realistic concern as a student
- Affordability allows you to experience more for less
5th largest city:
- Grew up in Newcastle
- Ready for something bigger and more diverse
- Not so big as to be overwhelming and isolating
60% green spaces & Peak district:
- Nature and the outdoors is really important for me to unwind
- Botanical gardens and Winter garden
Unless already explored within the above – What can the City of Sheffield and the University of Sheffield provide you with that is important to you?
We are International campaign:
- Started here
- I work for an international profit
- Studied a-levels with several international students
- Really value international diversity
Student Union, Give it a Go Programme:
- A number one of events to try out
- Voted no. 1 SU in Student Crowd University Awards 2022
What is it about the course structure here that makes it the right one for you?
Patients as Educators programme:
- 750 patients and 100 simulated patients provide students with the opportunity to develop history taking and physical examination skills, procedural and communication skills and
participate in simulated ward scenarios
- In addition to this we also heard that patients
participate in lectures, providing students with the opportunity to hear first-hand about their own personal experiences
Early clinical exposure:
- Starts in 1st year with Early Years GP sessions
- Placement at a GP and meeting with a patient who has a condition relevant to this weeks teaching
- Important to me to gain experience in a clinical setting and to speak to patients
- Useful to see the application of teaching to real life settings
- Enjoyed and valued work experience, just soak everything up and learn, learn things you can’t in a lecture
Integrated learning approach:
- As well as large lectures
- Small group sessions discussing clinical case linked to current teaching
- I really enjoy group work and diversity of ideas
- I think this will be a good way to engage with the topic and ask questions
Systems-based learning:
- Study one system at a time, looking at it in anatomy, physiology, pathology, dissection etc
- Works well with my learning style in terms of understanding and retrieving information
Medical schools receive far more applications than there are places. This means that many excellent applicants will receive no offers. If this happens to you, what will you do? (Explore determination to study Medicine)
- Take my A-levels and achieve my predicted grades or higher
Take a year out, gaining as much work experience and volunteering as possible:
- Clinical
- Caring for people
- International work
- Life experience
- Find a job
- Evaluate the gaps in my first application and work to improve them
- Reapply
Staff shortages and its effect on waiting times has become a big challenge in the NHS. How do you think this should be tackled?
Employ internationally:
- Staffing gap needs to be filled
- Employment of international workers (particularly those from countries with poorer medical education system) on temporary contracts in exchange for pay and teaching/qualifications
- Will be able to take back higher level skills to their countries
Problems = taking workers from countries in need of them
Contract privately:
- Something the NHS already does
- Utilises staffing in the private sector
Problems = more expensive and can encourage NHS workers to go private which causes more understaffing
Efficiency:
- Streamline procedures to require fewer staff and fewer followups
- Streamline paperwork and/or contract it out to admin staff to utilise medical staff where they are needed
Increase number of medical school places:
- Increasing government funding for medical school places
Problems = Where does the funding come from, as number of people working part-time and leaving medicine increases so too must places
People want to be a Doctor for many reasons. What are the reasons you want to become a Doctor?
Obviously I really love the science of medicine and biology and chemistry and I really want a career where I can help people and give back
Specific to me - patient representation:
- My own personal experience trying to seek healthcare for hearing impairment
- CISV and Oswin project
Tell me about a patient that you saw during your work experience/volunteering who taught you something that you will take with you into your studies?
Cerebal Palsy teenage
Medical condition:
- The severity
- Long-term hospital stays
- Interaction of multiple conditions
Ethics:
- Nearly died following elective surgery
- Argument about whether she should be allowed to die
Life:
- No parents or legal guardian
- Should have been discharged but had no where to go
- Care and looking after
- Entertainment (finger painting)
Good Medical practice is an important document for all Healthcare Professionals – how might it apply to you as a Student healthcare professional? Do you think how it applies changes when you qualify?
GMP:
- Knowledge, skills and performance
- Safety and quality
- Communication, partnership and teamwork
- Maintaining trust
As a student:
- All aspects still apply
- Key part = ‘Recognise and work within the limits of your competence’ and ‘Take prompt action if you think that patient safety, dignity or comfort is being
compromised.’
When you qualify:
- ‘Work in partnership with patients’ and ‘Keep your knowledge and skills up to date’
Once qualified you must take greater responsibility for your actions and also greater intative
It can be common to work with patients who have communication difficulties due to illness or dementia. How might this affect the way you care for them? How would you manage confidentiality in such a case?
Can’t understand:
- Work experience on stroke ward, saw several patients with aphasia
- Dementia,
- Respect and dignity
- Patience
- Simplifying speech and necessary responses
Can’t communicate back:
- Met a boy with cerebal palsy who communicated using an eye gaze communication device
- Selective mutism, tracheostomy, non-verbal autism
- Eye gaze communication device
- Physically present options
Language barrier:
- Translator
- While waiting utilise other techniques such as language simplification and presenting options
- If a translator is necessary, it should be a professional, not the patients friend or family member
- This would require sharing their medical details and friend or family member may add their own opinions and views
Establishing competence:
- Understand the information they are given
- Remember the information
- Use the information (weighing up benefits and risks, etc) to make a decision
- Communicate their decision
Confidentiality:
- May need to break confidentiality if the patient does not have competence in order to speak to next of kin
While working at your Saturday job in a shop you find that one of your colleagues has arrived at work smelling of alcohol. They appear to be intoxicated, and you know that they drove to work. What actions would you take?
Establish intoxication:
- If it feels safe to do so, speak to the person myself and ask
- There are other reasons that someone may appear drunk such as stroke or head injury
Assess immediate risk to life:
- Ask colleague for their car keys to prevent further drink driving
- Assess if they have anything on them they could cause harm to themselves or other with e.g knife, bottle etc
Assess risk to business:
- Remove from the shop floor
Report:
- Encourage colleague to speak to the boss themselves (go with them)
- If necessary, report colleague myself
- Anything further action is the decision of the superior
Solve problem:
- Find someone to take colleague home
- If colleague is too drunk to be left alone, ensure there is someone to stay with them
- Establish why this happened, how colleague can be supported and how it can be prevented from happening again
Key points:
- If i did not feel safe to approach colleague, I would just report immediately so someone more suitable could deal with it
Tell me about a time when you have made a positive impact on someone else’s life.
CISV:
- I volunteer for an international non-profit which works with kids all over the world, delivering piece education
- One of the roles I have played for this charity is as a camp counsellor at an international summer camp
- 12 countries, four kids and a leader from each
- The camp lasts a month with no contact with parents except letter writing
- Can see the impact it has on the kids lives
- We have a list of goals for each child and you can see their development
- They become more aware of international affairs but also become more patient, cooperative and understanding
- I specifically worked closely with a young french girl who spoke no English
- She started off really shy and withdrawn
- I regularly spent time with her and made an effort to ensure she understood, encouraged the other kids to make an effort as well
- She really came out of her shell, developed her confidence, communicated with people across language barriers
What does working together for patient care mean to you? What factors might impact on our ability to do this?
- Strength of a team is in its diversity
- Utilising the skills of each person
- Collaborating and listening to individual ideas
- Knowing when to reach out for additional help
When this might be impacted:
- Prejudices against colleagues (CISV & Oswin project)
- Ego
- Personal arguments
- Seperating personal and professional
Showing compassion and empathy is important when we deal with patients. How would you try to do this? Is this different from showing respect and dignity for patients?
Show compassion and empathy:
- Counselling course & peer mentoring
- Utterances
- Open body language
- Active listening
- Patience
- Do not become to robotic or routine
Difference from respect and dignity:
- Also important
Studying Medicine can be intense, so maintaining a work-life balance is important. How do you relax and unwind? What does the city or University offer that can support this?
Spending time outdoors:
- 60% of Sheffield is green space
- Easy access to the peak district
Making friends and spending time with them:
- Student Union, Give it a Go Programme
- A number of one off events to try out
- Voted no. 1 SU in Student Crowd University Awards 2022
Medical students are selected from students with a wide range of backgrounds. How will you cope with moving from an environment where most students have a similar background to one where everyone has a wide variety of experience and knowledge? How might that impact you or those around you?
- Really enjoy working with a diverse range of people
- CISV and the Oswin Project
- CISV differences training
- Sheffield’s We are International Campaign
- When people are different they are prone to miscommunication or struggle to connect
- Its all about finding common ground and showing patience and kindness
- CISV french kid
