• Learn from every patient - you will learn things that will help you in every field. This may be your only opportunity to experience Ob-Gyn, so make the most of it.
• Spend time with your patients, even those with complicated problems — you can learn the most from seeing patients in clinic, on the ward and on labor & delivery (L&D).  Read about the conditions that your patients have.
• Get involved in procedures, but be sensitive to what’s going on…offer support for the patient and assistance for the physician and nurse.  Keep you eyes and ears open.  Debrief afterwards.
• Solicit feedback. Ask for feedback about your performance — your oral communications, your written documentation, your technical skills and your ability to develop a differential diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Be part of the team. Follow through on patient care tasks and clarify with the ob/gyne residents if you are not sure about something.  Check on your assigned patients frequently and help to be a liaison between them and your team.
• Take initiative. “How can I help out? I’ll write the note on that patient.” goes a long way to make the team function better and gives the residents more time to teach you.
• Be available. If you are not around, you may miss out on procedures, deliveries or teaching, and the residents or nurses may not have time to track you down.
• Introduce yourself to nurses, ward clerks, physicians and others on the team.  Make sure they know who you are.  Learn the names of the people you will be working with.  Spend some time getting to know them and understand their expectations.
• Show interest beyond the basic requirements. Talking to the radiologist or the consultant to get latest information adds to patient care and to your experience.
• Use common sense. Have a pen, notebook, an obstetric wheel and your reference materials in your pocket. Documents that tell you how to write notes and orders for Ob-Gyn are very helpful.
• Teach the team. Volunteer to help the team by reading about topics in depth and by sharing what you have learned with the group.

DON’T's...

• Discuss plans with the patient until the team agrees on the plan.
• Gossip!
• Be late! Being on time shows your enthusiasm for learning and respect for your team members.
• Contradict the residents or attending physicians on rounds. Before or after rounds is a good time to clarify issues with the residents.
• Leave a surgical case in the middle, unless you are ill or have discussed it with the residents and/or attending ahead of time. This suggests a lack of interest.
• Complain about working too hard. The entire team works hard to get patients the quality care they need.
• Disappear when things are busy — this happens in the OR and on L&D; stay around until things slow down. Soon enough, you will get some teaching and you may get the opportunity to assist in a procedure.
• Be afraid to be wrong. Make an educated guess, even if you’re not sure. This is your opportunity to come up with a differential diagnosis and learn how to think like a doctor.