5 Tips for Succeeding in Clinical Rotations

That transition can be daunting, according to Yocheved Lindenbaum, M.D., FAAP, Assistant Dean for Clinical Sciences and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at New York Medical College (NYMC). While the specifics of clinical training vary among health professions, Dr. Lindenbaum said many of the fundamentals for succeeding in a clinical environment apply across disciplines.

Here are five tips for making the most of the experience:

1. Do Your Homework Early

Preparation starts before you walk through the door on day one. Learn about the site, complete onboarding requirements early, and know where you are going, how you will get there, and whom you should meet. If you haven’t received instructions as the rotation approaches, take the initiative and ask.

Once there, get the lay of the land and identify the people you can turn to with questions. Different rotations bring different routines, expectations, and team dynamics, so adaptability is essential.

2. Step Forward, and Up

One common mistake Dr. Lindenbaum sees is allowing understandable anxiety to make students retreat into the background. Instead, engage with the team, volunteer for appropriate opportunities, and show genuine curiosity.

“A lot of this comes down to reading the room,” Dr. Lindenbaum said. “Showing curiosity and taking initiative is important, but also understanding, ‘Is this what the team needs right now? Is this what the patient needs right now?’”

If you freeze, take a breath, collect your thoughts, and remember that supervisors and other members of the clinical team are there to help.

3. Remember: It’s About the Patient

Clinical rotations aren’t simply another form of school. Students are still learning, but now they are learning while caring for people. That means shifting the central question from What can I get out of this experience? to What can I do for this patient?

Helping a patient might mean spending time on hold with a lab to track down test results, or it could be as simple as refilling a water bottle or finding a pillow. What matters, Dr. Lindenbaum said, is recognizing what the patient needs and being willing to do it for them.

“Just because a task is not glamorous doesn’t mean it’s scut work,” she said. “Those little things can really help patients.”

4. Say ‘I Don’t Know’

Students may feel pressure to demonstrate how much they know, but Dr. Lindenbaum said one of the most important lessons is learning when to admit what they don’t.

“Don’t make something up because you think you need to look good,” she said.

Instead, acknowledge that you don’t know, find the answer, and follow up. Communicating uncertainty honestly demonstrates humility and professionalism.

5. Learn From Everyone

A clinical environment offers teachers everywhere, not just the person formally supervising your rotation.

“The entire clinical environment is their learning space,” Dr. Lindenbaum said.

Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, technicians, and other professionals all bring expertise students can learn from. Patients themselves are teachers, too, Dr. Lindenbaum said, and approaching them with curiosity and humility can teach students not only about illness and treatment, but about communication and caregiving.

And remember that becoming comfortable in a clinical setting takes time.

“You’re at the very beginning of your learning curve and the road is hard,” Dr. Lindenbaum said.

“But,” she added, “you will get there.”