5 Must Haves as a Medical Student

Stethescope:

https://amzn.to/3SB0XhL 

The feeling when you first get your stethoscope is unmatched! You will definitely need a stethoscope as a medical student especially when you start placements. You will also need your stethescope for The OSCE examinations. 

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine: 

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3dFem8H 

Kindle Edition: https://amzn.to/3p6RJML  

The infamous cheese and onion handbook! I personally have the paperback version of this handbook which I find very useful to quickly look something up about a disease. 

Mini Notebook:

https://amzn.to/3Ph8Ju9

I highly recommend getting a mini notebook for your hospital placements as it's likely you will be practising history taking by talking to patients and having a small notebook to hand is very useful. I also used my mini notebook to write some notes from what my clinical fellow teachers were teaching on the bedside as well as feedback from doctors who were observing me either take a history or from me observing the doctors such as during ward rounds.

Analog Brooch Watch:

https://amzn.to/3JEN2Dn

Another essential for hospital placements especially when you are doing a rundown of physical examinations or trying to get your clinical skills signed off. Increasingly however people have started using their mobile phones for timing but you may still need this for exams!

Tendon Hammer:

https://amzn.to/3p9pZHs

My friend had a tendon hammer that we used to practise with each other in preparation for our OSCE exams. It was really convenient as it allowed to practise the awkward skill of eliciting a knee-jerk reaction, ankle reflex etc. They are relatively inexpensive which makes them worthwhile.