Visiting medical students should understand what is expected of them during a clinical elective. Both Johns Hopkins and your medical school wish you success, making sure you are prepared before your rotation is critical to that success.

What to Bring and How to Dress

Professional attire is expected. Examples of professional attire include: pants, slacks or knee-length or longer skirt, and a shirt and tie, or blouse. Clothes that restrict movement when caring for patients or are revealing are not appropriate. Closed-toe, non-athletic shoes are required. Please bring your own white coat and stethoscope.

English Language Proficiency

Students on clinical rotations will need proficient spoken and written English language skills in order to gather detailed information from patients, communicate with patients about care plans, and communicate with supervising physicians and all members of the multidisciplinary team in the clinical setting.

Be Prepared to Serve an Active Role on the Clinical Team

Students on clinical rotations are not just observers, but are active participants in patient care, learning, and team function. The student’s active roles will include:

• Independently gathering data- patient history, physical exam, review of electronic medical records.
• Synthesis of information from history, exam, and data review
• Formulation of assessment and prioritized problem list
• Suggestions on next steps in evaluation and management
• Self-directed learning, targeted to answer questions that advance patient’s care
• Documentation of History and Physical for new patient evaluations or consultations; progress notes on subsequent hospital days

Professionalism and Communication

Students are expected to demonstrate professionalism and responsibility at all times; you will be working as a member of a health care team and should always address people with respect, recognizing that everyone brings different types of expertise to patient care.