HomePage > Policies and Procedures > Medical Students > Housestaff Responsibilities for Student Teaching

Housestaff Responsibilities for Student Teaching

(updated 11/28/2006)

1. Residents and interns are expected to fully integrate students into the ward team and provide an early orientation of what the housestaff expect of students and what students may expect of the housestaff.
2. Residents and interns should encourage students to ask questions and to assume as many patient care responsibilities as possible.
3. Residents should assign two to three new patients per week to each student.  On the first day of the students’ rotation, residents should assign two new or existing patients to each student.
4. Residents should conduct daily morning work rounds and speak with the students regarding their patients prior to leaving the hospital at the end of the day.
5. Residents and interns should review and discuss the therapeutic and diagnostic plans and test results for each student’s patients and, when possible, for other patients on the service. 
6. Prior to attending rounds, residents should review all patients the students are planning to present to optimize the style and content of the students’ presentations and to ensure the student has up-to-date information about the patients.
7. Residents and interns should instruct students in using a problem-oriented style of note-writing.
8. Residents and interns should review and co-sign the student’s notes daily.
9. Residents and interns should teach physical examination skills to the students and observe the students performing physical examinations.
10. Residents and interns should include students in reviewing x-rays.
11. Residents and interns should instruct and observe students in the proper manner to perform procedures.  Special emphasis should be placed on using sterile technique and avoiding provider needle-stick and other injuries. 
1. The students should strive to become proficient in:

1. Drawing blood samples.
2. Starting IV’s.
3. Obtaining blood cultures.
4. Obtaining other culture specidems.
5. Reading EKGs.

2. When possible, the students should also acquire experience in:

1. Performing urethral catheterization.
2. Placing nasogastric tubes.
3. Drawing ABG samples.
4. Performing lumbar punctures.
5. Performing thoracentesis.
6. Performing paracentesis.

12. Residents and interns should provide overall emotional support, suggestions for improvement, and periodic reviews of performance.
13. Residents and interns should notify the service attending physician and the clerkship site director as early as possible when there are potential problems with students.  Supporting documents should be provided when appropriate.  Reporting potentially unethical behavior involves a special, confidential form that permits tracking by the Dean’s Office without affecting the student’s formal record.
14. Residents and interns should complete a written evaluation of the student within one week of when the student completes the rotation.