Going clinical

Abstract

‘Going clinical’ provides practical advice for preparing for, learning from, and enjoying time spent on clinical placements. The chapter describes the day-to-day running of the hospital, introduces the different members of the multidisciplinary team, and offers practical insights into professional behaviour, clinical responsibility, and teamwork. Different clinical environments including the outpatient clinic, the operating theatre, and the wards are described, with advice on how to maximize the learning opportunities offered. The chapter includes an introduction to history taking, clinical examination, documentation, as well as an overview of the interpretation of chest and abdominal X-rays.