How to Get the Most Out of Your Clinical Rotation: Active Learning Strategies

As a medical student, clinical rotations are some of the most pivotal experiences of your education. These rotations give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world patient care and allow you to refine essential clinical skills. To make the most of your time in these settings, it’s crucial to be proactive and engage in active learning—an approach that fosters deeper understanding, retention, and professional growth.

At Trinity School of Medicine, we emphasize the importance of an active learning mindset. Here are some strategies to help you maximize your clinical rotations, engage effectively with patients, ask insightful questions, and actively learn during rounds.

1. Prepare Before Each Rotation

Before stepping onto the clinical floor, it’s vital to do your homework. Review the specialty you’ll be rotating in and brush up on key topics or common conditions you may encounter. While you won’t be able to prepare for everything, having a basic understanding will allow you to engage more confidently with patients and clinicians.

Practical Tips:

• Study common conditions: Read up on frequently encountered conditions in the specialty in which you’re rotating. For example, if you’re rotating in internal medicine, review common cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or pneumonia.
• Know the medications: Familiarize yourself with the common drugs used in the specialty, their side effects, and dosages. This will allow you to be an active participant in discussions about treatment plans.

2. Engage with Patients Actively

One of the most valuable parts of clinical rotations is interacting with patients. Don’t just observe passively—be actively involved in their care by listening attentively, asking questions, and contributing to their management plan.

Practical Tips:

• Take a thorough history: Practice your patient interview skills by conducting detailed histories. Ask open-ended questions and be curious about the patient’s lifestyle, concerns, and symptoms. This will not only improve your diagnostic skills but also build rapport with patients.
• Offer to perform examinations: If appropriate, volunteer to perform physical exams under the supervision of a senior clinician. This gives you hands-on experience and helps you build confidence in performing key assessments.

3. Ask Insightful Questions

Asking the right questions during your clinical rotation is one of the most effective ways to engage with your learning. Whether you’re speaking with attendings, residents, or patients, asking thoughtful questions demonstrates your interest and can spark deeper learning.

Practical Tips:

• Ask “why” questions: Instead of just asking what the diagnosis is, ask why a particular condition is suspected, what the differential diagnosis is, and how the treatment plan is formulated. This encourages deeper thinking and reinforces your understanding.
• Inquire about the decision-making process: When you’re observing clinical decisions, ask your supervising physician about the rationale behind those decisions. For instance, ask, “Why was this medication chosen over others?” or “What factors are considered when choosing a treatment plan for this patient?”
• Seek clarification: If there’s something you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. Clinicians are usually more than happy to teach and explain complex concepts in a more digestible manner.

4. Take Notes and Reflect

Writing down key points during rounds and patient encounters will help you retain information and provide a resource to review later. After each patient interaction or round, take a few minutes to jot down reflections on what went well, what you learned, and areas for improvement.

Practical Tips:

• Maintain a clinical notebook: Whether it’s physical or digital, a dedicated notebook for your clinical rotations can be a great resource. Write down interesting cases, clinical pearls, and any questions that come to mind. This will allow you to revisit and reinforce what you’ve learned.
• Reflect on feedback: Take note of any feedback you receive from residents or attendings and incorporate it into your future practice. Reflection is a critical part of the learning process, helping you identify both strengths and areas for growth.

5. Be Proactive During Rounds

Rounds are a prime opportunity to learn from your attendings, residents, and fellow students. Be an active participant during rounds by listening attentively, asking questions, and volunteering for tasks.

Practical Tips:

• Volunteer for tasks: If you’re comfortable, offer to present patients, take vitals, or participate in discussing treatment options. Even small contributions can help you stay engaged and gain more exposure to the clinical decision-making process.
• Observe and learn from others: Watch how your attendings and residents communicate with patients and collaborate with the healthcare team. Pay attention to how they explain complex medical concepts to patients and make treatment decisions. You can learn a lot by observing others and incorporating their techniques into your own practice.

6. Be a Lifelong Learner

Clinical rotations are just one part of your medical education, but they should inspire a commitment to lifelong learning. Stay curious, continue to seek out new knowledge, and be open to evolving your practice.

Practical Tips:

• Follow up on cases: After your rotation, take the time to look up any interesting or challenging cases you encountered. This will deepen your understanding and help you remember the case for the future.
• Join discussions and case presentations: Engage in case discussions with your peers and faculty. These sessions provide opportunities to share insights, hear different perspectives, and strengthen your clinical reasoning skills.

Final Thoughts

Clinical rotations are one of the most exciting and enriching aspects of your medical education. By adopting active learning strategies—such as preparing beforehand, engaging with patients, asking insightful questions, and reflecting on your experiences—you can maximize your growth and fully immerse yourself in the learning process. Remember, every patient, every round, and every interaction is an opportunity to become a better, more compassionate, and skilled physician.

“The preceptors with Trinity make the time, whether it's an hour before patients come in or an hour after, even after every patient you discuss the patient's case, you are able to give your input on the patient care and the care plan and the medication and the imaging and the diagnosis. So I'm very appreciative and thankful for that.” - Sarah Alsenad, a Trinity medical student

At Trinity School of Medicine, we believe that proactive engagement during clinical rotations is key to becoming a successful medical professional. Embrace each rotation with curiosity and an eagerness to learn, and you’ll find yourself developing the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in medicine.