I'm currently on my second clinical rotation, general surgery, and I'm genuinely having a miserable time. I'm trying to figure out whether this is just what surgery rotations are like or if my experience is particularly bad.
For context, my first rotation was ER, and while it was challenging, I actually felt like I was learning. I took histories, performed physical exams, developed assessments and plans, sutured, and gradually became more confident. I know I have a LOT to learn, but I felt like I was progressing. But surgery has been the complete opposite.
There are three students assigned to the same surgeon. In clinic, we basically just shadow him. Sometimes we'll see only 4 patients over several hours, and we're not allowed to independently see patients, take histories, perform exams, or develop plans. He doesn't even talk to or look at us when we're in clinic. In the OR, we take turns scrubbing in, so sometimes I'll spend an entire day standing there without participating in anything. Even when we do scrub, it's only to stand next to the surgeon and get pimped.
The biggest issue, though, is the preceptor. He constantly pimps us, which I understand is part of surgery. I don't have an issue with being questioned or expected to study. But there's virtually no teaching involved. He'll ask obscure anatomy questions or very specific surgical questions, and if we don't know the answer, he gets visibly irritated and tells us to look it up. When I asked him to walk me through something, he laughed and said "I'm not going to do your homework for you." Sometimes I'll answer five questions correctly and miss the sixth, and that's the one he focuses on and tells me I havent been studying.
He also tends to direct questions at me first, and I've started feeling like he's already decided I'm the weakest student. I know my surgical anatomy is rusty, and I'm actively trying to improve it, but I often freeze when he puts me on the spot. I've spent hours studying the next day's cases, only to get questioned on completely different topics. There's very little explanation, discussion, or feedback beyond being told to study more.
At my mid-rotation evaluation, I was told I was "lowly passing," and when asked about my strengths, he essentially said TBD. He also told another provider he doesn't think I'm studying, despite the fact that I am.
To make things even more frustrating, we're expected to stand throughout clinic, even when the surgeon is sitting at his desk. Between clinic and the OR, I'm sometimes standing for eight hours with very little educational involvement.
I finally spoke with my clinical coordinator, who acknowledged my concerns. A PA at the practice who has worked in surgery for 15 years also validated how difficult this surgeon is and offered to advocate for me, which was honestly the first time I've felt supported during this rotation.
I'm not interested in pursuing surgery, but I absolutely understand that I need to learn surgical medicine. I'm willing to work hard, study, and be challenged. I just don't feel like I'm being given opportunities to actually develop clinical skills.
At this point, I'm dreading going in every morning. I'm exhausted, my confidence has taken a hit, and I'm frustrated that I'm paying so much for an education where I'm primarily standing around and getting interrogated.
So my questions are:
Is this typical for general surgery rotations?
How do you study for a preceptor who seems to ask completely unpredictable questions?
How do you handle pimping when you know the material but freeze under pressure?
Has anyone dealt with a preceptor who seemed to have already decided you weren't a good student?
Would you push your program to intervene further, or just keep your head down and finish the rotation?
I don't expect to be spoon fed information or praised for everything I do. I just want to learn and become a competent PA. Any advice or perspective would be appreciated. I'm really trying not to let one rotation destroy my confidence.
