Last updated on February 21, 2024
Getting accepted into med school is no easy feat, however, once you have been offered a place on a university course, there is still a lot of work to be done to prepare you for the busy life of a med student. For example, there are plenty of things you need to buy to help make your day that little bit easier. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a must-have checklist for medical students, helping you prepare for your first day and beyond.
Table of Contents
5 Essential Items For Med School Students
Indemnity Insurance
Medical indemnity explained – It’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes. The same applies to doctors. Even though they have had year upon year of extensive training and are likely very good at what they do, they are still human and open to error. Medical Indemnity insurance is designed to help protect doctors or surgeons when these mistakes happen, or when a patient has made an accusation of malpractice.
A Stethoscope
The stethoscope is one of the most used pieces of equipment in a hospital, so you’ll definitely want to get your hands on your own. In fact, many med schools require you to purchase an industry-standard stethoscope prior to starting your course.
Study Supplies
When studying medicine, you’ll have to take plenty of notes. Help make revising easier by colour-coding your notes. You can use different colours for different topics, or highlight keywords so that they stand out. We recommend purchasing a range of different pens, pencils, highlighters and even a range of notebooks for different subjects!
Comfortable Shoes
A doctor is often on their feet for large amounts of time, treating patients and moving from ward to ward. They often work 12+ hour shifts. When you are on placement, you’ll be working long hours with very little breaks to help prepare you for this eventuality. Therefore, it is essential that you buy a comfortable, durable pair of shoes.
Ideally, these shoes will be waterproof with a supportive arch that allows you to be on your feet all day, without any pain or blistering.
For more advice on purchasing appropriate footwear,check out this blog:.
Portable Phone Charger
Whether you are working late in the library, or on a long shift on placement, it’s important that your phone remains charged. Although you won’t be able to use your phone during shifts, you may need it later when heading home or if someone tries to contact you. That is why we suggest purchasing a portable phone charger to ensure your battery never dies.
What Else Does A Medical Student Need?
There are some qualities that a med student needs, however, that can’t be purchased. For example, you need to be passionate about the training and the work that you do, determined to succeed and driven enough to put yourself through all the hard work it takes to become a doctor. Remember, no matter how hard it seems, it will be worth it in the end.
