Clerkship

Medical students in their pre-clinical years experience Emergency Medicine teaching through observerships. In Year 3 and Year 4, they participate in Emergency Medicine electives. Emergency Medicine is a mandatory Year 4 undergraduate rotation at the University of Alberta. We hope your Emergency medicine rotation proves challenging, helpful and enjoyable. Emergency medicine experience can pay off in every aspect of medicine, and this rotation will likely be one of the more memorable and exciting aspects of your medical school training. We hope you will be proactive in completing the educational needs of your rotation and in seizing the many opportunities for learning that present themselves in the Emergency Department.

Our undergraduate program has received numerous awards for teaching. Emergency Medicine is often a medical student's first exposure to undifferentiated, acutely ill patients.

Our medical students have the opportunity to work with enthusiastic emergency physicians in a variety of venues. These physicians also express their passion for teaching by acting as preceptors for the Emergency Medicine clerkship rotations.

We look forward to your rotation with us, and wish you a productive and enjoyable emergency experience! Please contact your site preceptor or us with any further questions.


Tips for a Successful and Enjoyable EM Experience

  • Adhere to a professional dress code. Dress should be neat and professional (hospital scrubs are acceptable) and you must wear your short white lab coat while on shift. Keep your ID badge clearly visible to patients and staff at all times. Jeans and open-toe sandals are not permitted.
  • Be punctual!
  • Initially, pick up one chart at a time, and review that case with your supervising Emergency physician after you have formulated a rudimentary impression and plan for the patient. The exception to this is if you feel the patient is unstable, and requires immediate emergency physician assessment.
  • Always write your name and the name of your physician supervisor on the chart.
  • Do not be afraid to ask for help! Your supervisor is there to assist you!
  • After you have performed a procedure, remove all sharps from the area and place them in a sharps container.
  • All patients must be reviewed with the Emergency physician prior to discharge.
  • Patients with work related injuries must have a WCB form filled out by the attending Emergency physician.
  • Learn from all you see and hear, not just the didactic portion of your experience. You may learn the most when the Emergency Department is absolutely hectic!
  • In general, student learners should only care for a few active patients at a time. If you already have a full caseload, feel free to become involved in the care of other patients that your staff/senior residents are working on.

Refer to the hospital site-specific orientation letter for these and other topics:

  • Location
  • Lockers
  • Parking
  • Length of shifts