With graded responsibility the student will participate in the management of the following systems:

• pulmonary – intubation, ventilator management, interpreting arterial blood gas, management of hypoxemia and hypercarbia, ventilator weaning,
• neurologic – assessment of comatose patients, sedation and analgesia,
• cardiovascular – hemodynamic assessment, use of inotropes and pressors, use of central lines and pulmonary artery catheter for assessment and interpretation of shock,  management of arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, cardioversion, pacing,
• renal – assessment of renal function and management of acute renal failure, indications for hemodialysis
• gastrointenstinal – assessment of nutritional status, enteral and total parental nutrition, assessment and management of  hepatic failure
• infectious – assessment and management of septic patients
• ethics – communication with family of critically ill patients, advanced directive

Medical students will be assessed by nurses, residents, and attending physicians. They are evaluated on their presentation of cases at the bedside. Their knowledge, clinical skills and approach to management will be tested by oral exam. They are evaluated on their presentation of materials on topics relevant to their case presentation. Clinical skills and patient communication are also assessed at the bedside during examination of patient. They are also evaluated on how prepared they are to assist residents for intensive care unit bedside procedures such as arterial line placement, central line placement.