“Pimping” refers to superiors asking a med student “on-the-spot” questions to see if they paid attention in the first two years of school. Many students hate to be pimped, since it makes them feel, well, on the spot. If you don't know something off the top of your head, you feel (even if you don't look) stupid.

1. Have a method. The key to pimping is this: While it's good to be able to give the particular answers your pimper is looking for, often what they want to see is that you have a systematic approach to thinking about a problem. Sometimes, even if you don't know a patient's particular diagnosis, showing you have an approach to the problem will earn you credit. I've often proceeded to give a particular diagnosis as an answer, only to have the resident stop me and ask for a broader differential.

Let's take the following example:

ATTENDING: What do you think of your patient's shortness of breath?

STUDENT: (Ulp!). … Well, uh … It's due to her congestive heart failure … (I guess …)

ATTENDING: Is that all?

STUDENT: Um … Well, that's what she has! I mean, I guess she could have pneumonia …

Better approach:

ATTENDING: What do you think of your patient's shortness of breath?

STUDENT: Well, I know our patient has CHF, which can cause this.