I love vaginas!

Ok, well maybe not, but obs and gynae has come to my rescue! (I never thought I'd hear myself say that)

Today's obs and gynae OSCE went really well, much better than yesterday's disaster so I'm happier now and hopefully more confident. Again it was a very fair exam but this time I feel I just about did myself justice.

OBS AND GYNAE (again, excuse the dodgy numbering, I did them in the following order)

Station 3 - Scenario: You have been asked to take a swab for chlamydia and perform a bimanual examination, please do so on on this model and talk to it as though it is a patient.

I walked in and I thought shit, there is no way I'm going to be able to do this in 5 minutes but I launched in and before I knew it I was finished. I'd done everything that was expected of me, even my communication skills were almost perfect (although its bloody strange talking to a plastic pelvis.) I had a spare minute at the end. Maybe I forgot something major, it seemed too easy...

Rest Station - This time I was able to reflect on my good start, and I got an orange slice and a drink to refresh me

Station 4 - Scenario: This lady has an embarrassing gynaecological problem, take a history from her.

Hmm, another full history in 5 minutes... it's ridiculous to expect us to do that really. But I did my best. I made sure my communication skills were up to scratch and I was fairly pleased but I didn't have time to discuss the potential treatments and or tell the examiner that I thought she had stress incontinence. That was more of a time problem than a problem with me though.

Station 5 - Scenario: GUM viva - Given results of various tests and had to give a diagnosis and treatment and talk about other aspects of the case.

It was a strange one but I kind of stumbled to the conclusion that the diagnosis was bacterial vaginosis and mumbled something about metronidazole as a treatment because I think that's what I read. But from then on I was back to waffling like I did yesterday. Hopefully I said some good stuff and got some good marks but I was a little unsure about this station.

Station 6 - Scenario: Counsel this simulated patient re. male sterilisation as a contraceptive technique.

I wasn't really prepared for this station but I think I came out of it pretty well, I don't think I emphasised the permanence of the procedure but I addressed his concerns and allayed some fears. It was all about communication really (at least I hope it was because I didn't know a great deal about the procedure itself)

Station 7 - Scenario: Comment on and discuss this partagram.

The only station that went badly. I've never really looked closely at a partagram before, yes I've seen them in books and on the ward but I've never studied one or seen exactly what is on one and why. I managed to bluff my way through explaining most of it although the examiner obviously knew I'd not really seen one before (thankfully other people said the same afterwards) I kind of messed this station up but the examiner was nice and hopefully I bluffed some marks somewhere along the lines. If only it had been a CTG.

Station 1 - Scenario: Examine this pregnant lady as you would during a routine ante-natal appointment.

Another success, again I'd learnt and practiced the procedure well. I knew what I was doing and what I was talking about. My communication skills where up to scratch and I'm fairly sure I didn't miss anything dramatic.

Station 2 - Scenario: Examine this plastic model of a breast, as you would a patient. Answer questions on your findings.

A nice easy one to finish off, I knew exactly what I was doing, I'd practiced well and I was slick at the examination. I found the two lumps in the fake breast and was able to give a diagnosis, how I came to that diagnosis and how I would confirm the diagnosis.



So, all in all, not a bad exam today, most of it I could have predicted and I'd revised most of it quite well. My examinations were good as were my communication skills, there were a couple of dodgy moments but aren't there always? Hopefully I've picked up a few more marks today to drag my mark up a little. The best thing about today was that post-exam relaxation feeling, although being in quarantine for a couple of hours soon saw me wanting to maim some of my colleagues. So...WOOO! Potentially no more OSCEs till finals *touch wood*