You guessed it boys and girls, its that time of year again, exams. Now the cleverest among you will be wondering what I'm talking about because I've said a few times previously that I've got no more exams until finals and this is true. I am of course talking about the year 4 exams which are happening this week. A year ago this week, I was frantically (hmm, perhaps not frantically but still) revising for the OSCE which covers psychiatry, orthopadics and neurology. When it came to it, I actually did quite well, I made some stupid mistakes which cost me but I was very pleased with my mark. Shortly after this event, I began my journey into blogville and have been going ever since. This of course means that my first blog birthday is coming up shortly but more on that later.
So, what is this post about then? Well, on Thursday I am being examined, not by examiners but by the year 4 students, that's right I'm being a patient in one of the OSCE stations. I've done this once before during last years exam where I was subjected to numerous respiratory exams, my trachea hasn't been the same since! I've got a fair idea of what station i'm going to be on this Thursday, but its only a guess and I shall wait till after the exam to talk about it - just so that in the unlikely event that a 4th year reads this, they won't benefit from knowing what is coming up (not that I know, its just a guess)
There are a few reasons for volunteering for this kind of thing, perhaps the most useful is the fact that you get to see the exam from the other side of the fence which is good experience and you get to see what exactly examiners are looking for. You also get to revise whatever station you're doing as you critique the students being examined. There are also bonuses such as free food and a day off (its a terrible shame that the exams don't fall in my community block). The fact that you get £40 for the day is of no importance at all (I promise ;) )
Check out the reallm for the latest juicy PBL gossip.
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Being examined...
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9 comments:
I too am a medical student in the North of England. I hope you don't mind this intrusion, but I stumbled across this whilst Googling for various OSCE notes. We also have our exams next week - I fear it's too late! Orthopedics especially is a total mystery to me, I swear I'm going to end up a gibbering wreck on the floor of the station, endlessly repeating the foot bone's connected to the...knee bone...
Anyway, keep up the good work (and any veiled hints!)
Mx
This week...next week...my brain is mush!
misha - No prizes for guessing which uni you're at eh? If I were you, I'd take a look at the university medicine page at some of the past results from year 4 OSCEs, In some of these results documents it tells you what the stations were. Now obviously they're not going to be exactly the same but they're usually quite similar in my experience, Particularly the ortho type stations.
£40 of no importance? You must be rich - I'd take the money and run.
I'd be a good patient as I have multiple pathologies....
I don't know how much 40 pounds is...
Sniff, I don't have an invitation to see the reallm :( (But it's okay really, it is. Who knows I may be some nutcase :P)
I'm really curious about what station you'll be participating in.... Please do tell later!!!
jessica - drop me an email to imamedicalstudentgetmeoutofhere[at]hotmail.co.uk and i'll sort you out an invite.
What is this "reallm"? Is it a Pandora's box containing not only the details of LM's legendary OSCE station but the answer to life itself? Can it cure the pain searing through each and every one of my poor cranial nerves?(especially the Optic....an hour's revision before breakfast is not good for the soul).
Mx
OOH YOU"RE A PATIENT!
they always seem to have loads of fun laughing at my hopelessness and my ditziness.
eg. " so ditzy, what specific test would you like to do to test for ACL tear"
me: "palpate the knee and see if there is pain, sir!"
i kid you not. the "patient" had to try his darndest not to burst out laughing. oh dear. but live and learn!
it's not fair, i never get to be a patient!!!!! booo. i suppose they prefer hunky strapping guys who don't mind being man-handled.
and 40 pounds a day is fabulously rich! i suppose you'll be treating missbliss to something then? ;)
and might i similarly shamelessly wrangle an invitation to the hallowed reallm? ;) if not, it's alright! :D
It must be sooo much nicer being on the other side of the fence, an actor not a bloody victim
( my osces are in 3 weeks on neuro and psychiatry and i haven't started... better go study now I suppose.. but reading blogs is so much more fun!)
R
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