sasaidoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 16
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Hi guys...
i took my step2cs on 14th october frm chicago... what a relaxation, actually i got the date in feb2005, in chicago no other available dates when i registerd in sep last week!! so I was really upset b-cas IMG's should take step 2 cs b-for dec31st!! but, i got this date on oct- 8th, i got only just 5 days to prepare!! i never read any step2cs guides available in the market, but read cs40 cases, available in usmleprep: site & video demonstrations of method of examination by various universities in US, thats also frm this site...these helped me very well to perform in the exam...so i would recommend all those preparing fr cs, in short time just GO THROUGH THE SAMPLE CASES GIVEN IN THIS SITE... cases all r similar to these, so no more mugging up in any big-big books!!! i was very tensed on reaching the exam place, but the proctors were very much helping, they were all in good mood to relax the examinees, & helped whenever we want!! so the atmosphere was cool & relaxed, so also patients very co-operative, the only thing is the TIME... dont go on asking more details abt unnecessary things, just ask relevant que: ( take maximum 5-6 minutes fr history) then go to the relevant system examination, b-cas i got just the 8-9 minutes fr CNS examination, so no time to waste when we enter the exam room...
another thing PRACTICE with somebody, including the history taking part.. I had my husband as the sp, POOR GUY HE ACTED VERY WELL LIKE A CARDIAC PATIENT, STROKE PATIENT etc...
Onething i forgot to tell u... i got the date of my choice, this month itself, b-cas my husband developed a SOFTWARE which selected the date& center of my choice by automatically checking the step 2cs calendar every 10 minutes& send the date of our choice as an alert tone to the pager, so the pager was ringing in the middle of the night on october 8th( around 2 am!!) so i rushed to the computer and re-scheduled the date for 14the october!!
SO ANYBODY INTERESTED TO GET THE SOFTWARE TO INSTALL(
SO WE DONT WANT TO BROWSE EVERTIME, TO GET THE DATE B-FR
DEC31ST) can contact him..... he's willing to help those who want this to get an early date... his e-mail id is... said@pancatinc.com, saidp@gmail.com. Now i stated preparing fr ck which is in nov..so ALL THE BEST!!!:
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| sameerohri
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 3
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hi
ur words have really come as a relief. my i am an img. my CS is on 2nd nov.
can u pls tell me where to find those 40 cases & videos?
thanx again
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| FAT_GOITER
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 110
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I am really struggling over time. I just can't finish it within time and get so much stressed up. Even if I ask most basic things they eat up so much time. Can you please tell us how you planned your encounter? Were you taking notes outside from the doorway info? if yes then how much?
IMP Q: Did they provide you an extra copy of the doorway info at your writing desk or you had to get up to look at the door?
Thank you for your help Mrs. Said
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| sasaidoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 16
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in the prep4usmle site on the upper righthand side is a file by name download click on that u can view step2 clinical skill download.. just download that( it is in acrobat so u need that in ur computer to read that)
Similarly u can see on the lefthans side of step2cs forum 'directory'
which contains physical exam, if u go to it u can see videos.. click & view
different university tutorials.. go & observe the method of examinations...
so best of luck...
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| sasaidoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 16
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dear fat-goiter..
dont b in a stress.. just ask imp points regarding the history, fr eg: pateint with chest pain, ask abt duration, radiation if any, aggravating factors, releiving factors, swaeting, palpitation & relevant personal & past h/o similar complaints( all these take a matter of 4-5 minutes with out much hurry)..
i just note down positive things in history& examination, so dont waist much time on writing inside the exam room, we'll get enough time to write after each encounter..
there'll b an opening scenario on the door & inside the room, so just read that & KEEP IN MIND THINGS to ask relating to that system B-FOR entering the exam room( max 30-40 seconds it will take).
go inside and perform well...
so best of luck!!!
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| FAT_GOITER
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 110
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Thank you so much Sasaidoc
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| OGWM
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 19
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Hi Sasaidoc.
One more q. please I have 11 days for my cs I just finished CK so IM just starting my prep for CS.
I have the green book, kaplan notes, but my friend said that usmleworld is enough? Have you tried that? Is that good? Which one would you advice to do it? Im so nervous, even with my history notes, I don't know how to abreviates things! aaahh! hehe! Im really nervous.
Thank you for sharing your experience, It was really helpful for me. How long you used to practice w/ your housband? for how many hours?. Thank you for your answer!
GOOD LUCK.
tip for CK: USMLEWORLD! always!!!
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| FAT_GOITER
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 110
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I am becoming so nervous that I even forget each time to ask any questions other then LIQORAAAPAMHUGSFOSS. I heard that even if you manage to ask these, you have a very good chance to pass. I wish it's true..
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| BC
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 36
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hi fat goiter. don't be stressed out over the CS exam. it's just like seeing 12 regular patients.
as soon as you read the clinical scenario, jot down your differentials and the questions that you SHOULD ask.
and then when u're doing the history taking, just go through your LIQORetc mnemonics and if u think some of it is not pertinent to the case, skip it. don't bother asking the SP anymore as it will only waste your time.
then just double check the notes that you did when u first read the case scenario. that way you'll be sure you covered as many pertinent details as you can.
by the way, there's no extra copy of the clinical scenario when u're doing the patient notes. several times i had to get up and look up at the door (where the scenario is posted) to double check some info.
so good luck to everyone who's about to take the CS exam and to all those who took it already, let's just pray that good results come our way SOON :lol:
___________________
The threshold between right and wrong is pain.
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| sameerohri
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 3
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| FAT_GOITER
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 110
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Thanks BC
I just wonder that applicants normally ask everything or is it normal to drop many questions which ideally should have been asked?
When you take notes it looks awkward since SP stays quite when you do this...and if we notes at the same time he speaks there is a chance of missing something imp...how it should be dealt with?
Any word of wisdom?
Thanks
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| BC
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 36
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it's ok to pause every now and then during the interview so you can sort out ur thoughts in 2-3 seconds. also, fat goiter, if you decide to ask everything, you might be praying ur heart out for the SP to stop giving u too many details. they can be really articulate u know :-#
i had the same worries too before i took the exam. i planned not to write down notes since it will take time and i won't be having as much eye contact with the patient. HOWEVER, after seeing 2-3 SP's, when i was writing the patient notes, i started mixing up the information....wasn’t he the smoker? didn't he have asthma? what medication was she taking again? ugh!!! i tell you, you don't need that added stress.
so don't worry if you have to write it down, yes it will take time and sometimes there'll be an eerie silence in the room but even in the real patient-doctor setting we do that... so stick to what physicians normally do.
___________________
The threshold between right and wrong is pain.
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| FAT_GOITER
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 110
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Thank you BC
Two more questions:
Is it allowed to wear a stopwatch?
Sometime during counsilling I realize that I missed out a really important exam on this patient (like patient complaining of RLQ pain and I forgot to perform Obturator/Psoas signs) is it okay to stop counsil or after finishing it, perform those test?
I was thinking that we might loose some points but it would be better to loose major points on not performing the real exam.
What are your thoughts?
THANKS A LOT BC
Fat Goiter
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| sasaidoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 16
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hi OGWM,
I DIDNT SEE THE KAPLAN MATERIALS AT ALL!!( for any steps) so I hav no comments abt those!!
after going through all the 40 cases, i just practice 3-4 cases on my hubby, thats all!!
see if u have enough time goes on practicing on ur psedosp, no matter hw many hrs ..
so best of luck....
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| FAT_GOITER
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 110
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Dear Sasaidoc or anybody who want to respond:
I have heard that almost always USMLE test only very basic cases (atleast presenting complainsts/ symptoms). I have been told that NO ONE has been tested on stroke, frequent falls, seizures and on other cases like these? Is it true? Any comments?
Thanks in advance
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| drkjigs
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 146
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Hmmm I have sat the exam only once.. & from my experience.. its true that I was asked only the very basic cases..nothing complicated at all... Don tknow about the rest. Good luck
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The harder you work.. the luckier you get!
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| FAT_GOITER
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 110
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Thanks for responding drkjigs
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| oggn
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 169
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really very good advise 4me.......will take cs in 5days.....what r u doing 4 ck.................need u...
thanx
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| oggn
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 169
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my last post was 4 sasaidoc..pl check that out
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