DB
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 11
| | 09/30/05 - 09:14 PM
1 of 1 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
Just wanted to share my CS experience and offer some tips...
Exam sat for in Philly on July 30th, right in the middle of my surgery clerkship. Prepared for two weeks with First aid, read the book on my own, then went over some cases with a buddy who had taken the exam. I recommend this, for it gave me some perspective and a good chance to do some mock cases, as he had pretended to be the standardized patient. We simulated everything, from banging on the wall (to simulate knocking on the door) to draping him with a blanket.
Then drove to Philly on my post-call day, went into the exam center, and took care of business. Of course, some questions and little physical exam maneuvers were forgotten, but I ya gotta stay focused. After each room, write or type your note and then get your mind set on the next room. Don't dwell on a room that you think you did poorly on. Heck, my first room was atrocious. Got out of there with 5 min to spare, so I had those five extra minutes to add to my note-writing time, and I RAN OUT OF TIME FOR MY NOTE!! Think it was more nerves than anything. And even with an SP who's clinical picture seemed like one of hyperthyroidism, I examined her thoroughly...and when writing my note, I could not remember that term for bulging eyes (exopthalmus!), so I wrote something stupid on the note like "no eye protrusion." Think I had some sort of TIA at the time!! But the point is....remain calm and confident, and you will be fine.
And just some more tips...remember those easy points...the knocking, the draping, positioning the bed, remembering to pull the foot rest-thingy out when the patient is lying down, washing hands, etc. And don't worry about errors on your notes....I had an insane number of errors, whether it was spelling, or just trying to be more organized and rearranging my diagnostic tests into a reasonable order (ie: listing the forbidden physical exam maneuvers, like the rectal exam, before imaging tests). Be sure to ask EVERYONE about smoking/EtOH/drugs and counsel appropriately.....even if the SP has one drink per year, ask the CAGE questions! You will almost assuredly have a pediatric case...but you interview the parent!!! So, ask about birth history, development problems if any, and definitely definitely ask about immunizations!!! My parental SP had a green piece of paper in his hand throughout the interview...guess what that was??? Yup, the child's immunization schedule!! I asked to see it and all, scanned it quickly, said "Hmmmm," and handed it back to him. I remember another student forgot to ask about immunizations, and asked me what that green piece of paper was! And for the ladies, ask about LMP, pregnancies, menstrual history (cycle, length of period, any abnormal bleeding, etc).
I can't think of anything else! But stay confident and you will be fine. Just got my score today, after 9 weeks of waiting, and waiting, and waiting! Good luck on the CS and good luck to all for securing a residency! See yas on the forum!
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| 99doc
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 370
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thanks for sharing ur experience.
it is great.
all the best for the match.
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| claudia_i
Forum Senior
Topics: 1
Posts: 165
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Thanks a lot! Good luck with the match.
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"Opportunities are like sunrises: if you wait too long, you miss them."
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| nycnew
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 121
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u so helpful, good luck for matching
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| millennium115
Forum Newbie
Topics: 8
Posts: 20
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thanks alot of sharing..good luck with everything
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| tamar
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 105
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Good luck!!!!!!
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