misty
Forum Elite
Topics: 58
Posts: 285
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i passed my step 2 cs recently....I had taken the exam almost 1 & 1/2 mo back so I dont even remember much! but from whatever i remember:-
1) prep time- 1 day (yes u wont believe it...me neither) 
2) materials used:-
- UW
- the NBME CD
- I had first AID but then I didnt have time to read
No study partner...practised just neuro cases on dad twice! no other practice...timed or untimed!
I had just 3 days after my CK to prepare for CS...& i full intended to postpone...but unfortunately I coul dnot get a suitable date...& i did not want to delay beyond nov 4 because i wanted the results earlier. I wrote CK in India & i flew to US same evening. After that I was ill for 2 days...& i could study for just 1 day. that 1 day too half the time i was glued to the comp because i wanted to postpone so badly!
Most of the cases i had (almost all) were from UW. I did the mistakes that most of the people do:-
1) Did not wash hands for SP1 (remembered half way after PE...& wasnt sure if i should excuse myself & wash...so i thot forget it move on) forgot some points in PAMHUGS FOSS.....i came out in like 10 minutes maybe...or less. I was like..did i even ask anything to the patient? But when i came out...>1/2 the candidates were out too. LOL
2) washed hands for all SPs after that. i realised, i was panicking a lot. So i just didnt barge in the room after reading the c/c outside. i read history, noted vitals....actually WROTE PAMHUGS FOSS on the sheet provided for all SPs after that...& then entered. because everyone just hurried to enter in because they wanna save time & finish in 15 minutes....but i realised i used to forget asking 1/2 the stuff if i just entered in a hurry! so i waited....took a deep breath...& then entered!
3) Even after that, when i used to come out i used to realise...oh damn i forgot to ask this & that (guess it happens wid all)
4) i heard everyone saying in this forum- could not complete in 15 minutes...esp for neuro cases.... though i had just one....i came out in less than 10 minutes....so did I complete the hist & PE in 10 minutes?? HELL NO.... I didnt. I panicked so much because it was a neuro case...i forgot babinski's!!! i almost sweared aloud when i came out of the room, that i forgot babinski's ( i was sure i will fail for forgetting something like
dat)
5) my last SP was changing histories on the SPOT!!! crazy woman!
I didnt take >10 minutes for any case. not because i knew all...but because i forgot all!! I counselled a few...& it wasnt complete too.
patient note.... I didnt knew whether i was supposed to write abt systems i didnt examine. sometimes i wrote sometimes I didnt!! LOL I just made sure they got an idea what direction i am thinking, & what diagnosis i am thinking... from the history itself...& co-ordinated PE with that!
I dont know how i passed. All i can say is...never throughout did i have a problem understanding what the SP's said..nor did they have a problem understanding me. I always asked & informed before any examination.
take a clean lab coat.... dont fuss much about ur clothes....they cant see it anyways...u are wearing a lab coat which is buttoned up. One candidate came in wearing cargo pants! avoid jeans, anything else is okay. Though i am sure even if u wear jeans.... they dont give a damn!
girls:- formal trouser + shirt. (cant see shirt anyways)
finally...if i can do it wid 1 day prep....anyone can....as long as u are good at communication.
thats it! 
All the best to all future examiness.
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| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
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Hey misty congratulations....And somehow i loved reading your post...Gives us hope... Keep it up!
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| misty
Forum Elite
Topics: 58
Posts: 285
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thx sarika. well i just thought i should write down. Before my exam...people drove me crazy with their advice...which anyways i didnt take. They say come 15 days before to get a hang of american accent...didnt make sense to me...& i pulled through (& no i dont watch a lot of CNN)
if u can speak fluent english back home....U dont need to panick abt accents & stuff. Yeah they use slangs...but u anyways cant learn slangs in 1 week.....so if any of the sp's uses slangs...just ask them to explain...that is OKAY! they know u are IMG. lol
All d best to all
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| ravi_online
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 92
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congrats misty!
what did you say while washing hands? Is it ok to talk with the pt. while washing hands?
where did was your exam. center?
I have to appear for exam. after 1 week. feeling quite nervous
Please someone tell me what to ask and what to examine in a case of Lightheadedness.
Is it ok to talk to SP while washing hands?
Edited by ravi_online on 12/19/06 - 10:42 AM
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| misty
Forum Elite
Topics: 58
Posts: 285
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hi ravi.
well firstly dont be nervous....or else no matter how much u prepare its gonna be a waste. i will try to answer ur q's
1) I didnt talk to the SP while washing hands...before washing i just said...plz excuse me, i will wash my hands & be back wid u in a sec. I read somewhere thats its imp to have eye contact wid patient while talking...& so they suggested not to talk while washing hands....until u reallyw anna turn ur neck & talk..which unnecessarily wld take longer to wash hands then!
I finished all my cases in less than 10 minutes..i didnt ask everything or finish everything....but i just communicated well & talked confident.....
2) exam center- atlanta. nice center. proctors nice.
3) dont feel nervous. calm down. Do UW well
4) lightheadedness....hmm I dunno if that case is there in UW or FA...but lightheadedness could have many etiologies. I wld rather ask in detail & try to narrow down on a system from history..whether its cardiac/neuro.respi. Then whatever it is.... i would examine that system in detail...& the rest of the systems just a fast PE
Most imp is not finishing or giving right diagnosis...most imp is communication...dont falter...talk like a doc...even if u know nuthin LOL
All teh best...just be calm. U can do it
misty
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| eaguin
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 162
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Thanks for your sharing misty...
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| emar
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 15
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I took my CS on October 26, 2006 and have not received my scores yet. I called the NBME today and mine are not among the scores being released today either. I was told my scores would be released either next Wed. or on Jan. 3. I felt confident when I left the test but all this waiting past the Dec. 6 reporting deadline has me pretty worried. I just wanted to know if anyone out there has had a similar experience and whether that meant anything in the long run (as in did you eventually end up passing or not).
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| solitarius
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 71
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Hey misty..thanks sharing your experience with us..Your experience of course inspires us all...but here is what I want to say-I now pretty much understand that in CS the SPs are looking for the direction that you use to find out your at least 3-4possible diagnosis+how much are you able to make your conversation much more comfortable for the patients....am I right?please correct me and try to memorize the cases you had if you dont mind and share with us shortly,bcz my exam will also be in Atlanta in late April.thanks again and good luck for getting into the residency of your choice.take care.
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