OSCE 2009

Glad I have finished it now. Currently am sitting in the library cluster after picking up an EMQ and MCQ book for medical finals - to prepare for the next two papers. I feel like giving myself a rest today, I deserve one at least. Weather does not let me to wander around in the city centre - it is raining today, so here I am in the library writing up my blog.

Just to recall the OSCE stations I had this morning (and I will save this post until tonight so it will be fair for all the students in morning and afternoon circuit, just in case people do google for the questions). It was quite fair, although I agree with Helen, are we not supposed to take history anymore? No history station at all, apart from the suicide risk assessment.

STATION 1: EXAMINATION - respiratory system

STATION 2: PROCEDURE - blood transfusion, prescription, cannulation

STATION 3: EXAMINATION - Praecordium: not sure what murmur it was but there was definitely a murmur, loudest at mitral area

STATION 4: SUICIDE RISK - stressful;the actor was really reluctant to speak, the examiner was not smiling or as friendly either. I think I might have failed this one, although I hope I did not

STATION 5: EXAMINATION - Hand. Obvious psoriatic lesion on elbow, painful DIP PIP joints, onycholysis. This gave me wide smile, definite psoriatic arthritis. But I did not manage to finish all the function and movement test as not enough time. Probably spent to much time describing the psoriasis. Hope will pass this one.

STATION 6: ILS - as expected. A bit disappointed though coz it did not feel real, did not have to attach the machine, a bit blurr and kept asking the examiner do I need to do this or that, is the help here bla bla bla.

STATION 7: EXAMINATION - Diabetic feet. Glad I had a look at his footwear as he was wearing special one. Borderline pass/fail - I think I missed a few stuff. There was no obvious abnormalities that I can comment on. This came out in third year and I remember failing it despite the obvious findings I found on the patient.

STATION 8: PROCEDURE/EXAMINATION - Cervical smear and bimanual examination on dummy

STATION 9: EXAMINATION - abdominal but just asked to only examine the abdomen. Definitely a lump, very vague. Examiner not looking too friendly

STATION 10: EXAMINATION - Asked to examine the eye. VERY vague and unspecific instruction. And worse, I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A SNELLEN CHART PROVIDED, neither did I mention it. It was only when Kate asked how the Snellen chart should be in reality - then I went "Was there a snellen chart????". Arggghhh.

STATION 11: DEATH CERTIFICATE - straight forward case. Bronchopneumonia due to R anterior circulation stroke. Even had extra time drink, it was the last station for too. I will be very upset if I fail this one.

STATION 12: KARDEX - 3-4 pages of patient's notes. Asked to write down new cardex as it was lost during transfer to ward. Also to add Abx. My first station, was bit blank coz didnt look up at the instruction (as it was pasted on the wall/door and I was sitting looking down reading to the notes). But got there eventually except no time to prescribe any drugs on the plan list. Might have failed this one too.

STATION 13: VIDEO - Ward round notes. LOTS and LOTS of details, really impossible to listen and write down all of them (for me). Hope I will get marks for all the simple details on the sheet.

STATION 14: VIDEO - psychiatry video SAME as OSCE IN THIRD YEAR!!!!! Did not expect this was going to come out again, so did not pay much attention to it. Failed the one in third year, not sure how I did this time.

STATION 15: KARDEX - patient with NON STEMI. Was asked to prescribe 3 drugs (cant remember) but not sure if I need to add others. The only one I had time for was clopidogrel - not sure if I will be penalised to have prescribed that as it was not on the list.

So there you go. One fourth of the assessment of the five years torture in medical school. Can hardly wait to finish the other three...and to qualify! (insyaAllah if thats best for me)