End of an Era
Well, I've finished Obs/Gyne now. On looking back, I can't believe I've learned so much in 6 weeks!! I really enjoyed it; both the clinical and surgical experiences are something I could see myself doing. The thing that holds me back is the 5 years post-med-school that it'll take to train. Not so much into that!
We had our Obs/Gyne exams on Friday. The morning was spent doing what they called an OSCE (observed standardized clinical exam), but it was really an oral exam. A regular OSCE would have had patients (played by actors) as well as an observer (examiner) in a mock 'office visit'. You have 2 minutes to read the scenario that is posted on the door and you have 8 minutes to perform the task (usually to take a history or do some sort of physical exam on the 'patient'). The only time the observer talks is during your 1 minute feedback. There are usually 10-15 stations and the whole format is highly anxiety provoking! At my school, we do OSCEs from first year, but at others they only do them in the senior years, if at all.
The Obs/Gyne oral exam was similar because there were scenarios posted on the doors, but the examiners played the 'patients' where appropriate but they also asked questions to probe your knowledge and to prompt you if you got stuck. It's not as regimented as the OCSEs are, but for those who don't think well on their feet (me!) it's still a bit tough. Why is it that my brain falls out of my head sometimes?
The afternoon was spent doing a 2 and a half hour multiple choice exam. I'm not sure what to think of that one yet. I'll let you know when my grades come in.
I spent the weekend visiting with fellow classmates who were also in between rotations, watching the hockey game, at an awesome birthday dinner, and baking like mad. I managed to make a batch of peanut butter cookies, banana loaf, spaghetti sauce, butter tart squares, and a pumpkin pie all in one day. Must be the 'Type A' med student personality coming out!!!
Today, I started psychiatry. Should be interesting but I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing...the psychotic patients and all, but I'm sure it'll be fine (gulp).
We had our Obs/Gyne exams on Friday. The morning was spent doing what they called an OSCE (observed standardized clinical exam), but it was really an oral exam. A regular OSCE would have had patients (played by actors) as well as an observer (examiner) in a mock 'office visit'. You have 2 minutes to read the scenario that is posted on the door and you have 8 minutes to perform the task (usually to take a history or do some sort of physical exam on the 'patient'). The only time the observer talks is during your 1 minute feedback. There are usually 10-15 stations and the whole format is highly anxiety provoking! At my school, we do OSCEs from first year, but at others they only do them in the senior years, if at all.
The Obs/Gyne oral exam was similar because there were scenarios posted on the doors, but the examiners played the 'patients' where appropriate but they also asked questions to probe your knowledge and to prompt you if you got stuck. It's not as regimented as the OCSEs are, but for those who don't think well on their feet (me!) it's still a bit tough. Why is it that my brain falls out of my head sometimes?
The afternoon was spent doing a 2 and a half hour multiple choice exam. I'm not sure what to think of that one yet. I'll let you know when my grades come in.
I spent the weekend visiting with fellow classmates who were also in between rotations, watching the hockey game, at an awesome birthday dinner, and baking like mad. I managed to make a batch of peanut butter cookies, banana loaf, spaghetti sauce, butter tart squares, and a pumpkin pie all in one day. Must be the 'Type A' med student personality coming out!!!
Today, I started psychiatry. Should be interesting but I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing...the psychotic patients and all, but I'm sure it'll be fine (gulp).
posted by MSI (Med Student Intern) @ 6:11 PM
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