I am pretty sure, you know everything what I am going to write here, however people tend to forget things easily and need reminder about important things.
This is really important day, as you are going to show off your all the hard work and skill in 3 and half hour. It is not only about expensive exam fees, it is also about a long waiting list and getting into job late. One of my school teacher told on one day that when you fail one year, do not think about salary you are going to earn on your first year of job, think about a year prior to your retirement.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, this is about presentation. If you know the stuff and cannot bring that out on the day, it is not helpful. Well rested and fresh mind work quicker and think better. I strongly recommend that you have enough sleep prior to your exam. Our biological clock is great. I recommend that you make your last few days schedule as same as your exam day. If your exam is in morning, do your practice in morning and vice versa. This will train your brain in that way and you will feel less stress on the day of your exam as it is your routine.
Make sure that you visit your exam centre prior to your day of your exam if you are not familiar with the centre, or at least ask someone who is going to come with you. Reach at your centre well prior to your exam time.
During your exam, when you are reading outside for 2 minutes try to concentrate on the topic and read carefully about what have they asked. Do not think too much what it will and I don't know this and those sort of stuff. If it is too hard, the expectation of examiner is low, so it is likely that you will pass easily. If your previous case went really bad, don't think about that otherwise you are going to perform badly on the new one. When you are inside, give your full attention to your patient and listen carefully. In examination, if you think something relevant say so, as examiners are not mind reader and won't give you any mark for not telling.
When you are consulting your patient, behave as a professional person. Don't be too unfamiliar or don't be too familiar. When you need to touch the patient, always ask for permission first (verbal consent). Warn them about what are you going to do and whether it will painful or uncomfortable. Wash you hand before and touching the patient.
When you are explaining something ask them about their understanding. It is possible that you might you few jargon without knowing, but if you ask them whether he/she has understand or not, then you are safe.
When you are consulting your patient, behave as a professional person. Don't be too unfamiliar or don't be too familiar. When you need to touch the patient, always ask for permission first (verbal consent). Warn them about what are you going to do and whether it will painful or uncomfortable. Wash you hand before and touching the patient.
When you are explaining something ask them about their understanding. It is possible that you might you few jargon without knowing, but if you ask them whether he/she has understand or not, then you are safe.
Just one sideline, when you are talking with patient in this exam, make sure you don't confront them in anyway (unless that's the case scenario). Most of them are 5th or 6th year medical students and they are being told that if the candidate is really sympathetic then help him. Use words like 'thank you' ' sorry' and 'please' freely. These words are not going to pass you, but if you don't use them, it is unlikely that you will pass.
Keep in your mind that this exam is for an intern, not for a consultant. They are not going to ask you 'how to perform angiogram?', but they expect you to find out who is going to need them. They expect you to know how to take basic history and do examination. They expect you to know when and where to get help from. In other word, they want to make sure that you are safe doctor.
Please read disclaimer before using above information.
