[usmlelover]

pathhopefull - 05/04/07 09:34

hi guys

i had a lot of valuable information from this website so i am posting my experience. i have just given my exam so dont know whether i will pass or fail.
almost all cases were from our usual referred material FA usmle world etc ... not exactly same but if u have read all those cases then u already now how to take history and do P/E n give differential etc. two cases were without any positive history except vague C/C i hope they were pilot stations
I was quite relaxed about exam on the day but was having a bad cough which was making me nervous....but i didn't cough at all in any cases except in a sore throat patient ////must have amused SP a lot.
proctors were very professional and SP were quite gud and friendly except two who were quite distant n i think were told to do so. i finished all my P/E right after 5 min bell or midway through it so always had enuff time for counseling, except for in a CNS case. i followed the usual history taking format from our study material n draped patient usually before exam rather than just after greeting as i was more comfortable with that. i made it a point to keep my writing pad on the stool after history n picked up drape n draped patient (or maybe it automatically happened once n i followed it through out my encounters ). in two of the cases or maybe one i forgot to drape but realized as soon as i started exam n draped. i will suggest that u shd be very through in history taking p/e doesn't matter much as differential is on history. i was under impression that SP will give u most of info as soon as u ask them open ended ques like tell me more etc etc. but most of the patient didn't give much extra information in that n u have to dig that out by proper relevant questioning in most of the cases.
also i will like to suggest that take some time outside door to form a d/d n then go in ...i was trying to follow that in exam but many times i ran inside without giving enuff thought about D/D n relevant quest etc n in those cases i was not satisfied with my history... n main reason behind this was that u hear many people who enter room immediately n greeting loudly so u think oh i must go in as well its getting late.....DONOT DO THAT dont get influenced by others in exam follow whtever ur strategy is as u r best at it.
this was my exam experience will post more if i pass. which most probably I would although i made many mistakes.