Provisional results of my OSCEs indicate that I was one station away from the pass mark. The stations I failed were also mostly just a few marks away from passing....
Generally they were not the results I had expected. I never really liked paediatrics.. (always seeing the same things over and over again... kids are OK, some cute too!) failing one of those stations - OK, but failing two... I was lost for words (in a bad way)... and I was in for a greater shock when I failed my cardiovascular exam...
I have always felt proficient in my CV exam but I guess the examiner did not really like me... or maybe it is just my excuse for failing. The feedback the examiner gave after was that I did not elicit manoeuvres for murmurs. I knew how to do it but the examiner never asked me to do so! Nor was I never taught to do them in CV exam other than if I thought something was abnormal.
I wonder what the future holds for me... maybe not so serious but it is the first exam I have ever failed in my life, and I wholeheartedly think I did not deserve it... to make matters worse, if the provisional results stay as it is, I will have to stay in UK..........................................
I guess life has ups and downs... and this is my first real challenge..............................
Anyways, on to history taking.
I must say... the one month of GP placement has given me much opportunity to practise history taking. I am very grateful for all the feedbacks my tutors have been giving me. They say my history taking is good but I know there is always room for improvement.
For example I met a patient today whose cousin has brain tumour (at the age of 30s). She herself complained about several months' history of earache, tinnitus, and throbbing headache. Both of which are worsening and wakes her up from sleep. Along with that she has occasional and new onset photophobia, nausea but no double vision.
I usually manage to get most out a patient... and I guess formulate some sort of differential... which I did. But for patients who have a complicated history like the above, I always seem have problem making it slick for the consultant to digest when I present the case.
The next time I hope to make my case presentation more concise, in line with my differentials!!!
