What to do (and what not to do..) in your...

OSCEs
By Louise Witham (MedSoc Welfare rep)
Remember SOCRATES- it applies to everything! Take a reliable watch. With a second hand. If your finger is bleeding because you have just tested your own blood glucose just ask for a plaster instead of dripping blood from your finger for the next two stations and apologising repeatedly.

First and second year OSCEs can be daunting. Weve all experienced that feeling- Its June, and youve spent the last two months with your head inside textbooks, trying to memorise the ins and outs of CRH/ CLS/ SF1 / FBN Youve got through hundreds of MCQs and you are so, so nearly on that gloriously long summer holiday. It is the last thing you want to be doing when the sun is out and all your friends have already been finished with exams for weeks, but it still counts and if anything, it is one of the more important exams that you take in first and second year. So if you are having a panic about your OSCE, have a read through this list of dos and donts, based upon the experiences of older years. You might think some of them sound stupid, but they do happen Dont palpate the carotid pulse on both sides- your patient may pass out. The hepatojugular reflex cannot be performed on the left hand side. 2nd years-beware of the explanation station. Last year, students had to explain a mid stream urine test, including a description of the labia.

ALWAYS wash your hands. And on that note- watch out for them hiding the hand cleanser (purposefully if you ask me) Dont panic- if you have practiced then you are probably doing better than you think

When giving blood pressure readings, sound confident and dont admit if you are lying! Of course, try and avoid lying in the first place... Flirt outrageously with the examiner- that way if they're horrible to you it will be awkward for them too (dont quote me on this one, I havent tried it.) Always ask about pain before you palpate anything. The one time you dont will be the time the volunteer decides to test their melodramatic acting skills. Even if you know the person you are taking a history from is an actor, still show them real empathy and make sure you tell them how hard it must be for them.

Time yourself when you are practicing so you dont end up spending half the station in the exam examining the nails. Don't throw used sharps back into the sterile box as "it's like looking for a needle in a stack of needles" when you try and fish it out. On the same note, dont put used peak flow meter mouthpieces back into the box of clean ones! Wear appropriate clothes. Boys- no bow ties. Girls- bend forward in the mirror, just to check the examiner wont be learning what colour bra youre wearing. If you cant get into the clinical skills centrepractice on your housemates/ mum/ boyfriend/ girlfriend/ imaginary friend... Trim your nails or percussion will hurt! Overall, just remember to relax. You will probably make some stupid mistakes throughout your OSCE but just keep your cool. If you carry on and do the rest of it well, you will probably be fine. Remember they want you to pass! And- before you know it, it will all be over and 3 months of summer will be all yours. Good luck!