It’s the finals countdown

2 weeks to go until clinical finals, and I’ve got cabin fever. I spend the days either endlessly reading and re reading my notes, or for a bit of light relief I head to hospital and try and find some patients who are willing to talk to me and let me examine then, and who haven’t already been seen by 6 students that day. At this time of the year, that’s a difficult task.

The university have arranged various lectures and mock exams for us, which have been really helpful. They have the same format as our finals exams, which is that we go and see a patient, take a 10 minute history, do a 5 minute examination and then present our findings, a differential diagnosis list, a list of investigations that we’d like to do, and a management plan. It can be quite gruelling, and I’ve found out that the best plan is to approach each case using the same framework. At least then if/when I freak out I have a basic plan to fall back on!

At the moment most of us spend half the time thinking that we wish we’d sat finals a month ago, because then at least it would be over, and the other half thinking that we’ll never know enough and that 2 weeks isn’t long enough. I’ve been dealing with this rollercoaster of emotions by ploughing through my Easter chocolate in record time, and regularly shouting at my notes. It does seem to help, but my housemate expressed some concerns about me last week. I’m also physically attached to my pocket copy of Kumar and Clarke (the bible), and I suffer separation anxiety when I have to leave it somewhere.

It is nice to see things coming together though. Until recently I wondered if I’d actually learnt anything whilst I’ve been at medical school. I know that sounds ridiculous, but as a graduate in a biological subject you already have quite a lot of anatomy, biology and physiology knowledge. Revising for finals and seeing patients has made me realise just how much I have learnt. Practicing medicine needs a whole new skill set and a different way of thinking to studying pure science, and that is what this course has taught me. I’m far from perfect, but I’ve come on such a long way that for the first time I feel more excited than scared about starting my first job now. Bring on August.

Megan Earle : 29 Apr 2015 11:02 |  Tags: Finals Mbchb Sarah Warwick |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem