All entries for January 2014

OSCE assessment prep

The dreaded formative OSCE has arrived.

Even though I know that the purpose of the formative is to help me assess where I am in my learning and to identify any areas of weakness before the scary summer summative, and in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter if I fail; I can’t help but feel absolutely terrified. A few blog posts ago I said that I was really enjoying the clinical skills sessions and optimistically I said I thought I was quite good (really just not absolutely abysmal). I take it all back. It’s funny how you go along thinking “actually I’m alright at this stuff, I can do it” and as soon as you get close to an exam time, you forget everything. It’s like I never practiced at all. My fingers are no longer able to unscrew the valve on my sphygmomanometer, my hands aren’t big enough to support an elbow and my stethoscope is definitely broken, hence the lack of clear Korotkoff sounds. Of course - a poor workman always blames his tools.

Despite my sheer terror, practicing has actually been quite fun. Our front room has been turned into an examination room, the sofa providing a more than adequate substitute hospital bed. We’ve been doing practice resuscitation on a borrowed dummy, disrupting a silent BioMed Grid, with calls for help and had endless blood pressures taken, never having the same reading twice. Have you ever practiced walking in to a room and introducing yourself before? It’s so frustrating that we do it every day and it’s so simple but because the context changes and we feel under pressure, saying your own name - “Hi, I’m Amy Barrett”, becomes quite a significant achievement. Usually I get at least part of my name right and sometimes I remember to identify the patient, so really I’m about half way there. A few more hours in front of the mirror and I should nail it.

I’ve enjoyed practicing history taking the most. My housemates seem to have made it their mission to come up with the most ridiculous back stories and ludicrous set of symptoms no clinician has ever seen. Then again, anything is possible when it comes to patients. I’ve spoken to a few people now who have done their OSCE and all have had completely different experiences. A couple said it was “the worst thing ever”, some said “ahh it was alright” and one person actually said “it was really good” so well done them and thanks for that little bit of positivity! I would guess that most people will have done a similar amount of preparation. We’ve all had the same clinical skills sessions, and have plenty of people around us to practice with. I think the greatest variable is each individual’s confidence on the day. It’s horrible when you’re nervous and when it gets too much, that’s when things start to go wrong. I think we just need to learn to laugh at ourselves (when appropriate of course) and move on from our mistakes. I’m sure the OSCE examiners have seen the most ridiculous performances over the years*. It’s much better to do something silly now, with the opportunity to ensure it’s right for next time, than sit the summative and end up looking like a Chuckle brother.

So - I’ll try not to be too nervous and hopefully, with a bit more practice, I’ll be in a pretty good position. I’ve decided I’m going to enjoy my OSCE - at least maybe once it’s over.

I’ll see you on the other side.
Amy

*There was a rumour of someone actually hitting a patient on the head with a tuning fork, though I cannot verify the authenticity of this claim! It can’t be any worse than that can it?

Sarah Hill : 24 Jan 2014 13:41 |  Tags: Amy Mbchb Osce Warwick Wms |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Teddy Bear Hospital

Our year has just entered Phase II. This is an exciting part of the course which we have all looked forward to and was very much the light at the end of the tunnel during the very intense period leading up to the end of Phase I exams. We’re now starting the clinical part of the course where the majority of teaching is done on wards and clinics.

We have just had our induction week where we are taught about the NHS in a bit more detail and advised on how to make the most of our experience in Phase II, where the learning is a lot less structured and much more student led.

We are now in the first ‘block’ of Phase II which is currently Learning from Lives; during this attachment we will meet, talk to and in some cases provide care for patients who live with life limiting diseases and disability. This block is unique in the way that it is structured.

During this six week block the cohort is split into two and we alternate between three weeks of teaching and three weeks off. I have the first three weeks off so I thought I would take this opportunity to discuss in a bit more detail some of the societies I have had the privilege to be a part of during my time here at Warwick Medical School.

First of all, the Teddy Bear Hospital society. This is a fantastic initiative where we get to help dispel some of the mystery and fear that children often associate with visiting the doctor and it also gives us as medical students the unique opportunity to interact with children and work on our communication skills. This is quite important, as although children can often be anxious about interacting with a doctor, we too, as medical students, can be quite apprehensive about interacting with children.

The Teddy Bear Hospital is a public health project aimed at three to seven year olds designed to help reduce the anxiety associated with visiting the doctor or hospital. The sessions are held at primary schools and are organised and run by Warwick Medical School students.

The children bring along their ‘sick’ teddy bear and act as parent during their visit to the Teddy Bear Doctor in the clinic. They will go through a mock A&E and explain what is wrong with their Teddy and how they became ill, which can quite often be imaginative, tragic or simply outlandish! We then take an X-ray of the teddy and explain what is wrong with them and offer them the opportunity to apply a plaster cast to their ‘pawly’ teddy.

The other stations run on the day include healthy eating, what to do in an emergency, the human body and an exercise station. For a lucky few medical students there is the opportunity to wear a teddy bear costume and welcome the children as they come into the building!

If you ever get the opportunity to volunteer with this unique society I would whole-heartedly recommend it. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience volunteering, so much so I have now become a member of the committee. You will be in awe of some of the cuddly toys (one young man bought in a human size dragon!) and enchanted by the imagination of the children. It is a truly worthwhile experience for all involved.

Sarah Hill : 22 Jan 2014 13:07 |  Tags: Amrit Bear Hospital Mbchb Teddy Warwick Wms |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Medical School interviews

Welcome back everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Whether you're back at university for the second semester or waiting nervously for news regarding interviews or offers, I hope you are well rested and ready to go - I am (sort of).

This time last year I was constantly checking my UCAS in the hope that Track had broken and the emails offering interviews for all four of my choices had just been delayed getting to me; they hadn't. Track is actually pretty good at getting the news to you as soon as it comes through. If you can, don't torture yourself - forget about Track for a while. I know that's easier said than done when all of a sudden UCAS have so many more promotional emails to send to you and each time that little window pops up on your phone you have a mini heart attack.

When I got my invitation for interview at Warwick I was so happy – surprised, but ecstatic. I really feel like getting that interview is the hardest bit of the application. When you do your personal statement and UKCAT you can write down all the amazing things that you've done to show that you're committed and keen but a lot of the people applying have done the same. The interview is the first opportunity to show the real you. I'm not saying that the personal statement isn't important, of course it is. That is at least partly what will determine whether you will get an interview or not so it should be honest and complete, but sometimes people are just unlucky and for whatever reason don’t get interviews first time round.

So, imagine you've got an email inviting you for interview - *hurrah*! Now all you need to do is be the best you that you can be on that one day, for that one hour, no problem. You should be confident in the knowledge that if you've got an interview the medical school like your application. You seem like a person that has the potential to become a future doctor, you have the right academic credentials and you've made a reasonable effort to find out what it's actually like to be a doctor. The interview is your chance for you to show that your motivations are genuine and that you really do have all the lovely qualities that we look for in healthcare professionals. Don't be too nervous, they like you so far. Then the day comes and you forget all those good reasons you had for wanting to become a doctor. You suddenly find yourself questioning why you're even bothering, thinking you're going up against much more academically gifted individuals who have all done so much more work experience than you have and wondering if the medical school have only invited you to make up the numbers.

While interviews in medical schools take different formats, from MMI to a relaxed one-to-one, with or without group tasks, demonstrating good communication skills is a common theme to any interview, whether for medical school or a job and it’s important that you hold your nerve long enough to relax and engage with your interviewer.

My advice for medical school interviews is simple. Be confident that you have got what it takes. Equally, don’t be over-confident, nothing is set in stone and there’s still a chance you might be rejected. Try to enjoy the interview and don’t act like a lone wolf. Yes, it’s your big day and it is competitive, but the people you meet might influence the outcome of the interview. You might also be seeing them next year and they will recognise you and remember how you acted on that first day.

If you get an offer then well done, you just need to make sure you meet those conditions. If you do make it to interview and don’t get an offer, don’t be disheartened. A lot of work and preparation has gone into getting there and maybe it’s just all about practising your technique or calming your nervous, simple things that you can work on for next time.

Good luck,

Amy

Sarah Hill : 16 Jan 2014 13:50 |  Tags: Applications Interviews Mbchb Warwick Wms |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Anatomy Master Class – Grenada

One of the unique parts of the course at Warwick Medical School is the opportunity to go to St George’s University in Grenada (the Caribbean) for five weeks to take part in an Anatomy Master Class working on cadavers, a fantastic experience that I was lucky enough to go on.

The trip takes place during the summer holiday between the first and second year. During the five weeks students are assigned parts of the body to dissect with an aim to produce quality specimens that will be used to teach anatomy to the students studying medicine at St George’s University. We dissected Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 3.00pm with tutorials after lunch. The teaching staff are really passionate about what they do and are excellent teachers.

During my time I dissected an arm, leg, hand and spine. On the leg, for example, I had to expose all of the major nerves and arteries that supply it, and expose the tarsal tunnel (one of my favourite bits of anatomy - a very sad thing to admit!) Those who excelled at dissection during our time there had the opportunity to carry out micro dissection using specialist tools as part of a research project

Dissecting is really challenging, whether it’s testing your fine motor skills, knowledge of the body or your patience when dissecting intricate bits of anatomy. I have certainly come away from the experience with a greater understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.

The trip isn’t all work and no play; we certainly kept ourselves entertained when not in the anatomy lab. The campus is great and we had unlimited access to the facilities on campus, including a gym and a secluded bay where we would often go to swim in the warm sea. We also took advantage of the free buses available to students to take us to the local beaches. The Gran Anse beach is beautiful and was where many of us students spent our down time.

We also went waterfall jumping, toured the local rum factory, took a catamaran to the fish market and went clubbing with the American students studying at St George’s University. One of the most enjoyable things I did was Hash Running through the rainforest; it was a fantastic way to explore the rain forest, often being forced to take tricky and challenging routes. This was just some of the stuff we did during our time, we were even lucky enough to have a traditional Grenadian breakfast and lunch put on for us by the staff!

This opportunity is available to the top scoring first year students who take a voluntary entry anatomy exam during the second term. Students have to arrange and pay for their own travel to and from Grenada as well as food and entertainment whilst out there. St George’s University puts us up for free in their student accommodation.

Whilst I have come away knowing that I do not wish to pursue a career in medical anatomy it is an invaluable experience. If you ever get the chance to go I would thoroughly recommend it!

Sarah Hill : 08 Jan 2014 11:42 |  Tags: Amrit Anatomy Grenada Mbchb Warwick Wms |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem