The List

Finally with 3 weeks to go before the exams we have been given our timetable for OSCEs (practical exams) and an exhaustive list of potential topics.

OSCEs work in an amusing format where a number of rooms (in this case 12) are set up each with a different task in them. You have a fixed set of time in each room then when the bell rings you pick up your stethoscope and clipboard and run to the next room.

I like this format - it gets your heart going (particularly if you have to run along a long corridor between rooms!) but you don't have time to dwell on any mistakes and it's actually pretty fun.

My list of topics for this set of OSCEs is -

Abdominal examination

Arterial pulses

Blood pressure

BMI Measurement

Cardiovascular system examination

Communication skills

Cranial nerves

ECGs

Ethics and values in medicine

Genetics

GI examination

Infection control

In hospital resuscitation

Lumps and bumps

MedLine

Musculoskeletal

Neurology

Reflexes

Respiratory system

Thyroid

Venepuncture