The world of medicine is like a bubble. A lot of people THINK they know what goes on there, but unless you're down in the trenches it's unlikely you do. So here is my semi-anonymous blog, here to tell you what really goes on in the life of a medical resident.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

The Aftermath...


The exam is done. Thanks to a confidentiality agreement signed before we sat down to write, I can't tell you anything but the vaguest of accounts. So here it is:

First of all, to any of you writing an exam in a city where you do not live... as tempting as it may seem at the time, do not attempt to do ANYTHING with that weekend other than write the exam. I made the colossal mistake of inviting Mr. Couz to bring the Bean to COTU for the weekend. That way, I figured, the day that I was doing my written, Mr. Couz and Bean could hang out with family, and the next day after my oral we could enjoy the city. Big mistake. Huge.

Mr. Couz got sick. Bean does NOT travel well, and screamed the better part of both nights. Seeing as how Mr. Couz could barely get out of bed, that left me to tend to screaming baby. So no chance for any last minute review, no chance for clarification of concepts, no 'one more chapter'... hell, there was barely even any sleep. So I did both parts of my exam in a semi-comatose state, with a head cold to boot. I croaked my way through my oral, and blew my nose through my written.

If I fail, I wish I could blame the circumstances. But I can't. I know I wasn't prepared enough.

The oral was actually surprisingly straightforward. Which makes me think that I missed a few 'tricks'. The written, on the other hand, was incredibly vague.

A 60 year old man presents to your emergency department with some mild fatigue X 1 week, malaise and one episode of diarrhea. What is your ONE most likely diagnosis?

Are you freaking kidding me?

What 5 questions (list ONLY 5) will help you to narrow your differential?

Gah. Totally not representative of reality, and a lot of the "guess what I'm thinking" game.

I find out, for better or for worse, at the end of October. I have yet to decide if I'll confess if I fail. Although it's fairly anonymous here (more or less), it's still a huge hit to the pride. Plus, since my program didn't want me to write early in the first place, it will suck to have a big "I told you so" hanging over my head.

But now on to other things. I feel like my life has been on hold for so long I don't know what to do with myself. Although I know I won't suddenly feel like I have tons of free time (having a baby sure took care of that) I can't wait to get some aspect of my life back. 

14 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

i also get my MCAT score back in october..i guess we are in the same boat!

good luck!

2:17 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When did medicine become an exercise in clairvoyance? I just can't get why they think people should be able to read their minds.

2:20 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If anyone reading this has any idea what diagnosis they were hinting at, please say it. The only thing I'd toss out is "viral illness."

3:06 PM

 
Blogger med neophyte said...

I hate those "I am going to give you the vaguest of hints and you are suppose to intuit what I am thinking based on the inflection in my voice and the alignment of the planets"

I hope it all works out for the best.

3:19 PM

 
Blogger Nikki said...

Congratulations on getting through it!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who missed the day in med school when they taught mindreading.

Hope you get some serious relaxation time sometime soon.

5:25 PM

 
Blogger Ashley P. said...

Good for you for getting it done! Hoping that you get the result your looking for!!!!

7:17 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Paramedic exams are just as vague! They teach you not to jump to a conclusive diagnoses, and then throw questions like these at you!
I'm sure you did fine....but GOOD LUCK anyway. Really enjoy your blog.

11:32 AM

 
Blogger Resident Anesthesiologist Guy (RAG) said...

I'd have thought WTF all throughout that test. What a piece of crap question. Hope you pass - and hope that you're family has been healthy since as well.

1:27 PM

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Big congratulations Dr. Couz! What a relief it must be to have the exam done. You're a smart smart gal. No doubt you'll do fantastically. But if not, don't worry, we'll still love you and continue to faithfully read your awesome blog. Cheers! ~ Sarah (from Wedding Bells)

2:10 AM

 
Blogger Swedoz said...

Hope you pass, funny how waiting for the result is almost as bad as doing the bloody thing.

Stupid read my mind. Have they not heard of the real world. Oh that´s right they´re examiners.

5:47 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ha! My answer is viral illness too, but I have no idea what the five questions are supposed to be.

8:45 PM

 
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Anonymous anxiety in children treatment said...

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Raquel

9:35 PM

 

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