All the best to those taking Orals this week

[CambieMD]

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Good luck to those taking the orals. Just remember. Your examiners want you to pass. They are simply looking for reasonable answers to their questions. Try not to get too nervous and you will be fine.

Cambie

 

[michigangirl]

Ditto what Cambie said. If you feel yourself hitting a mental roadblock-- just imagine yourself physically in the operating room and talk them through what you would do. Chances are, that will be sufficient.

 

[veetz]

Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[cchoukal]

I'm getting anxious just thinking about it (and I passed last year). But the advice is correct: relax, try to have fun, and enjoy being in, what is it, Baltimore?

Well, try to have fun anyway.

 

[sevoflurane]

Good luck.

 

[drccw]

and remember, it's okay to say "I don't know". Though, it best not be to something easy. The examiner would rather hear that then a load of BS.

drccw

 

[jetproppilot]

Good luck.

Indeed! Hope all of you do well.👍

 

[IlDestriero]

Repost:
I'll call this "Musings from the battlefield"
Don't try to BS your way out of an answer you don't know. Just think, give the best answer you can and if necessary just say I don't know! If you don't know something, you'll probably be fine, unless it is contraindications to regional or Sux, or some other critical topic. If you start down the BS path, it will be obvious. If you get dragged down and tripped up, it may throw off the rest of the exam. No one knows everything, most pass on the first time. Keep that in mind. Also, obviously, the case is going to go where it is going to go, so when it all goes "BAD" don't stress out or waste a single second rethinking what you could have done to avoid the BADNESS. It was going there no matter what.
When they change "themes" in the same case, it is worth taking 5 seconds to quickly reset by reviewing the stem again. You get so wrapped up in "BADNESS #12" that when they switch suddenly to emergence you don't want to forget something critical from the stem. There's plenty of time to think for a couple seconds and give a short direct coherent answer. If they want the other 10 possible ddx for xxxxxx they will ask.

They know that you know the basics (you passed the written boards already) so just explain what you are thinking and answer the questions asked, nothing more, no dazzling with BS, no "the March issue of A&A had a great case report on..." , answer the question simply than any followups, and move on. Than CHARGE down to the BAR and TOAST YOUR VICTORY! (with a single malt whisky)👍
Bon chance!
One more thing. When you read the stem, or hear the grab bags, think about all the killing (failing) errors particular to that patient/situation. Maybe make a couple quick reminder notes. When you get flustered and drawn into the weeds, you can pause for a second and reflect on what you really want to avoid. "can we move on?" is also useful when you find yourself getting deep into the weeds and way off point. Keep focus on the actual case, and get back to questions that matter.

 

[CambieMD]

Repost:
I'll call this "Musings from the battlefield"
Don't try to BS your way out of an answer you don't know. Just think, give the best answer you can and if necessary just say I don't know! If you don't know something, you'll probably be fine, unless it is contraindications to regional or Sux, or some other critical topic. If you start down the BS path, it will be obvious. If you get dragged down and tripped up, it may throw off the rest of the exam. No one knows everything, most pass on the first time. Keep that in mind. Also, obviously, the case is going to go where it is going to go, so when it all goes "BAD" don't stress out or waste a single second rethinking what you could have done to avoid the BADNESS. It was going there no matter what.
When they change "themes" in the same case, it is worth taking 5 seconds to quickly reset by reviewing the stem again. You get so wrapped up in "BADNESS #12" that when they switch suddenly to emergence you don't want to forget something critical from the stem. There's plenty of time to think for a couple seconds and give a short direct coherent answer. If they want the other 10 possible ddx for xxxxxx they will ask.

They know that you know the basics (you passed the written boards already) so just explain what you are thinking and answer the questions asked, nothing more, no dazzling with BS, no "the March issue of A&A had a great case report on..." , answer the question simply than any followups, and move on. Than CHARGE down to the BAR and TOAST YOUR VICTORY! (with a single malt whisky)👍
Bon chance!
One more thing. When you read the stem, or hear the grab bags, think about all the killing (failing) errors particular to that patient/situation. Maybe make a couple quick reminder notes. When you get flustered and drawn into the weeds, you can pause for a second and reflect on what you really want to avoid. "can we move on?" is also useful when you find yourself getting deep into the weeds and way off point. Keep focus on the actual case, and get back to questions that matter.

Great advice. Also remember, you can miss an important question and still pass the exam. Think of a boxer in the ring. He/she may loose a round or two but they can still win the match. The number of points that he/she has at the end is what makes the difference. Missing one question will not cause you to fail the exam.

Cambie

 

[Sapdaddy]

Good luck! We sincerely hope all of you "knock it out!"
sap

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Thanks to all the well wishers. I'm heading to Baltimore Thursday for the Friday exam! Yikes ... starting to get a little nervous.

 

[jetproppilot]

Thanks to all the well wishers. I'm heading to Baltimore Thursday for the Friday exam! Yikes ... starting to get a little nervous.

You can do it, Dude. Yield The Force.👍

 

[KungPOWChicken]

walked out of the exam today pretty much knowing that I failed that fuccking thing. What a bunch of **** man. Things were going well on the first exam until I got to a long winded freakin question about my guy in the pacu. Well I miss interpreted the question and gave a ****ty ass WRONG answer. bottom line is that question screwed me. I had to have them repeat questions a few times in each exam because it became hard to stay focused. Anyways, the second exam went down hill. I kept thinking about the question I royally fucccked up. It took me ten minutes just to read the second question. There were at least four or five questions I missed on the second test and I had a hard time spitting out differentials.

 

[sevoflurane]

walked out of the exam today pretty much knowing that I failed that fuccking thing. What a bunch of **** man. Things were going well on the first exam until I got to a long winded freakin question about my guy in the pacu. Well I miss interpreted the question and gave a ****ty ass WRONG answer. bottom line is that question screwed me. I had to have them repeat questions a few times in each exam because it became hard to stay focused. Anyways, the second exam went down hill. I kept thinking about the question I royally fucccked up. It took me ten minutes just to read the second question. There were at least four or five questions I missed on the second test and I had a hard time spitting out differentials.

Hey man... try not to think about it. I'm pretty sure no one leaves the exam thinking they killed it. I went over my exam a billion and one times in my head. Have a drink and chillax until you get your results. If you don't pass, it's not the end....just a little set back. There are others that can testify to this.

Here's hoping you passed!