COMLEX PE - Failed!!!!!!

[Doc825]

Are there any kind souls that wish to speak about their experience at the COMLEX-PE? I have no idea what the hell is wrong with this test. I guess I wasn't osteopathic enough for them and so I got a failing grade. I feel that I did everything by the book, literally. I memorized the First Aid: USMLE 2 CS just because I was terrified about this exam and yet I still failed. This test is so bogus but they have you by the ba***. If you don't take it you can't graduate. And spare you if you try to speak with them. I spoke with this lady at the center and she lost her mind and called me unprofessional and rude and hang the phone up. So the moral, be as osteopathic as you can on every patient get a structural exam and some OMT and don't you dare question the ever wise NBOME cause they will put a letter of reprimand on your record.

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[DD214_DOC]

I passed and I only did OMM on the ones who mentioned it.

 

[Us2it.com]

I wonder if you did some other things differently without realizing it, thanks to your additional preparatory practice. I love OMM at least as much as the next DO

I don't like OMM that much. I had someone at school videotape me during a mock visit to help me figure out why I didn't pass last time and OMM seemed to be the culprit.

I only did the ones who asked for it on my first PE exam and failed.

Then their explanation letter said I was below their minimum in OMM etc etc

So on my second take I did OMM on almost everyone and I passed. In addition, I'm pretty certain my notes were of lesser quality the second time around, but this time they included an OMM assessment of 99% of patients.

I'm not necessarily saying you have to do OMM on each patient, I'm saying draw your own conclusions...

What is my conclusion? This goes to show how random this test is

 

[Jacknut]

Advice for students retaking or virgin PE takers:

I passed btw

Did OMM ONLY on the patients who clued me in or mentioned it (being 4 total)...I did paraspinal inhibition, rib raising, Occipital traction, bilateral fulcrum, and thoracic outlet release.

I was the first student out on every patient, honestly I did everything in the room with the patient and I was out in about 5 minutes every time!!! I used the OLDCARTS mnemonic.

I was extremely polite and caring. I showed compassion every time a pt told me their main complaint or mentioned a someone dying.

I totally F'd up one patient, I forgot to do an abdominal exam when it was needed.

I tried to rehearse the patients history to them before I did my PE . I probably did this on 65% of the pts.

Considering I had all the time in the world to do my SOAP note bc I was out of the rooms so quick... I had a stellar SOAP note and strong DDX.

I washed (sanitized) my hands only before the PE after I took my history.

I did lungs/Heart on ALL the patients.

 

[chogall]

Yeah, I was so nervous about time that I completely forgot to get any subjective information beyond CC and HPI (forgot allergies, PMH, PSH, FH, and SH) on two patients! I forgot to ask a patient further after she mentioned she took ibuprofen "when her leg hurts her." Probably an OMM patient that I missed. One patient gave me **** for touching his ear without asking him, and I put AAOX3 for all of my patients without going through all of the questions specifically (stupid, right? I guess that's what they call irregular behavior). In addition, I had quite a few other minor things (blanked on couple *easy* DD, forgot to put f/u visits, actually didn't include any treatments in any SOAPS, only workups, had poor OMM documentation *only TART changes*)

So, yeah, I'm pretty damn sure I failed. I see people screwed some things up and passed, but nothing on the level of me...

The worst part is how this may screw up my chances of my number one residency (does anyone know if they really care about this PE? I did well on step I) The second worst part is the exorbitant cost of the test and traveling across the country.

If by some grace of God I do pass, I will respond and become a shining example of how you can utterly bomb a couple of patients and still come out on top. Uncertain PE takers will rejoice at my words as my experiences lift their spirits in anticipation of scores. If you do not hear from me, then I've crawled into a hole somewhere.

 

[radiodoc99]

Are there any kind souls that wish to speak about their experience at the COMLEX-PE? I have no idea what the hell is wrong with this test. I guess I wasn't osteopathic enough for them and so I got a failing grade. I feel that I did everything by the book, literally. I memorized the First Aid: USMLE 2 CS just because I was terrified about this exam and yet I still failed. This test is so bogus but they have you by the ba***. If you don't take it you can't graduate. And spare you if you try to speak with them. I spoke with this lady at the center and she lost her mind and called me unprofessional and rude and hang the phone up. So the moral, be as osteopathic as you can on every patient get a structural exam and some OMT and don't you dare question the ever wise NBOME cause they will put a letter of reprimand on your record.

To learn OMT, maybe you can use a lot of online resources and review tests. Its not just treating but on the PE you can do many physical diagnosis tests like Apley compression test etc for diagnosis. Maybe reviewing where what test is highest yield and also prioritizing the tests will get you higher score. Remember its an objective test. Did the student do this? Yes or No...and you get points based on whether you did ask a question, diagnose, treat properly.
Practice makes it perfect, Keep practicing

 

[NJWxMan]

There are only two critical rules that when not obeyed will ABSOLUTELY cause you to fail this exam:

1) Lying/Falsifying you documented H and P (aka: writing AAO x 3 when you in fact did not test their orientation; etc.)

2) Lacking humanism and sensitivity. (Don't be cocky; Say "please" and "thank you"; smile appropriately; cover the pt whenever possible; comfort and converse with the pt)--> You will not fail if the SP walks away from your interview saying "Wow, he/she was a really nice young doctor."


You DO NOT; I repeat DO NOT have to do osteopathic exams or treatment on every pt and you will know when it's appropriate. Keep the OMM simple and try to meet the pt's needs.

Yeah, I was so nervous about time that I completely forgot to get any subjective information beyond CC and HPI (forgot allergies, PMH, PSH, FH, and SH) on two patients! I forgot to ask a patient further after she mentioned she took ibuprofen "when her leg hurts her." Probably an OMM patient that I missed. One patient gave me **** for touching his ear without asking him, and I put AAOX3 for all of my patients without going through all of the questions specifically (stupid, right? I guess that's what they call irregular behavior). In addition, I had quite a few other minor things (blanked on couple *easy* DD, forgot to put f/u visits, actually didn't include any treatments in any SOAPS, only workups, had poor OMM documentation *only TART changes*)

So, yeah, I'm pretty damn sure I failed. I see people screwed some things up and passed, but nothing on the level of me...

The worst part is how this may screw up my chances of my number one residency (does anyone know if they really care about this PE? I did well on step I) The second worst part is the exorbitant cost of the test and traveling across the country.

If by some grace of God I do pass, I will respond and become a shining example of how you can utterly bomb a couple of patients and still come out on top. Uncertain PE takers will rejoice at my words as my experiences lift their spirits in anticipation of scores. If you do not hear from me, then I've crawled into a hole somewhere.

 

[kazuma]

So, yeah, I'm pretty damn sure I failed. I see people screwed some things up and passed, but nothing on the level of me...

The worst part is how this may screw up my chances of my number one residency (does anyone know if they really care about this PE? I did well on step I) The second worst part is the exorbitant cost of the test and traveling across the country.

I wish I had a good answer for you, however, I haven't ever heard of anyone failing this BEFORE interviews or the match. I've only heard of people failing it after the match, and it sounds like the programs will usually give students another shot to pass it before they dismiss them from the program.

My best guess is that this would be a major setback if programs found out about a failed PE/CS before interviews and they'd probably think twice about ranking you. Hopefully not, but that's what it sounds like from talking to one of my attendings that used to be a part of a pediatric residency selection committee in Cleveland.

 

[chogall]

Well, thank you for all of your advice but....I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be a shining example for everyone. Even if you screw up monumentally, you still have a chance. Don't lose hope.

 

[kazuma]

I just found out that I passed (took the exam on 6/3). My neuro exams were brief, and I didn't even have time to do ANY part of a physical exam during one of my cases because the history was so complex. I also forgot to do a neuro exam and ROM test before doing OMM on a couple of patients (did some portions after the treatment when I remembered). I really think you can bomb at least one case as long as you do well on the others.

I saw a comlex PE specific review book at my school bookstore. That probably would have been useful, but I didn't know about it until after I took the PE. I used FA for the USMLE CE and the cases prepared me well for what I saw on test day.

Good luck to all those still waiting on scores.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

Congrats to those who passed. honestly, i dunno if i passed or failed seeing as how I just took it ... all i can say is, payin for all that crap again would suck. What a scam.

 

[gildas]

Do residency programs count it against you if you fail the PE the first time around but manage to pass it before the final date for the submission of rank order list?

 

[Kuba]

 

[Medet123]

There are only two critical rules that when not obeyed will ABSOLUTELY cause you to fail this exam:

1) Lying/Falsifying you documented H and P (aka: writing AAO x 3 when you in fact did not test their orientation; etc.)

Are you sure about this? I have always thought AAOX3 id fine if pt is talking and coherent etc.