I passed CS. I have got to be living proof that if you are an AMS, all you really need is a pulse, and the ability to not talk down to someone.
For those yet to take it: time will be a factor on at least one of your cases, whether you practice your a$$ off or not. For me I was the last one out of the room for 9-10/12 cases. Just make sure you go over EITHER the UW cases or FA CS. Get some sort of scripted questioning order in your mind, and go with that. There's almost not much need to alter it depending on ddx (even though that goes against everything we're taught). This will ensure that you get points on the checklist for data gathering. Smile, and always reassure your patient that you are there for their needs, and you'll pass.
Nitty gritty:
1. Ran out of time on 1 station to the point where I was just barely finishing auscultating.
2. 3 of my notes have 2 or less ddx, and 1 of those notes had 0 lab tests/further exam... I ran out of time typing. Get those abbreviations down before the test if you choose to type out your note.
3. Phone case was really too short, I should have asked more. If you come out of the station early, I highly recommend you put down what you would ask in the 'Exams/Labs' section on the note. If I were a grader, this made the difference between pass and fail on the station on my test.
4. If you had a computer glitch -- as in the case of our test -- and they tell you that the notes must be written, don't rush on writing the note out for that first case, they have to give you the time to transcribe the note to paper. (The only reason I mention this is that it REALLY seemed to have an effect on 2 of the people that were taking the test with us.)
Merry Christmas folks (what's left of it 😛)
edit: I forgot one thing: I studied for about 6 days for about an hour a day... UW cases. They were DEAD ON to 11 of 12 cases. I think the one outlier was an experimental one.
For those yet to take it: time will be a factor on at least one of your cases, whether you practice your a$$ off or not. For me I was the last one out of the room for 9-10/12 cases. Just make sure you go over EITHER the UW cases or FA CS. Get some sort of scripted questioning order in your mind, and go with that. There's almost not much need to alter it depending on ddx (even though that goes against everything we're taught). This will ensure that you get points on the checklist for data gathering. Smile, and always reassure your patient that you are there for their needs, and you'll pass.
Nitty gritty:
1. Ran out of time on 1 station to the point where I was just barely finishing auscultating.
2. 3 of my notes have 2 or less ddx, and 1 of those notes had 0 lab tests/further exam... I ran out of time typing. Get those abbreviations down before the test if you choose to type out your note.
3. Phone case was really too short, I should have asked more. If you come out of the station early, I highly recommend you put down what you would ask in the 'Exams/Labs' section on the note. If I were a grader, this made the difference between pass and fail on the station on my test.
4. If you had a computer glitch -- as in the case of our test -- and they tell you that the notes must be written, don't rush on writing the note out for that first case, they have to give you the time to transcribe the note to paper. (The only reason I mention this is that it REALLY seemed to have an effect on 2 of the people that were taking the test with us.)
Merry Christmas folks (what's left of it 😛)
edit: I forgot one thing: I studied for about 6 days for about an hour a day... UW cases. They were DEAD ON to 11 of 12 cases. I think the one outlier was an experimental one.
