GU physical dx

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Brickhouse

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I did my first rectal today. I am a changed woman. I think the synthetic environment of the standarized patient made it a lot weirder than it probably needed to be. It was really not that big of a deal but I really feel like there's no turning back now. Are we allowed to talk about this here?
 
whoa. those standardized patients must be getting paid the big bucks!

We don't do any rectals or pelvic exams until third year on real patients.
 
Yeah the standardized patient thing is A LOT worse than the real thing. I've done two urology electives as well as obgyn, so now I've become desensitized to the whole idea. hehe.
 
at my school, we learn in a group of 4-5 students per standardized patient. the exam is awkward enough , but when the patient is directing you through the procedure, and you have 4 other people in the room staring directly at you in uncomfortable silence its pretty awkward. definitely not my favorite group bonding experience.
 
How are you supposed to know if you're feeling something amiss up there? I'm sure some professor will lecture about it one day, but I'm curious.
 
Brickhouse said:
I did my first rectal today. I am a changed woman. I think the synthetic environment of the standarized patient made it a lot weirder than it probably needed to be. It was really not that big of a deal but I really feel like there's no turning back now. Are we allowed to talk about this here?
I don't know about your SPs but I thought our SPs were excellent and very sensitive. They gave great feedback/directions and although I was initially nervous, their professionalism helped me feel a lot more comfortable. I'm grateful that we at least get 1 practice before performing the exam on a patient.
 
anon-y-mouse said:
How are you supposed to know if you're feeling something amiss up there? I'm sure some professor will lecture about it one day, but I'm curious.

You stick your non-dominant index finger up your own rectum while concurrently sticking your dominant index fingure up the patient's so you have a comparison.
 
you guys don't need to wait till 3rd year to do rectals.
you can do them on yourselves for practice.
hey maybe you'll feel an anal polyp you never knew about.
 
gschl1234 said:
I don't know about your SPs but I thought our SPs were excellent and very sensitive. They gave great feedback/directions and although I was initially nervous, their professionalism helped me feel a lot more comfortable. I'm grateful that we at least get 1 practice before performing the exam on a patient.


Totally - our patients were great - my weirdness was not about them at all. I know it will only get easier and I'm grateful for the opportunity to try it once too!
 
mysophobe said:
You stick your non-dominant index finger up your own rectum while concurrently sticking your dominant index fingure up the patient's so you have a comparison.


What if you have undiagnosed prostate cancer? Plus I'm a girl.
 
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