Have any of you guys take an unscheduled bathroom break during comlex?

[Hopeful101]

OK so I messed up. It happened. I really had to pee starting halfway through block one. Got through half of block two until I realized I couldn't hold it without having an accident, let alone think clearly enough to take the test...Thanks again nervous bladder. So I took an unscheduled bathroom break (which by the way wouldn't have been a problem if we didn't have to take the comlex in 2 hour blocks!). But anyways...I was back in under 2 minutes, but I knew I messed up. At lunch asked them what would happen, and they said since it was unscheduled it's flagged and reported but that it happens fairly often and it just ends up being lost time. I don't know if I believe that. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Also all this is probably moot, because there was a storm during my last block that knocked out the power and we had to all go home. They said that we might be able to pick up where we left off, but that sounds like a long shot. So yeah in the event that we pick back up how screwed am I?

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[DrStephenStrange]

You're probably fine. I'm pretty sure you're not the first one that ever happened to. BTW it's COMLEX not "COMPLEX".

 

[Hopeful101]

You're probably fine. I'm pretty sure you're not the first one that happens too. BTW it's COMLEX not "COMPLEX".

Thanks...also IK but after the third time auto correct stopped me from saying it right, I decided to just let it go lol

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

You're fine. It's really not an issue.

 

[risus_sardonicus]

No one cares about or understands Comlex scores. Don’t lose any sleep over it


Sent from my iPhone using SDN

 

[Hopeful101]

also @Goro do you know by any chance?

 

[jurassicpark]

This will be reported to all your future surgical attendings that you have a small bladder. They will not let you scrub in on long cases.

Just kidding 🙂 Poop happens, literally. No way to stop nature. Just remember for the future exams to completely empty your bladder beforehand, shake everything loose!

 

[deleted859689]

Don’t drink to much caffeine before hand.

 

[Goro]

also @Goro do you know by any chance?

Nope. Theoretically, you're not supposed to take the break. I suspect that this will be looked at in a case-by case experience. A 75% pre-clinical student who magically gets a 700+ score on COMLEX will probably raise an eyebrow.

 

[MrTaco92]

I took an unscheduled bathroom break during both comlex 1 and 2. Both times they told me I was flagged and reported but nothing bad happened either time.

 

[Hopeful101]

I took an unscheduled bathroom break during both comlex 1 and 2. Both times they told me I was flagged and reported but nothing bad happened either time.

Perfect! KK thanks everyone. Now when they inevitably dont let me just finish the last block and half I can be mad instead of relieved....

 

[Hopeful101]

Don’t drink to much caffeine before hand.

Ik it was only like half a coffee though...Kind of got away from me. And I had a major headache after because I think I diarised like half my blood away jeez

 

[Hopeful101]

This will be reported to all your future surgical attendings that you have a small bladder. They will not let you scrub in on long cases.

Just kidding 🙂 Poop happens, literally. No way to stop nature. Just remember for the future exams to completely empty your bladder beforehand, shake everything loose!

And that's a bad thing how? 🙂

 

[Hopeful101]

This will be reported to all your future surgical attendings that you have a small bladder. They will not let you scrub in on long cases.

Just kidding 🙂 Poop happens, literally. No way to stop nature. Just remember for the future exams to completely empty your bladder beforehand, shake everything loose!

And that's a bad thing how? 🙂 Also I did right before I walked into the test room...But course like 10 minutes into the first block I had to go again....

 

[Preston Garvey]

I was fidgeting so bad during Comlex level 2 that I kicked the computer power cord out of the wall....I thought I was dead. Luckily once we plugged the computer back into the wall it took me right to where I left off.

 

[ortnakas]

I know people who had irregularities noted on USMLE or COMLEX for:
-extra bathroom breaks
-not returning on time from breaks
-taking their shoes off
-falling asleep

Nothing bad happened to any of these individuals.

 

[sunshinefl]

I know people who had irregularities noted on USMLE or COMLEX for:
-extra bathroom breaks
-not returning on time from breaks
-taking their shoes off
-falling asleep

Nothing bad happened to any of these individuals.

When I took my Level 1 I returned from every break 1-3 minutes late. As far as I understood that was okay as I hadn’t seen the questions for the block yet. By the time I checked out, unlocked my locker, had a quick bite, drank some water, put eye drops in, went down the hall and used the bathroom, returned, locked my locker, checked back in, and got to my desk, I was always late. And I was okay with losing a couple mins in order to take care of my basic needs. However, the test proctor told me as I returned from the last break that “she would have to report this”. I was like... you mean, the basic times on the check in/checkout log which are routinely submitted or you’re saying you’re going to go out of your way to make a special report? She wouldn’t say either way but said “it reflected on me poorly” and “showed poor time management which should be taken in to consideration for a doctor.” ??????? Well, being an anxious type person at baseline let alone on a major physician licensing exam day, it was very distracting the last 2 blocks and definitely weighing on me heavily. I am sure that those were the worst blocks performance wise. I was never contacted by NBOME or have any weird asterisks on my score report. However, this lady’s confrontation definitely adversely affected the rest of my exam and I vowed never to use that test site again.

 

[Hopeful101]

When I took my Level 1 I returned from every break 1-3 minutes late. As far as I understood that was okay as I hadn’t seen the questions for the block yet. By the time I checked out, unlocked my locker, had a quick bite, drank some water, put eye drops in, went down the hall and used the bathroom, returned, locked my locker, checked back in, and got to my desk, I was always late. And I was okay with losing a couple mins in order to take care of my basic needs. However, the test proctor told me as I returned from the last break that “she would have to report this”. I was like... you mean, the basic times on the check in/checkout log which are routinely submitted or you’re saying you’re going to go out of your way to make a special report? She wouldn’t say either way but said “it reflected on me poorly” and “showed poor time management which should be taken in to consideration for a doctor.” ??????? Well, being an anxious type person at baseline let alone on a major physician licensing exam day, it was very distracting the last 2 blocks and definitely weighing on me heavily. I am sure that those were the worst blocks performance wise. I was never contacted by NBOME or have any weird asterisks on my score report. However, this lady’s confrontation definitely adversely affected the rest of my exam and I vowed never to use that test site again.

What a jerk. A receptionist has no idea what it takes or means to be a doctor.