Oral Boards--ugh

Started by skipandgo
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skipandgo

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So, I took the oral boards yesterday. I felt the vignette portion of the exam was okay except for one vignette. My live patient was a good historian, and I think the interview went well. I feel my presentation was well organized, and my treatment plan was comprehensive. HOWEVER, I did not ask about HIV and Hepatitis status (but no IV drug use) and did not add those tests to my work up. I feel so completely stupid and would never have forgotten in real practice. Is this enough for me to fail the exam? I am wondering if anyone else had a similar scenario and could share their experience.
 
So, I took the oral boards yesterday. I felt the vignette portion of the exam was okay except for one vignette. My live patient was a good historian, and I think the interview went well. I feel my presentation was well organized, and my treatment plan was comprehensive. HOWEVER, I did not ask about HIV and Hepatitis status (but no IV drug use) and did not add those tests to my work up. I feel so completely stupid and would never have forgotten in real practice. Is this enough for me to fail the exam? I am wondering if anyone else had a similar scenario and could share their experience.

My friend forgot to administer a MMSE (his patient was an 85 year old man), and he passed.
 
Unfortunately for me, i think i can up both your stories. I had a patient with a history of psychosis. I asked the patient about a history of suicide attempts and a history of suicidal ideation as well as a history of hi and hurting anyone BUT i did not ask if she was having suicidal thoughts NOW or hi now. I would never have not asked something like that in real life.
Also the vignettes were not easy and i kept feeling as though i was missing something.
horrible test
I would hear attendings say how they felt so accomplished and competent after the orals but i can say i truly felt the exact opposite.
 
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Where can I take the clinical skills assessment so I can bypass these oral boards? Check the abpn for the other options available since they will be dropping the orals in the future.
 
I took my oral boards yesterday. I felt ok after the vignettes, ok after my interview. I didnt miss any major interview section, but glossed over the pt suggesting she might have DID, bc she had a possible dx in nearly every other dxic category. Of course the last line of questioning was about psychotherapy for DID (which I could not really answer - had to hold back from saying I don't believe it exists). I'm alternating between feeling anxious this guy failed me based on my poor response and anger that my competence as a Psychiatrist is judged by such a subjective test.
 
I wonder what would happen if you said you didn't believe DID exists? It's not an uncommon viewpoint. I hope everyone in this thread did okay. 🙂

I got lucky on my oral boards. Very nice examiners and a patient with bipolar disorder who was very stable on medications.
 
The oral board was the worst academic experience in my life.

I don't think anybody can pass without some combination of decent/coherent pt and/or examiners. Many of the pts are either vague, confused/in denial of their history/treatment or actively paranoid/belligerent.

I'm glad they are getting rid of this terrible exam format. No matter how bad the new board exam is, it can't be as bad as the oral board.
 
The oral board was the worst academic experience in my life.

I don't think anybody can pass without some combination of decent/coherent pt and/or examiners. Many of the pts are either vague, confused/in denial of their history/treatment or actively paranoid/belligerent.

I'm glad they are getting rid of this terrible exam format. No matter how bad the new board exam is, it can't be as bad as the oral board.

I graduated in 2009 and am trying to find a way to get certified without this stupid test.
 
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I wonder what would happen if you said you didn't believe DID exists? It's not an uncommon viewpoint. I hope everyone in this thread did okay. 🙂

I got lucky on my oral boards. Very nice examiners and a patient with bipolar disorder who was very stable on medications.
@sunlion - if I articulated that it's a controversial dx, I think it would've been fine. My answer was like 'um...that's out of my comfort level - if a DID pt came to my practice fir therapy I would consult a colleague ' or sth like that. So, we will see.
 
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I graduated in 2009 and am trying to find a way to get certified without this stupid test.
I think the only way to do this is to obtain clinical skills evaluations from a training program, and you can't initiate this process until several years from now:
http://abpn.com/downloads/ifas/2012_IFA_Psych_IandII_080111.pdf

Candidates who do not pass the Part I examination in 2013 or before, or who do not complete the certification process by the September 2016 deadline will be required to submit documentation of satisfactory performance on the required clinical skills evaluations. These evaluations must be completed in an ACGME-accredited training program on or after July 1, 2008 as part ofthe ABPN credentialing process. To become Board certified in psychiatry, such candidates must pass the new computer-administered certification examination.

Candidates who are unsuccessful in the Part II oral examination during the alloted time period will be required to submit documentation of satisfactory performance on the required clinical skills evaluations. These evaluations must be completed in an ACGME-accredited training program on or after July 1, 2008 as part of the ABPN credentialing process. To become Board certified in psychiatry, such candidates must pass the new computer-administered certification examination.

Residents who entered residency training in psychiatry (PGY-1) prior to July 1, 2007 or (PGY-2) prior to July 1, 2008 may apply for the new computer-administered Certification Examination beginning in 2014 provided they meet all credentialing requirements including documentation of satisfactory performance on the three required clinical skills evaluations. Candidates who do not complete the certification process by the final administration of the Part II Oral Examination may also apply for the new computer-administered Certification Examination in 2014, provided they meet all credentialing requirements including documentation of satisfactory performance on the three required clinical skills evaluations.​
 
agree with snafer's experience. In addition to that, I was timed by the examiners during the oral exam every single vignette and live pt, I am sure they did the same to other candidates.That was very very anxiety provoking , when I was told I only have 5 mins left , my mind went blank!!! After the test, I felt I failed the test for sure and prepared to retake it again...
 
I think the only way to do this is to obtain clinical skills evaluations from a training program, and you can't initiate this process until several years from now:
http://abpn.com/downloads/ifas/2012_IFA_Psych_IandII_080111.pdf
Candidates who do not pass the Part I examination in 2013 or before, or who do not complete the certification process by the September 2016 deadline will be required to submit documentation of satisfactory performance on the required clinical skills evaluations. These evaluations must be completed in an ACGME-accredited training program on or after July 1, 2008 as part ofthe ABPN credentialing process. To become Board certified in psychiatry, such candidates must pass the new computer-administered certification examination.

Candidates who are unsuccessful in the Part II oral examination during the alloted time period will be required to submit documentation of satisfactory performance on the required clinical skills evaluations. These evaluations must be completed in an ACGME-accredited training program on or after July 1, 2008 as part of the ABPN credentialing process. To become Board certified in psychiatry, such candidates must pass the new computer-administered certification examination.

Residents who entered residency training in psychiatry (PGY-1) prior to July 1, 2007 or (PGY-2) prior to July 1, 2008 may apply for the new computer-administered Certification Examination beginning in 2014 provided they meet all credentialing requirements including documentation of satisfactory performance on the three required clinical skills evaluations. Candidates who do not complete the certification process by the final administration of the Part II Oral Examination may also apply for the new computer-administered Certification Examination in 2014, provided they meet all credentialing requirements including documentation of satisfactory performance on the three required clinical skills evaluations.
​

I am trying to get the documentation together so I have it when I need it. However, it is not that easy to get and my residency program may not be able to help.
 
Is it allowed to talk about vignettes because i would like to see what other ppl would have said about this particular vignette. iIfeel like i completely missed something on it.
 
Just a quick update: I PASSED!! Cannot believe it. I really, really thought I'd have to retake the exam. I thought I'd reply an update in case anyone in the future was in the same predicament--there is hope!! YAY!!!!!!
 
I passed too. I was so sure I failed that I was really looking into how to get the clinical skills assessment certificate or take the boards again in April.

So happy!!

How do I get the MOC?
 
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