RANT HERE thread

[battie]

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I failed my comm OSCE and they don't give feedback so I don't know what skills I missed. I walked out feeling like the conversation was fine. I'm so scared. I don't know what to do.

You repeat it and do your best. Although it's crap they don't tell you how you failed

 

[catsandsnakes]

You repeat it and do your best. Although it's crap they don't tell you how you failed

It's just disheartening when I thought I gave my best the first time around. I'm sad that, out of all the exams/OSCEs I've had this year, this is the thing that gets me. I'll be practicing with a friend the next couple days. Hopefully I can update after Tuesday with good news :/

 

[flotus]

It's just disheartening when I thought I gave my best the first time around. I'm sad that, out of all the exams/OSCEs I've had this year, this is the thing that gets me. I'll be practicing with a friend the next couple days. Hopefully I can update after Tuesday with good news :/

Ugh. I am sorry. As a tOSU student, the comm OSCEs are incredibly subjective. The best way to go about them is not with authenticity, but with a script. Know how to use the skills verbatim among many different scenarios!

"Hi, my name is Dr. blah blah. Its lovely weather we are having, isn't it?"
"Today, we are going to discuss x, y and z. First, I will start with x"
"What I'm hearing you say is..."
"Tell me more about..."
"I know you mentioned wanting to vaccinate Fluffy. Tell me what you know about vaccines?" "Great, it sounds like you know a lot about vaccinations! Something to consider is x, y, z. What questions do you have?"
"Now that we have finished x, we will talk about y..."
etc.
etc.
etc.

It is formulaic and formulaic only. They are literally checking boxes to see if you used specific skills; some graders are able to parse these out even if you don't use the skills verbatim, others expect a deliberate and clear use.

 

[_rae_]

I have two jobs this summer. One I've been working per diem since February. One that's a full time opportunity with a corporate hospital that I know has internships/residencies that they sometimes fill outside of match.

Per diem job has been scheduling me (which, if I'm not mistaken, is not what per diem is). They wanted my June schedule set by today.

Corporate job said they would have my first month's schedule to me by today.

I have no schedule, so I've had to just agree to my per diem shifts and hope for the best even though I KNOW I'm going to get double booked somewhere.

Help?

 

[catsandsnakes]

Ugh. I am sorry. As a tOSU student, the comm OSCEs are incredibly subjective. The best way to go about them is not with authenticity, but with a script. Know how to use the skills verbatim among many different scenarios!

"Hi, my name is Dr. blah blah. Its lovely weather we are having, isn't it?"
"Today, we are going to discuss x, y and z. First, I will start with x"
"What I'm hearing you say is..."
"Tell me more about..."
"I know you mentioned wanting to vaccinate Fluffy. Tell me what you know about vaccines?" "Great, it sounds like you know a lot about vaccinations! Something to consider is x, y, z. What questions do you have?"
"Now that we have finished x, we will talk about y..."
etc.
etc.
etc.

It is formulaic and formulaic only. They are literally checking boxes to see if you used specific skills; some graders are able to parse these out even if you don't use the skills verbatim, others expect a deliberate and clear use.

Thank you so much for this, flotus. I think I was more focused on having an authentic conversation, though I’m still at a loss for what skill I didn’t hit. I hate that’s it’s more important to talk unnaturally.

 

[catsandsnakes]

On a separate but related note, people need to be more careful about how they talk about pass/fails for exams, OSCEs, etc.

I was in a group work class today and people started talking about wondering when they’d hear if they failed the OSCE. Someone in my group said that they heard only one person had actually failed it (I doubt that’s actually true). I had to sit there for another 20 minutes trying to not cry, because that person would be me.

 

[apoptosis09]

I have two jobs this summer. One I've been working per diem since February. One that's a full time opportunity with a corporate hospital that I know has internships/residencies that they sometimes fill outside of match.

Per diem job has been scheduling me (which, if I'm not mistaken, is not what per diem is). They wanted my June schedule set by today.

Corporate job said they would have my first month's schedule to me by today.

I have no schedule, so I've had to just agree to my per diem shifts and hope for the best even though I KNOW I'm going to get double booked somewhere.

Help?

What are the benefits to the per diem job? Good hourly, flexibility, etc? Would there be consequences if you rejected a shift that was double booked? What would be the long term loss if you dropped this one?
Asking bc I'd be leaning towards prioritizing the full time hospital that you (it sounds like) want to make a good impression at.

Also as someone who did the multiple part time jobs thing all through undergrad, I'm always in favor of dropping the job thats less receptive to flexibility 😅

 

[apoptosis09]

On a separate but related note, people need to be more careful about how they talk about pass/fails for exams, OSCEs, etc.

I was in a group work class today and people started talking about wondering when they’d hear if they failed the OSCE. Someone in my group said that they heard only one person had actually failed it (I doubt that’s actually true). I had to sit there for another 20 minutes trying to not cry, because that person would be me.

I'm sorry, that's not particularly professional on their part. Fwiw I know you aren't the only one!

Like flotus said, the grading is very subjective. I know people (myself) who straight up missed explicitly listed things and have not gotten a notice to resit yet (but also not a notice that I've passed 😬)

 

[_rae_]

What are the benefits to the per diem job? Good hourly, flexibility, etc? Would there be consequences if you rejected a shift that was double booked? What would be the long term loss if you dropped this one?
Asking bc I'd be leaning towards prioritizing the full time hospital that you (it sounds like) want to make a good impression at.

Also as someone who did the multiple part time jobs thing all through undergrad, I'm always in favor of dropping the job thats less receptive to flexibility 😅

Per diem: Better hourly pay, guaranteed to keep me on during my third year as that's why I was hired, ER only. Probably fine to drop a shift but I'm going to need to find someone to cover it.
Full time: Better resume builder, specialty exposure (and goddamn do I miss specialty medicine so much), more networking opportunities for VIRMP letters etc., only guarantee is the summer position but they've mentioned if it goes well they MIGHT keep me on as relief through the school year.

I want this to work because I would consider dropping the per diem position if corporate wants to keep me at the end of all of this, but I need a guaranteed income and job hunting amongst a sea of vet students is actually kind of difficult right now.

 

[RTC19]

(I am not in vet med.) Everyone I know in my program has a graduate internship placement but me. I emailed the coordinator and she said she is working on it. I am still nervous, especially because I work and need to get in my leave application in, like, now.

 

[flotus]

Thank you so much for this, flotus. I think I was more focused on having an authentic conversation, though I’m still at a loss for what skill I didn’t hit. I hate that’s it’s more important to talk unnaturally.

No worries! You will sadly never know. It’s frustrating. But I promise, it is not a reflection of your ability to effectively (or not effectively) communicate. Also, I know tons of people who failed Comm OSCEs. Remember, it’s graded compared to peers on a curve, so a certain amount of people literally have to fail (even if every student “scored” above what a passing average would be). Don’t worry about it. It’s dumb. Also, there are some graders who NEVER give students a “low enough” grade to be on the bottom of the curve, and some who tend to have a much higher % of students who end up with failing grades. It just shows how subjective it is.

 

[potentialsheltervet]

On a separate but related note, people need to be more careful about how they talk about pass/fails for exams, OSCEs, etc.

I was in a group work class today and people started talking about wondering when they’d hear if they failed the OSCE. Someone in my group said that they heard only one person had actually failed it (I doubt that’s actually true). I had to sit there for another 20 minutes trying to not cry, because that person would be me.

For this same reason, I hate when professors share class averages and highest/lowest scores.

 

[battie]

Just the concept that a certain percentage of people have to fail is ridiculous.