Screwed up my CS

[Knight_MD]

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So, I think I'm going to fail the CS....

I screwed up REAL BAD in one case (forgot to withdraw the leg rest even after I was asked to, forgot to drape legs tillhalfway through the history) appeared generally anxious, then made a STUPID diagnosis, and made a literally fatal PN note in another case (forgot to mention an important drug allergy). For the remaining 10 cases, I was stuttering, speaking with a relatively low voice, and appeared to not know what I was doing or asking about.

Basically I just did the:

LIQORAAA PAM HUGS FOSS SODATA mnemonic for almost every case... did the proper greeting...etc.

So, I've heard people fail for a lot less than a screw up in 2 cases. How is this test graded, what is the passing score...

I did "okay" in most cases, but screwed up in 2-3.... what are my chances?

 

[tfom08]

I think the best way to see how it's scored is to read FA for CS, most people seem to think the checklist in there is fairly accurate.

As for how bad you can mess up, some of the cases don't count, so probably best case is that one of the cases you messed up will be one that doesn't count.

 

[Knight_MD]

I know that not washing hands on one case would make you fail the test. How about not pulling the leg rest for a patient? How about failing to mention an important allergy in an infected patient?

 

[J1515]

I know that not washing hands on one case would make you fail the test.

🙄

Not true. Unless you kill a patient, you can bomb one or two or three exams and still pass. They average each patients score together.

 

[bikedoc1021]

I know that not washing hands on one case would make you fail the test.

can we please squash this rumor once and for all 🙄 does anyone really know the answer? or it is all "i've heard that..."

 

[Saladin MD]

forgot to drape legs tillhalfway through the history)

Why would that matter, as long as you do it before the physical exam? I mean, it's probably weird to do it in the middle of the history but as long as you did it before the physical exam, what's the issue? I don't get the point of draping before the history except as a way to make sure you don't forget. Does anyone know if it has to be done before the history or if it can be done right before the physical exam (which in my opinion would be more natural and intuitive)?

LIQORAAA PAM HUGS FOSS SODATA mnemonic

What does that stand for? Is that in FA? (I haven't finished all of FA yet.)

I did "okay" in most cases, but screwed up in 2-3.... what are my chances?

It seems you would be ok.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I know people who have passed who forgot to wash their hands on one encounter, so it's definitely not an automatic fail. I forgot to write down patient allergies on one note -- the patient told me they had a drug history, and I put down NKDA on my note. Still passed. As for draping, yeah, you don't need to do it until the physical exam. I draped at the start of the interview just because I always sat down and needed to get the sheet off my stool. On that note, I'd recommend sitting down -- it's more comfortable and makes your interaction with the patient seem more personal.

 

[Saladin MD]

Thanks, Doctor Bagel.

When you sit down, is there any thing you can write on, i.e. something remotely desk like? I hate writing patient notes on just a stool without anything to write on!

 

[FutureDocDO]

I know that not washing hands on one case would make you fail the test.

Not true. I forgot to use the hand sanitizer on one case and still pass.

 

[blz]

I used gloves on all my encounters. A lot faster than washing your hands all the time.

 

[fever106]

Hey, I just got my score today and I was totally freaked. It took me a couple hours just to get up the nerve to look at it. Needless to say, I, like 97% of AMGs passed. I thought I bombed the ICE portion. My notes were good, but I knew I left out at least one or two really important questions on several patients, my physical exams were sketchy for the most part (bits and pieces, but certainly not complete), and one patient I had no idea what the diagnosis was. I kept asking questions, but did not get anywhere, and my physical exam on him was a joke (I listened to his heart, checked his conjunctiva, did 3 questions of the minimental, and checked his gait...and this was a "I'm not myself" complaint. That was it...and I could tell he knew I had no clue what the problem was. My differentials were all over the place. I had another patient who I was ready to wrap up the session and I asked her if she had any more questions for me, and she asked about hormone replacement. At that point, I realized she was having symptoms of menopause, and I hadn't done any part of the gyn history. My time was essentially out, so I asked her about hot flashes and irregular periods, and then promptly made my exit just before time was called. Totally spastic! I guess my point is, everybody thinks of a million little bonehead mistakes after the test is over. The nature of the exam makes it impossible for anyone to get it all perfect, or even close for that matter. You are nervous and rushed, and the test is exhausting. But thr truth is, because it is graded partially by people with minimal medical knowledge, they have to allow for quite a bit of leeway when it comes to the Pass-Fail margin. They have to be really careful to only fail people who undeniably deserve to fail as determined by their standards. Otherwise, can you imagine the outcry from people having to shell out 1000 bucks and travel costs for a retest. Not to mention the whole issue with residency programs seeing the scarlett letter on your transcript. No, if you at least followed most of the basic rules, compiled semi-decent notes, and were polite and professional, I don't think it is likely that you failed. Just an FYI, the part I thought could have done me in, the ICE portion (hardest part for americans), I got a "superior" rating in. Go figure. Don't be like me and lose sleep over this bogus test.

 

[Saladin MD]

What does ICE stand for?

 

[Holistic]

.....

 

[Saladin MD]

I just took it. Super easy guys.

 

[tarlovcyst]

I am dispelling this rumor. I forgot to wash my hands on one of my encounters. I have been nervous since I took CS in September after all the talk on this site about it being an automatic fail. I passed all parts, was not even close to failing any part of the exam.....so in all caps

YOU CAN FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS ON ONE PATIENT AND STILL PASS....

good luck in the match to all

I wouldn't go that far to state this. Two of the twelve encounters are dropped... whether they are the two lowest scores or two random ones. You don't know if the patient you forgot to wash your hands on was the one that was dropped.

I know a friend of mine who forgot to wash hands on two patients... and everything else was fine... and failed the PE section.

 

[canal]

this test is worst on my nerves than both step 1 and ck combined!!!!!!!!!