Step 2CS Note: Write or Type?

[omores]

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Hey there Step 2 CS veterans (or anyone else with an opinion on this):

I hear you've got the option of handwriting or typing your patient note. I can see advantages and disadvantages to both: if you handwrite, you're doing what you ordinarily do in the clinic, and have the security of an actual piece of paper to turn in -- but it may be slow, and crossouts don't look so nice. With a computer, you eliminate the legibility problem and it may be faster, too -- but there's the anxiety of pressing the wrong key and having the entire thing disappear on you.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

[CANES2006]

I hand wrote my exam. I did this because I was more comfortable with this form and I'm a faster writer than typer. I recommend you do what you're faster with.

 

[Gfunk6]

The Step 2CS computer interface is very simple -- no chance of the info disappearing from your screen unless the hardware itself crashes (also very unlikely).

Frankly, I never even considered this possibility. I went with typing b/c I'm a very fast typer and it is a hell of lot neater than my atrocious handwriting.

 

[Ergo]

I typed and Im a ****ty typist.
Its a really simple test. You dont need to be verbose, so you have time.
Bullet point answers, lots of caring and hand holding for the patients (read: graders).

 

[omores]

Thanks all.

I just discovered that the USMLE website has a place where you can see what the computer note-writing interface is like. Maybe I'll check it out this weekend and see whether I like it, or whether I'll just stick with what's familiar: pen & paper.

Glad to hear that the lost-in-cyberspace thing is really a non-issue.

 

[mig26x]

it all depends if you are a fast typer or fast writter. I typed the exam, felt more comfortable. They also tell you that the computer have autosave every 2 or 3 seconds something like that. They explain to you that in the event the electricity goes out and you are typing, you can continue in the paper at the same point you left in the computer, because it was already saved, so its safe and you are not gonna loose the information.

Another thing i liked about the computer is if that you forgot to put something on the HPI like intensity of the pain, you just go to that part and added on wherever you want too. you dont have to put it at the end of the paragraph if you were writting it.

so both have its + and -.

 

[omores]

Well I practiced on the computer interface demo this weekend -- and I'm definitely going to be handwriting my notes!

Nothing wrong with the program; it's me: put me in front of a keyboard and I start writing in long, flowing sentences with abundant subordinate clauses. It's as if the act of typing completely obliterates my ability to be succint and use abbreviations.

And I'm a much slower typer than I thought I was, too -- especially when nervous. Good thing I checked!

 

[trouta]

I typed all of my notes. The only issue with typing is the fact that there is limited space in the blocks. Carriage returns take up alot of your budgeted space. So if you feel the need to write lots you might want to hand write your note so you dont run out of space.