 Re: OSCE's...
OSCE's.... I can't actually remember what it stands for, but they are a type of assessment. I had to do an OSCE in my second year for the Pathophysiology module. I don't know what everyone else's was like, but mine was made of three parts, each lasting 15 minutes, and for all three you go into a room on your own with one or two assssors. The first 'station' was a clinical scenario. In it, you are given a short text to read, giving a history of a patient with various symptoms. From it, you have to say what you would ask the patient, to get a better idea of their history, and then what possible conditions they may have and why you think this. Then you have to say what tests you would order to confirm a diagnosis. Then, what advice would you give to the patient, any treatment you would offer, and to whom you would refer them, thinking holistically.
The second station was all about acting as a GP/nurse. You go into the room where there are two assessors, one of whom is acting a patient. You have to do pretty much the same thing as above, but act it out, thinking about your communication skills etc...
The final station was a written paper, where you are given another short history of a patient, and you have to give the tests you would offer, what you suspect the condition is, the differential diagnosis (what else their condition could be) and the treatment you would give. You also have to talk about the pathophysiology, i.e. how the condition has developed and how it presents itself in the signs and symptoms.
Was everybody else's OSCE's similar and for the same kind of module?
Hope this hasn't scared you too much. I have to admit that I was absolutely terrified of this assessment, probably more than any other, because I hated public speaking, but it really wasn't that bad and since I started this course, I have no problems with getting in front of a group and spouting out all sorts of nonsense. As you can probably tell!
__________________  3rd year Student Midwife |