Up and down and up and down

There is a reason for my infrequent postings at present - I'm trying desperately hard to pass this bloody exam! I've been seeking out viva practice where I can (word of note: don't tell the attractive ODP that you're looking for any consultants for oral examination practice!), practicing graphs, diagrams, and equations, and trying desperately to remember the cardiac cycle for the sixteenth time in my career at least.

It has been such a rollercoaster ride during viva practices. There are some sessions where I am concise, calm, and knowledgeable, then there are the ones where I have completely crumpled and been close to tears with frustration at having such a poor memory. Actually, there are a few words of advice I would like to impart, both from experience of preparation and the day itsself.

The next week
-Don't overdo it - you can't read whole textbooks in one day. Plan sensibly.
-Another piece of excellent advice I was given, is to imagine that the structure of your answer is analogous to a tree. Do not aim for the fruit immediately - start with the trunk (or DEFINITION) and a few main branches thereafter (CLASSIFY). The examiner will guide you towards which piece of fruit to pick and digest upon!!
-Learn to classify drugs. I use Sasada & Smith which breaks them up nicely into different categories.
-Always talk about drugs in terms of dose by weight e.g. 5mg/kg rather that 150mg (especially in paediatrics.
-Try not to A-Z chase - you know the sport. Open the A to Z and read a topic, then see a boldly outlined word so turn to that topic etc etc. You'll be there for ever.
-Make sure you can interpret and describe ECGs/CXR/basic CT etc.
-Refamiliarise yourself with some recent guidelines/topics. most have been mentioned previously in this blog.
-Have a look at the RCOA Finals Guide - just occaisionally some of the Short Cases/Long Cases/Basic Science stuff comes up word for word.

On the day
-Usual advice of arrive early, dress smartly and conservatively, bring photo ID.
-A small pause at the beginning to collect your thoughts and then begin (definitely not the first words/expletives that come into your head).
-No wild gesticulations - hands clasped under the table - use the pen/pencil to make the relevant diagram then hands back under the table, not fiddling with the pencil.
-Don't dig a hole - if you don't know, say so.
-Don't mention something you can't talk about i.e. eponymous syndromes.
-Don't say: "You would intubate....etc" It apparantly annoys examiners - they will not be doing anything apart from marking. Say: "I would intubate..." or "The patient requires intubation"
-Don't use abbreviations or colloquialisms. You need to sound professional.
-Be able to draw all line diagrams from the A to Z.
-Learn to succinctly summarise the long case history - do not simply repeat the information given on the sheet.

Lastly, try and smile. You may want to scream/cry/run away/attack the examiner/soil yourself but a calm exterior belies the autonomic and emotional surges simmering under the surface, it implies you're human, and just may save you.

Good luck!!