Exams!!!

Don't panic. Don't panic. DON'T PANIC.

I repeat to myself over and over again. I get very nervous during exams. I would do the relaxation breathing techniques for panic attacks, that I learnt during my psychiatric posting. I tend to say the most outrageous things during exams.

I’m very 'blessed'. For almost every clinical exam, I seem to get the consultant specialists, Professors or the Datos (renowned doctors in their respective fields) as my examiners. They are very experienced, very strict and most of all, stingy with marks, that adds to my anxiety.

Even during normal rounds or case discussions in the wards, the consultants would frequently point at me and ask questions. My friend proclaimed, “You’re the target because you have more hair than them!”

Here are some of the outrageous things I say during exams!

In obstetrics and gynaecology posting:

Consultant: How do you assess anaemia from the physical examination?

Little Dove: Look for pallor of the conjunctiva, the tongue, general skin colour, signs of bleeding (blood loss), jaundice (heamolytic aneamia), koilonychia (iron deficiency anaemia) .

Consultant: Where else? (apparently she wanted more despite the above answer)

Little Dove: (More answers)

Consultant: What else?

Little Dove: (More answers)

Consultant: What else?

Little Dove: Erm, look at the hair. In the case of my patient, she has brownish hair. From the history, she has never coloured her hair or use any hair cream. This may be suggestive of chronic anaemia, with relation to her diagnosis. (Oh no, what nonsense did I just say?)

Consultant: (Nodded her head and marked something on the paper).

In paediatrics:

Dato: What test do you do for the hearing and how would you assess it?

Little Dove: The Distraction test. This can aided by the use of a rattle, preferable a Manchester rattle. This rattle has a monotomous, high frequency sound and the frequency can be adjusted. Keys, commonly used in the wards or “Made in China” rattles available locally are not recommended as the sound they produce have different frequencies and are not a good source to test for hearing. However, the Manchester rattle is only available in the UK. Moreover, the local hospital setting is not the most suitable for a Distraction Test as it is a little crowded and noisy. Distraction test should be performed in a quiet room. (Oh no, what nonsense did I just say?)

Dato: Which textbook do you read?

I passed both exams. Phew! I think paediatrics is one of the toughest postings.