Clinical Research Class and OSCE Review

We had an assignment for class where we were asked to go to any waiting room and make observations about the people there. Ironically, I went to the CCF ER last Friday afternoon and did my observations there. Of course, I did not expect to be returning there later that evening as a patient! But on the bright side, it made my report today rather interesting. We weren't supposed to be doing active participation in our waiting room experiences, but it was an interesting contrast to my initial quiet observation. So I spoke first about my observations of other patients during the afternoon, then about my own experience as a patient overnight. While I was not in any condition to keep notes the second time, I am not likely to quickly forget the experience!

In the afternoon, I had a review session for the OSCE in a few weeks. We went through all of the clinical skills checklists with a standardized patient. Our patient was one of the people we had interviewed during our last communications class. Last time, he was portraying a problem alcohol drinker, but today he was normal. It's pretty funny when we get the same standardized patients in new roles. I feel a lot better now about some of the skills that we learned like six months ago. I barely remembered where the heart is by now, let alone how to do the cardio exam!