So in light of the recent happenings with Covid-19, our contact classes have been cancelled for the next three weeks or so. I thought I’d use this time to update my blog on block 3 as well as our skills block that we completed at the end of Feb.
Block 3 was all about homeostasis and we had a whole mixture of lectures from the the list of the following sub disciplines (for lack of a better word)
1. Endocrinology
2. Neurophysiology.
3. Nutrition
4. Pharmacology
5. Clinical Haematology
6. Intermediary Metabolism
7. Chemical pathology
8. Immunology
9. Histology
10. Gross Anatomy
11. Paediatrics
12. Physiology
As you can probably tell by the list block 3 was A LOT of information about a range of different topics. So I found it really difficult to link the work and then to study in a way that cemented it in my long term memory rather than parrot it back for a mcq test and then forget it. It also wasn’t work that I particularly enjoyed and leaned more to the scientific side of physiology than anything clinically based.
The block was 8 weeks long. And during the duration of the block we wrote a test every 2 or so weeks, which allowed us 3 of these tests. And then one big block test at the end of the 8 weeks which was equivalent to an exam. All the questions in block 3 are computer based multiple choice questions and I struggled with that as well. I almost feel that it allows the most random detail to be tested and I don’t really see how your general understanding or any kind of understanding of a topic can be tested this way. There is obviously research that proves CBT tests work however, so maybe it’s just one of those things you have to put your head down and get through
Concurrently running with block 3 we also had a general skills and procedure module. Where we would go into skills lab and practice our first 3 clinical skills. This being IV infusion, venepuncture and intramuscular injection. We also had our first OSCE which is basically an exam testing our clinical skills. We were given a checklist and had to perform one of the three procedures for the examiner according to the checklist. In this checklist there were critical errors that if we did incorrectly would mean we essentially failed the osce and would need to do another exam in June. These errors were basically focused on keeping things sterile and ensuring we learn to double and triple check the patient’s identity before a procedure is performed.
In my OSCE exam I was randomly chosen to perform venepuncture and had to verbalize to the examiner that it was required to keep the needle stable but I was so nervous and shaking so badly that I could not at the time. I did pass the first OSCE though and so no exam for me
All in all, I finished off block 3 with a distinction and managed to plan my work so that I covered everything but I did have to deal with a drop in my marks. I think going into second year (you often hear not to) but I underestimated the work load and the difficulty of the work. If you are going into your second year of Medicine at tuks and you are reading this, my advice to you would be, to be consistent in your self study but also to be forgiving of yourself. Medicine is hard.
I am.. Or was.. In the middle of my anatomy and dissection block and I can’t wait to report back on that once we get to finish it. I really enjoy anatomy and I have a ton of tips and advice to get you through.
Thank you so much for reading this, and please let me know if you have any questions, or anything you as a reader would like me to write on.
TheWaitingRoom 