March practicals...when are the results?

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Vicky RVN — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 11:02:03 GMT

I tried to remember to talk in the mocks...my problem is bring shy so have to force myself to speak!!! I decided that with subtle things that you do I would say I was doing them incase it was missed. So when I was injecting the dog I drew back on the syringe and said, I had drawn back to check for blood before injecting. At that point I noticed the trainee examiner making a mark on her sheet...so would she have missed the subtle movement if I hadn't said? Quite possibly.

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

salliee5 — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:14:02 GMT

When I did my practicals (a few years ago now) I had decided to chat my whole way through them. Unless they have changed there is no need to do them in silent right? I just spoke my way through what I was doing, each step and explaining why I was doing it. This way if I was able to rationalise the way I was doing something and it was rational but not necessarily the 'exact precise way' they wanted it done, I was making it clear that I was making informed decisions, that are much more practical and much more realistic, as you would do in practice on a daily basis.

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:32:07 GMT

Hey Sal

My posts are all in good humour (hence the smiles), and I reckon Nicks are too- no nippiness - honest guv!

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:17:11 GMT

well anybody taking the exam it might be an idea to check this out with your respective colleges.?

Lets not get nippy over this

(PS didnt realise until now it is possible to rate your own posts )

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:59:49 GMT

Nup, I mean a potter bucky tray, coz I googled it before I replied and got this:

Bucky tray

a sliding metal tray under the radiographic table which holds the grid and the cassette. Called also Potter-Bucky tray.

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:56:03 GMT

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN"]

that is correct vicky a potter bucky is a type of grid. It is between the table and tray. and when the exposure is taken the grid move from side to side to minimise grid lines appearing on the image.

[/quote]

We just have a potter bucky tray in our table, rather than a potter bucky diaphragm/grid

[/quote]

So you mean you have a cassette holder under your table Potter Bucky refers to the grid mechanism

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:26:54 GMT

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN"]

that is correct vicky a potter bucky is a type of grid. It is between the table and tray. and when the exposure is taken the grid move from side to side to minimise grid lines appearing on the image.

[/quote]

We just have a potter bucky tray in our table, rather than a potter bucky diaphragm/grid

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Vicky RVN — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:29:59 GMT

Thanks Nick, I thought that was the case, that's what they told us at college.

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 09:48:09 GMT

that is correct vicky a potter bucky is a type of grid. It is between the table and tray. and when the exposure is taken the grid move from side to side to minimise grid lines appearing on the image.

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Vicky RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:37:39 GMT

I always thought a Potter Bucky was a grid built in to the table?

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:24:17 GMT

From my understanding Nick, the Potter Bucky (or at least ours!) is just a fancy way of making sure the xray plate is in the right place with minimum patient movement, and without having to constantly budge both plate and patient around to ensure we can collimate ok ish!

There is no grid involved in our set up, and we have to place grid between animal and table if we want to use it. We have 2 grids - fitting both little and large plates.

Yes I know wedges are cheap , but try telling my LA bosses that!!!!

Actually I've never approached them about that! I'll report back next week, as our xray positioning aid box, is a bit, erm manky and sad!

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Vicky RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:16:50 GMT

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN"]

Don't think wedges are that expensive and can cover them in cling film to prevent them from getting manky. Plastic/wipe clean ones are available

[/quote]

I never thought of covering them, doh!

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:13:35 GMT

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN"]

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

I was 100% on some of the things I missed too! For example sedated tib/fib xray - I didn't place a sandbag over the distal part of the limb, because in a real animal with a possible # tib/fib I wouldn't have, esp due to the fact they didnt have a potter buckey in the exam, so placing a sandbag would have possibly excacerbated the fracture, making it 'lean' over the edge of the xray plate. Therefore I missed a main point, as I should have placed a sandbag according to my college tutor and past RCVS examiner.

I did however have it firmly ingrained in my brain, that I would talk through my reasons etc for every step of the procedure, which I did, and I got 100% on the radiography test.

But I was convinced I had failed.

[/quote]

Personally a small wedge (15 degree max) should be place on the underside of the tarsal joint and a sandbag placed over.

1) the patient was only sedate so may move during exposure, very rare but have seen it under poor sedation.

2) the wedge helps give a true lateral of the tib/fib especially important in fracture repairs for measurements prior to surgery.

[/quote]

Hey Nick

Thanks for the tips, and yes I agree that true alignment of any rad is important, asp an orthopeadic one. But would like to add that in my pracs I was presented with a load of 45 degree angle wedges and lots of big sandbags. (And that in my practice, despite our potter buckey, we only have about 6 wedges, most of which are a bit manky...lol!)

[/quote]

You know you shouldn't be using grid/potter bucky unless tissue thickness is 10cm+ or using KV of 70+ so would be inappropriate to use when imaging this area of the body. If you don't have correct wedges you could always improvise such as swabs/cotton wool etc....

Don't think wedges are that expensive and can cover them in cling film to prevent them from getting manky. Plastic/wipe clean ones are available

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:41:15 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

dont have a problem with that was just pointing out that sometimes you just have to make things fit in with what you have

[/quote]

Agreed.

Which is what I did IMHO

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:39:27 GMT

dont have a problem with that was just pointing out that sometimes you just have to make things fit in with what you have - ie be adaptable

and was more aimed at those about to do exam rather than somebody who has done it already

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:39:06 GMT

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN"]

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

I did however have it firmly ingrained in my brain, that I would talk through my reasons etc for every step of the procedure, which I did, and I got 100% on the radiography test.

But I was convinced I had failed.

[/quote]

Personally a small wedge (15 degree max) should be place on the underside of the tarsal joint and a sandbag placed over.

1) the patient was only sedate so may move during exposure, very rare but have seen it under poor sedation.

2) the wedge helps give a true lateral of the tib/fib especially important in fracture repairs for measurements prior to surgery.

[/quote]

Hey Nick

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Vicky RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:35:18 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

esp due to the fact they didnt have a potter buckey in the exam,

[/quote]

You may be surprised how many practices dont either - its all about being adaptable and working with what you do have

[/quote]

We don't have one. In fact i've never seen one!

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:32:45 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

esp due to the fact they didnt have a potter buckey in the exam,

[/quote]

You may be surprised how many practices dont either - its all about being adaptable and working with what you do have

[/quote]

Hey Sal

I know we are lucky to have a Potter Buckey, but that is exactly my point - most places don't!

And that is why I didn't put a sand bag over the distal limb, because if there was a distal tib/fib #, to my mind it would be contraindicated to place a sandbag, UNLESS there was a potter buckey! Evan then, I'm not sure I would in a sedated patient who was lay still.

BUT I was taught at college that there must be a sandbag over the distal lib of the tib/fib # practical....... and just wanted to point out that although I didn't follow the OSCEs to the letter on that task, I still got 100%

The OSCE practicals are a bit far removed from real practice IMHO!

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Vicky RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:31:22 GMT

[quote user="Jenzel"]

Hi. I had to comment on this as I know exactly what you are going through.

I am Donna's student btw, and have to second what she has said. I was sooo nervous but they are not that bad! Is there anyone at work who can do them under exam conditions with you? I can't recommend this enough.

All I did was go through them over and over again and then practise practise practise. Even when I thought, right I know what to do now, I did them again and again. To begin with I was making lots of mistakes but when they are pointed out to you it makes it easier to remember. We had a few laughs about it as I could not remember the word umbilicus and said belly button, haha. But I didn't forget it again!

Just try your best to do things that help you relax. I would revise and then go home and blast my music as this let out all the pressure I was feeling. If having a bath helps you then have lots until your exams!

I am sure you will be fine, do try and believe in yourself. I know I sound cheesy but it's true! GOOD LUCK!

[/quote]

WELL DONE!!!! And thanks for the tips Making silly mistakes does make you remember things i think.

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:26:12 GMT

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

I did however have it firmly ingrained in my brain, that I would talk through my reasons etc for every step of the procedure, which I did, and I got 100% on the radiography test.

But I was convinced I had failed.

[/quote]

Personally a small wedge (15 degree max) should be place on the underside of the tarsal joint and a sandbag placed over.

1) the patient was only sedate so may move during exposure, very rare but have seen it under poor sedation.

2) the wedge helps give a true lateral of the tib/fib especially important in fracture repairs for measurements prior to surgery.

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Jenzel — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:16:28 GMT

Haha hello! yep, not your student anymore, woohoo.

And yes, many laughs!

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:14:52 GMT

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

esp due to the fact they didnt have a potter buckey in the exam,

[/quote]

You may be surprised how many practices dont either - its all about being adaptable and working with what you do have

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Donna France — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:12:11 GMT

[quote user="Jenzel"]I am Donna's student btw[/quote]

Hi Jen!

p.s your not my student now....your a fully Qualified VN! whoop!

[quote user="Jenzel"]We had a few laughs about it as I could not remember the word umbilicus and said belly button, haha. But I didn't forget it again![/quote]

Haha! I forgot about that! twas funny!

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Jenzel — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:52:02 GMT

Hi. I had to comment on this as I know exactly what you are going through.

I am sure you will be fine, do try and believe in yourself. I know I sound cheesy but it's true! GOOD LUCK!

Re: March practicals...when are the results?

Vicky RVN — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:43:35 GMT

I missed one of the steps of the hand washing, i didn't turn the dog into right lateral to bandage left leg, i forgot to open APL valve on mini lack (annoying, being that i use that circuit every day!).