RE: Urinalysis OSCE help

cleow92 — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 13:57:32 GMT

Aw thank you so much, this is really helpful! Good to know I can just run another one if I realise in time :D

RE: Urinalysis OSCE help

Robyn — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 12:54:35 GMT

What you can also do is start reading everything at the 12o'clock mark, then you know exactly when 30s/60s/120s is.

Don't panic about writing everything down at exactly 60s either, because there are normally several readings to take at 60s. Just go as quick as you can - don't spend loads of time comparing the test squares to every example on the container. This is where practice is helpful too - you do get faster at reading everything off. I think as long as you're not taking 30s to read them all, you'll be fine.

RE: Urinalysis OSCE help

Robyn — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 12:50:54 GMT

I did exactly this during my OSCEs! By the time I realised I had exactly 2mins left to run another one quickly - luckily I passed, I think probably based on my hurried "I just realised I've been reading these at the wrong timings, I'll do another but I might run out of time now" explanation! I thought that, given the timings are written along the tube, I'd be fine but clearly not!

Definitely ask about using a stopwatch/phone stopwatch if that's what you're used to. Absolutely 100% write down all your parameters first, and the timings if you find this helpful. I also find it helpful to do the refractometer first and fill out this section of the list, so I don't get confused and try to write the SG from the dipstick.

Definitely practice, whatever you do. Get used to how you hold everything, practice writing down all the parameters and figure out what format suits you best when you're recording, and try to get a routine for the whole thing. Honestly, the more comfortable you are and the more you've done it, the better you'll feel about it. My examiners (at Edinburgh Napier/CAW) were certainly happy to weigh your verbal explanation alongside what you were doing, so if you completely fuck it up, tell them and tell them how you would correct it in practice/if you had more time! That's something to check with your examiners too.

And honestly, if you're thinking ahead and you know this might be a problem, you're probably going to remember in the exam anyway!