Do the Best Use of all space of rough/ scrap paper

Here I am providing you my method. I used to use my rough paper like this ,let me flash some more light on it.

1. always write name and age of person before entering room, many times it happens that in stress u forget name of the SP . so it will help you to remind.

2. Spare some time to write differential diagnosis by just guessing it from the chief complain. it will help you to remind and ask questions on the history of present illness.

3.Marking or canceling each letter of mnemonics help you to asure that you have asked about that part. it will help you to cover all points and also help to avoid asking repeatedly same question by mistake.

4. As I mentioned in picture, it will save time to write good points on Patient Note.

5. Counseling has a good effect on patient and it also covers good marks of overall exam marks.

You can use both sides of the rough/scrap paper.
They directly discard it after collecting it from you when you complete each encounter.

Schedule for Reporting Step 2 CS Results 2009 & 2010

"Starting with Step 2 CS results reported on August 19, 2009, both failing and passing examinees will receive this feedback. Consistent with current reporting policy, the Performance Profiles are intended only for examinees and will not be reported to or verified to any third party."- USMLE.ORG 2010

** this post's information is taken from www.usmle.org

Practice cases to prepare for USMLE Step 2 CS

Mostly all common symptoms / diseases are covered under practice cases of reputed books. here I am posting same, divided in system vise category.

Respiratory:

1. Hemoptysis
2. Night Sweat + Wt loss,
3. Chest Pain (Pleuritic, Sickle cell associated pain. etc)
4. Shortness of breathe

ENT:

1. Sore throat
2. Acute cough
   
3. Hearing loss ( sensory neural, presbycusis etc.)
4. Noisy breathing
   

CVS:

1. Palpitation
2. Fatigue
3. Fainting
4. Chest Pain

Ortho:

1. Hip pain
2. Back ache/ Lower back ache
3. Pain in elbow
4. Knee Pain ( OA, Gout etc. )
5. B/L leg Pain (calf pain , general pain etc. )
   
6. Trauma (single/multiple site)
7. Heel pain
   

Abd:

1. Dysphagia
2. Abd Pain
3. Abd Pain + wt loss
4. Hemetemesis
5. Hemetimesis + Epi. Pain
6. Blood in stool

GUT:

1. Incontinence
2. Blood in urine
3. Polyurea

CNS + Psychia:

1. Headache
2. tingling/weakness
3. Fatigue
4. Fainting episode/s- Loss of consciousness
5. Confusion
6. Insomnia
7. Dizziness
8. Depression
9. Hallucination (auditory/ visual)
10. Domestic violence
11. Tremor
    

Pediatric cases*:

1. Vommiting
2. Picky eater
3. Fever
4. Fever + runny nose
5. Jaundice
6. Constipation
7. Enuresis
8. Temper tantrum

*Pediatric Cases are generally telephone cases. rarely pediatric case is not telephonic though there will not any pediatric patient present in exam room.

OBGY:

1. Menopause
2. Amenorrhoea
3. Vaginal bleeding/ discharge

Msc. :

1. Pre employment Physical examination
2. HT , DM, Pregnancy follow up.
3. Domestic Violence.
   

Terms and Abbreviations on STEP 2 CS

As we have a very limited time for a single case( 25 mins total ) abbreviations can really help to save time in patient note and a rough note. here is the list of terms and abbreviations used in the USMLE step 2 CS. You will find a similar paper hanging on the table out side the encounter room. where you sit down to write the Patient Note.

yo year-old
m male
f female
b black
w white
L left
R right
hx history
h/o history of
c/o complaining of
without or no
+ positive
- negative
Abd abdomen
AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AP anteroposterior
BUN blood urea nitrogen
CABG coronary artery bypass grafting
CBC complete blood count
CCU cardiac care unit
CHF congestive heart failure
cig cigarettes
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CT computed tomography
CVA cerebrovascular accident
CVP central venous pressure
CXR chest x-ray
DM diabetes mellitus
DTR deep tendon reflexes
ECG electrocardiogram
ED emergency department
EMT emergency medical technician
ENT ears, nose, and throat
EOM extraocular muscles
ETOH alcohol
Ext extremities
FH family history
GI gastrointestinal
GU genitourinary
HEENT head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
HTN hypertension
IM intramuscularly
IV intravenously
JVD jugular venous distention
KUB kidney, ureter, and bladder
LMP last menstrual period
LP lumbar puncture
MI myocardial infarction
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MVA motor vehicle accident
Neuro neurologic
NIDDM non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
NKA no known allergies
NKDA no known drug allergy
NL normal/normal limits
NSR normal sinus rhythm
P pulse/heart rate
PA posteroanterior
PERLA pupils equal, react to light and accommodation
po orally
PT prothrombin time
PTT partial thromboplastin time
RBC red blood cells
SH social history
TIA transient ischemic attack
U/A urinalysis
URI upper respiratory tract infection
WBC white blood cells
WNL within normal limits

"This is not intended to be a complete list of acceptable abbreviations, but rather represents the types of common abbreviations that may be used on the patient note. There is no need to use abbreviations on the patient note; if you are in doubt about the correct abbreviation, write it out." - usmle.org (2010 hand out)