The MDCN parol II

The MDCN parol II

So i'm back on blogging about the MDCN exams...

Was busy with exams so everytime i opened a blank page to post something, the page would stay blank after an hr...anyways we done now...wrote the exams on the 2nd and 3rd. (#sigh of relief...)

Where did i stop from the first post?

Accommodation in LUTH was first come first serve and most people had to cater for themselves concerning accommodation. So depending on where you are, get ready to spend a chunk on accommodation...unless you have a place to stay.

Like i was saying in the last post, you go for lectures and hospital rounds for Gynecology, Pediatrics, Medicine and Surgery and then lectures only for the rest. The extent of work and hospital rounds depends on where you are and the Doctors in the hospital, if they really want to help you guys.
From the experience of our exams, i would advice you take your lectures seriously. I didn't go for all of my lectures but i made a habit of collecting them to revise on my own. You could have all the lectures at the start of your program (mingle....ask questions) and then its not really important to go for all the lectures except they take attendance or you need the explanation.

Another ADVICE is to form a discussion group, you guys could study together as well as practice physical examinations and history taking. The pacticals and history taking part didn't come out in our exams but that was LUTH Oct 2013...might just come out in yours so you have to have them covered. You wanna limit the size of the group so it doesn't become too rowdy and you wanna include good 'home based' doctors (people who graduated from IUO or other Nigerian Universities) in your discussion group or join theirs. Just don't join a large group cuz its mostly a waste of time. Try also to find out if smaller lectures are held by Registrars and Consultants who care, could be invaluable. Your experience is going to be totally different from my own, so don't fret and don't get scared. Just form a habit of asking questions. 

There are materials and handouts available that could help you in your preparation....most were for sale...i made photocopies.
A skill you will have to develop is adequate time management. Knowing where you have problems and finding a way to solve them. Anything you don't know or feel you don't understand.....ask. 

Having a house officer friend working in the hospital there will be a great advantage... even more so if the person is in a higher position.

Something to keep in mind is that you left EUROPE behind and this... is... AFRICA!!!  Things here are ironic and mostly you will be amazed at the way things 'work'...i'm just trying to save you some heart ache. Understand that this is Nigeria and we like things done the hard way (afterall these old Doctors here...in their coats... did it the hard way)...so dressing is important (Corporate), lectures might include attendance check and NIGERIAN TIME and Exams have negative marking.

Next post will be about Exams...
You have questions?.....ask...opinions?...let em be known.