Help regarding OSCE issue

[katherine1111]

Hi. I have an anoying problem regarding OSCEs. I get really nervous before the stations and this makes my palms sweat, so for the practical stations e.g catheterisation, cannualtion... I can't get the gloves on because my hands are damp. Its really embarrassing!!! In the mock-OSCEs I lost 5 marks on one station for not being able to "competently don gloves of the appropriate size". Does anyone else have this problem???? Or have any advice about what to do??? Its really frustrating wasting the 7 minues and I don't want to look totally incompetent. Help!!??!!

[yazoo]

Have a word with the course organiser and discuss how to get round this. If you have a choice, pick a size too big! Ask your course organiser if s/he could facilitate this choice!

And no you're not alone. I put way too much gel on my hands in the final OSCE and couldn't get my gloves on (top tip - pretend to put gel on - in reality you would being having a good wash anyway, not a bit of gel). The examiner kindly told me to proceed without gloves after spending what felt likes minutes doing glove battle! Got full marks for the station...

[Touche]

Always pick large gloves for exams

[thom5455]

This isn't medical advice but I have heard that some people have had great sucess with a deodorant called 'Drichlor' to combat annoying perspiration, it has the effect of almost completely stopping problem perspiration, lasting for a few days after application. It is applied the night before and washed off in the morning. Perhaps discuss this with your pharmacist/GP?

[spk76]

Use larger glove sizes +/- talcum powder.

[piccles]

talc is amazing I used it for my osce when I couldent get the gloves on and it worked wonders - theres nothing worse than trying and failing to get the gloves on with the clock ticking in finals, good luck

[katherine1111]

Thanks for all the help, glad I'm not the only one with the problem. I'll definatly try using larger gloves, but I'm not sure how I would get talcum powder into the exams??? Thanks!!

[Gizmo says -]

or you could spray a tin of Lnyx on each 'and, macca.

but watch out for the queue of 'ot nusses following you round....

[piccles]

well my med school provides talc in the rooms where we need to put on gloves why dont you ask them about it

[Gizmo says -]

becos its a long way to travel there and back from her place, macca.