I FINALLY GOT IT!

Sensitivity and Specificity....I got the matrix!
Here's how. And you don't even have to read the whole article!

Things never stand still

Just to prove a point, new BTS Asthma Guidelines were published this May.
And here they are. (Well, the quick reference, anyway).

And, if like me, you had a really hard time understanding Flow-Volume loops, see this article (which has a nice downloadable PDF of loops part way down) at Merck.

Work Distraction

Since the other website is down I was searching for other FRCA related content, and came across this rather humorous blog about Anesthesia and Flying Planes.

Exam, lack of locums and hassle

There appears to be a fundamental lack of locums to cover study leave and annual leave at the moment.
This is mildly to moderately annoying when you want to go on a course, especially when you want to go on holiday very shortly after the exam...

Unfortunately the Anaesthesia UK website (www.frca.co.uk) has been down since last night.
It appears to be built on .NET functionality...

Good Grief?!!

Well, I didn't post anything for a while, because I felt it was unfair to do so when I might not even have passed the written Final FRCA part.
But I did.
Now all I have to do is pass the viva voce exam and I'll be done....hahahaha! Oh how I laugh.
All uphill from here then.
My friend Tasha N. pointed out that having found out you passed the SAQ/MCQ gave you an extra confidence boost that might make you feel "Oh well, I can coast it from here on in".

NOT the case at all.

I have just spent a few hours sitting with a clinical viva book and going "Yes, but I would anaesthetise him, because I've anaesthetised patients like that in real life" and then finding that, actually, the book says "No you jolly well don't". Ah. Okay.

Anyway, I think as fellow blogger James S. points out over at Passing the Final, the most important thing is probably to talk lots.

By the way, if you want a nice sieve for differential diagnoses, try this one "VINDICATE".

Happy revising....