Category: Medical Student tales

Jim was taking the Final Medical School Examination. Pass and he became a doctor; fail and he would remain a student and have to sit the exam all over again in six months time. The most important part of the exam was the bedside assessment of clinical skills. Each candidate was allowed 30 minutes alone […]

It was always going to be a difficult letter to write. I’d got on the wrong side of the boss from my very first day in the job. ‘Report at 9 am to the Administration Department’ the letter had said, which is precisely what I did. It was scarcely my fault that my new boss had instructed the […]

William Wetherall, the hospital’s senior surgeon, laid aside the journal he was reading and looked at the clock on the wall of his office. It was one minute before ten o’clock. He smiled, he had a surprise planned for the new group of students who were waiting for him on the ward. He eased himself from […]

“Let’s get you to see another patient and see if you can do a little better with her,” my examiner said, smiling; clearly enjoying my distress. He asked me to listen to the heart of an extremely breathless lady who was lying on a nearby couch. My spirits rose slightly. In the previous three months […]

We had all heard of high flying students, some the best in their Medical School year who had come a cropper in the final exam. To succeed, you not only had to know your stuff, be quick witted and keep a rein on your nerves; you also had to be lucky. The previous year my […]

Late one night, a couple of weeks ago, the Lancashire police received reports that a car was being driven east bound at speed on the west bound carriageway of the M62 trans-Pennine motorway. Regrettably before they were able to intercept the vehicle, it was involved in a ‘head-on’ collision and two people were killed. The […]

Janet smiled to herself as she ran across the concourse at Euston Station to catch the train north. She felt relaxed and happy; proud of her recent achievement. She had completed her nurse training at St Thomas’ Hospital, passing the final examination with honours. She was now on her way to take up a post […]