Mockboards

This was the day I have been dreading since I first started this program... MOCKBOARDS!!

Just the name is intimidating! I knew the first mockboard would probably be miserable and I would be frantic. Luckily I was in the morning and I was able to get it over with first.

I made sure I arrived earlier than normal in the morning, so that I would have plenty of time to set up and let out some nerves. All I had to worry about now was my patient showing up! I had confirmed and confirmed twice, but you still never know if patients will show up. That is probably the thing I hate most about the program. I hate having my grade depend on someone else. Luckily my patient did show up today and on time! Whew-- first step was clear.

Within an hour my patient was submitted and brought back to my chair. I administered my local anesthetic--which was my first time in the clinical setting! It went great and smoothly, plus she actually got numb!! My only fight now was against the clock and my patients calculus!

I'm glad that I had worked on her before so knew what type of calculus she had. The calculus removed easily and wasn't very tenacious! Thank goodness!! I took a break halfway through to relax my hands and take a breather. I then charted recession and probe depths. I was finished scaling and still had about thirty minutes left on my time. Saying "I'm done" and submitting my patient back to the examiner was the hardest part of the whole thing! I kept thinking what if I'm not really done and I fail completely!

When my patient was brought back from the examiners they told me what spots I missed. And I only missed....one spot!! I was amazed and happy! This means that I have a very high chance of passing my first mockboard. I had my instructor come help me find the missed spot and then checked my patient out.

I had made it through my first mockboard and it went better than I could have ever hoped for! They had told us that most people fail their mockboards and that we shouldn't let it affect us. So I'm very happy that I actually passed! It was definitely a blessing and I am very grateful for it!