Clearing PLAB2 5 common myths busted!

You have recently embarked on the PLAB2 path and there are so many questions running through your mind.

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The joy of clearing PLAB1 was short-lived as you realised that the next step was in the unchartered waters of PLAB2. Fear of the unknown leads to cropping up of many misconceptions that just add to the apprehension (Trust us, we have heard them all!)

To bust these myths and empower you with the right information, here is the real deal:

1.Be what they are looking for yourself!
The myth: Most of the candidates feel that they need to ‘fit the bill’ and to be the kind of doctor the examiners are looking for, they must follow a scripted train of dialogues.

The truth: GMC is looking for doctors who follow safe practice methods and can seamlessly blend in the working atmosphere of the NHS. Following a script that sounds ‘perfect’ may seem like a lucrative option but will only result in scrapping away your own individual style and making you sound and appear like so many others. You need guidance, not spoon-fed scripts. Scripts restrict you. PLAB2 might be role play for the simulator but you are a real doctor and expected to behave just like you would in your everyday practice. All you need to know are the differences in practice due to cultural, demographic and recommended protocol variations.

2.Be confident aware of your guesses knowledge!
The myth: You must be confident and have all the answers to the patient’s queries (guess if you need) and not exhibit doubts, else you may be considered less knowledgeable.

The truth: You must be aware of your knowledge and its limits- that is the essence of a safe doctor. Patient care and safety is the utmost priority and it is important to know when to ask for help. PLAB2 is not an assessment of your knowledge but of the application of that knowledge. You are not judged if you accept that you need to ask a senior regarding the case and get back to the patient, it is appreciated. For after all, you work as a team in medical practice.

3.You must fully inform involve the patient!
The myth: The stations are of limited time and it is important to show how much you know about the topic. The only way to do that is to fully inform the patient about the medical condition. Not completing the station will result in losing the station.

The truth: The stations are of limited time indeed but as explained above, PLAB2 is not about how much you know. It is about how you manage the patient’s whole situation, how effectively you organise your plan for the patient and resolve the patient’s concerns. That is not possible if you do not involve the patient in your conversation. The more you listen, the more you learn! The more you learn, the more you know what needs to be done. If you are able to listen to the patients, acknowledge their concerns and list the overview of the plan you have chalked for them, your work is done. Completing the station is not the aim, managing it is!

4.OnlyIP skills matter, clinical do not too!
The myth: PLAB2 is just role play so the better actor you are, the better you fare. You just need to inculcate all the niceties and courtesies of ‘I am sorry’ and ‘How can I help you’ to clear the assessment. Interpersonal skills are the only that matter!

The truth: Interpersonal skills do matter as no one wants a rude and grumpy doctor for their patient but clinical skills and sound medical advice are priceless. The situation should guide you. If a patient comes to you with a chronic condition and wants to vent out the frustration and you lend a patient ear besides revising the prescription, the patient will go back happy. But not if you just listen and do not prescribe. Also, if it is an acute case, prompt clinical management is the priority.

5.Your previous experience does not matter!
The myth: The NHS is an entirely different method of practice. Your previous experience does not matter. You just need to unlearn everything, start learning again and be the lowest rung on the ladder.

The truth: While there definitely are a lot of differences in the way the systems work but that is expected when you are moving to a new country. It definitely does not mean that your previous experience does not matter. Medicine is essentially the same all over the world and having cleared PLAB1, you have demonstrated that your knowledge is at par with the medical graduates of UK. Previous experience in your home country lends you confidence and finesse and is appreciated in the UK as well. No one expects you to change overnight, you are given space and time to adjust and settle in the new system. You start as per your experience, qualification and confidence to handle the role. Do not be bogged with the term ‘junior doctor’, everyone works as colleagues and all contributions are valued.

Hope this helped bust a few myths and let you know that you have what it takes!

If you would like to ask questions or share a few of the myths you started off with that got busted with time, share with us and the rest of the candidates in the comments below.

We would love to hear them!