How not to start a practical exam

Ok, all day waiting for my formative OCSE at University - which basically is a mock practical. 3 stations - 5 minutes each, one for Temperature, Pulse and Respirations, one for fitting a hoist sling and one for doing recovery position. Ok it may sound easy but let me tell you IT ISN'T! You have to meet six criteria for each and there is alot of communication needed and remembering what to do. And the people you do it on are members of the public and there is an examiner in each cubicle.

So by 14.35 when mine was, I was feeling quite shaky with nerves. Standing outside the first cubicle, one of the lecturers saw my face and said you will be fine Robyn to which I burst into tears! DO NOT SPEAK TO ME PLEASE! The whistle blew and I had to start.

BUT.....

my crying had dislodged one of my contact lenses. So I then had to fit a hoist sling to Joe* whilst only being able to see out of one eye and vision blurred on the other. Great.

By the end of that five minutes, miraculously I managed to remember everything and even able to adjust my eyes to squidge that lens back into place when I sat down. Joe* whilst out of character said he got married with one contact lens so what I went through was easy. Thanks.

So after the other two stations which I think I did ok, it was over. PHEW

Feedback tomorrow and then actual exam on Thursday...If I don't pass I get three other tries. But in my holidays AND I WANT A BREAK!

fingies crossed.

This type of stress surely isn't good for you as you get older. Is it?

*Aka Joe Bloggs