Top Tips for Clinical Assessments – Trainee

By Jacqueline Tyler, University of Cumbria

We understand that clinical assessments can be a nerve-wracking time for students. Here are my 5 top tips for students: 

1. Be proactive

The saying in sports is that "the best defence is a good offence”, and I think the same applies in training to be a sonographer. Be proactive in asking for feedback daily. Ask for feedback at the end of every scanning session, be specific and ask where you need to improve. Organise formative assessments throughout your training (not just in the weeks before your finals) to get used to the processes and expectations.

2. Organisation is key

On the day of your assessment, get in early. Make sure you know which room you’ll be in, run over the machine controls, check the room is fully stocked, and print out your paperwork. All these small actions will help the day run smoothly and remove any unnecessary stress.

3. Revise

This may seem obvious, but for your final assessments, your knowledge should be tip-top. It’s your time to shine and show off your knowledge. Know your ‘normal’ measurements. Know your follow-ups and treatment plans. You should know your departmental protocols inside out and upside down. If you forget anything, know where the document is that you need to refer to.

4. Be a swan

Even if the assessment starts to get away from you, a patient is late, or you get interrupted, try to stay calm. Fake it until you make it – acting calm will help you feel calm. Assessors want to see that you can hold it together under pressure.

5. Say what you see

The more you talk your assessor through what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, the fewer questions they will need to ask. Assessors cannot read your mind, so give them an indication of what is going on. If you see a pathology that you don’t want to mention in front of the patient, you can always use the cursor or the keyboard to indicate it on screen.