Welcome 2019!!!

I did not realised that it is almost a year since the last time I update My Life blog. I have tons of stories that I want to share, lots of tips and information. However, seems like I have been too busy lately to do all.

2018 was amazing. I embarked a new journey, new millstones, growing and progressing closer to what I want to achieve in my life. Let me up date you a bit about what happen in 2018. 

Sadly we had to say good by to both of our cars in 2018. We had so many adventures in those cars. They witnessed our ups and down in the last eight years. Both of the engines now have been put into new bodies and have been passed on to others. 

My previous boss from El Cafe, Bay of Island, kindly invited me to the Pink concert in Auckland "Beautiful Trauma". We were dancing, singing and having fun for the whole length of the concert. It was incredibly amazing night. So full of positive energy and fun. Thank you again to Carla for the unforgettable experience. 

Sorry that I do not have any great shots of the night as I was to busy dancing and singing. :)

By the way, if you have chance to visit Bay of Islands, New Zealand, do not miss on trying the Mexican/South American food at El Cafe. This cafe motored by Chef Jon and Chef Carla, they cafe make the best Mexican food I have ever tasted, with reasonable price tag. It is ranked number one on tripadvisor.

However, be prepared for the long wait during the busy hours, as all their food made fresh by order it will take longer than the fast food restaurant. There are limited number of seats, so either you need to share with others or take your food somewhere else. I suggest come by early in the morning or order by phone in advance to avoid unpleasant experience.

Sadly, Sunshine my cheeky Indian ring neck parrot decided to depart the house to explore the world by his own. He flew away, happily and free.

Our little house felt so empty after we lost him, so I looked for another ring neck parrot for a pet, unfortunately at that time none were ready to be adopted as they were sill too small. When I called Animates   shops they all said that they do not have parrot at the time anywhere in the country as their aviary was under renovation.

One evening after work, David and I went to one of the animates shops without any expectation. We saw Dobbie, sitting on on of the staff shoulder as soon as we walk in to the shop. We spent an hour with Dobbie and instantly fell in love with her. Dobbie is an Alexadrine parrot, she was about 11 months when we met her for the first time. She is relatively bigger than Sunshine.

I felt like she was sent to us from heaven. She was only come to the store three days prior, after being transferred around from one store to another in the last year. She was named as my favourite fictional character from the Harry Potter series. I did not expect to find any bird at all but I found her.

She is shy, not toilet trained and like destroying things, but she is soo adorable. Finally we found our feather baby.

We closed 2018 with an epic journey to one of the New Zealand Great Walk, the Milford Track. Which also described as the finest walk in the wold. The Milford Track attracted so many people each year, so if you interested to do the walk, you need to book early, likely six months in advance.

There is two ways to do the full walk, as independent walker or guided walker. Our group prefer to do the track independently so we booked through the Department of Conservation. Click here to go to their website.

However, if you have a bit more saving and do not mind to pay a bit extra for comfort check out Ultimate Hikes, they have provided service since the Milford Tract was open to public.

You would never guest where life will takes you. I started my journey in this new country that now I called home seven years ago. I knew no body and did not know much about New Zealand. I been through so many ups and downs. I met many people that now I consider as my extended family. I build my dream from the scratch.

In 2018 I found my self finally get to the starting point. There is still a long journey ahead of me, I know it will not be easy, but one thing I know, I will not give up.

Thank you every one for reading my blog. Thank you for all your messages and comments, some of them truly made my day and you are become the fuel for me to continue this blog.

I wish you all the best in 2019. Feel free to contact me trough the social media, leave comments or use the contact form in the website.

Thank you for your effort to read this blog post. I highly appreciate it.

You might have read my other blog My NZREX journey, if you have not, please do as your question might be answered in that post or the comments sections below it.

I decided to write this post, as I realised that so many interest about NZREX and so many questions were asked on my previous blog post. I tried to answer all the questions on the comment section but sometimes they are repetitive, and as I become more busy will take sometimes for me to finally able to answer them. So I think this post will make it easier for people to find the information.

1. Where do I find information about NZREX
Please familiar your self with the eligibility requirements, how to apply and the NZREX schedule trough New Zealand Medical Council  website here. Most of the information can be found in the website.

2. I am a specialist in my home country, do I need to sit NZREX prior to work in NZ?
Not every IMG need to sit NZREX, there are several pathways for IMGs depend on where they trained and the degree of training they have. Please do the self assessment to find out if you need to go down the NZREX pathway. Click here to take the assessment.

3. How long do I need to prepare for NZREX?
The amount of time will be all depend on how familiar you are to New Zealand medical system. How confident you are practising medicine in English. How familiar you are with New Zealand culture. How long have you been practising medicine.

There are a lot to cover and prepare. You will need more time to practice if you have not been practising medicine for more than a year, as you will need to get your confident back and your train your speed on physical exam and history taking.

For people who less familiar with New Zealand culture and medical system will need time to research about them and familiar them self with these. 

How much time you have to practice every day prior to your exam.

For general example. My study buddy and I have not practising medicine for more than five years when we were taking the exam. We both have been living in NZ for more than five years and pretty much immerse with the culture. We are fluent in English but never practise medicine in English previously. We know very little about the New Zealand medical system. It took us a full six months to be confident to take the exam, and we were practising almost every day. Most people prepare for a year. Some only 4 months.

I suggest book your exam ASAP and start preparing.

4.  How long will it take from passing NZREX to getting a house officer job
Well this is the most difficult question, as there are no exact time and there is no guarantee for you to get a job after the exam. So people can get a job immediately (less than 4 months). Some take a few years (1-5 years) Some never getting a job and gave up.

It took me 1.5 years to secure a PGY1 position, after 5 interviews, 18 weeks of observerships in NZ hospitals, Many weeks of observership in the GP practises.

Please note, passing NZREX does not guarantee position as PGY1/HO.

5. Can you please add me to viber group?
Sure. However, the group sometimes reach the limit so I unable to add more people, I will keep trying at random time, but may take time. Please be patient.

Please make sure you have opened an account with viber and send me the right phone number - the one that registered with viber - prior to requesting to be added. This will safe my time and yours.

6. Can I prepare for NZREX from my home country?
Yes. However as this is an OSCE, please find someone that you can practise face to face in your home country on top of skype study partners.

I highly recommend to come to NZ and arrange for observership prior to the exam, so you can familiar your self with NZ culture and medical system if this possible for you.

If you are from non English speaking country and never been to NZ, I highly suggest to make a visit to NZ prior to your exam or deciding to migrate to NZ.

7. How to arrange for observership?
Please contact the hospital or DHBs directly. If you are not a NZ permanent resident or citizen please check with immigration NZ what kind of visa do you need.

I hope this blog post will help answer some of your questions, feel free to ask more questions if you have. I will try to keep updating this post as required. 

Hi everyone,

I know we are in the second month of 2018, but since I have not been able to post this earlier so I still want to say "HAPPY NEW YEAR" to all of you who read my blog and follow me on social media. I hope you are well and happy.

I am very sorry that I have not been able to write as often as I want, and I was slow to respond to your message or email. Please do not hesitate to leave comments or to email using the contact form, no matter how busy I am, I will still read them and will try my best to reply as soon as I am able to.

This blog post will be a short recap of my life in 2017, what I have been doing, my struggles and also some of the sweet memories from the year that just went past.

David and I started 2017 by travelling down to the South Island, you can find the story about it here. We like the trip so much so we decided to come back in winter. My friend and her husband came from Indonesia to visit me in July, and we decided to do a road trip in RV for nine days in the South Island together. We started from Christchurch - Lake Tekapo - Lake Wanaka - Lake Te Anau - Milford Sound and ended the journey in Queenstown. I will write a dedicate blog post about it latter, but below are some of the photos from the trip.

2017 was a tough year for me, as after passing the NZREX I have to find a job as a house officer in New Zealand hospitals. Unfortunately, there were very limited position for NZREX doctors to apply. So to increase my change and to gain more experience I applied for observer-ship in various hospitals.

Being an observer allows me to be in the hospital, working in the small team of SMO, house officer and registrar. It is an unpaid position and reserved only for those who will sit NZREX or has passed the exam.

I completed a four week observership in Tauranga Hospital in July to August 2017. When I was there, there was a vacancy for PGY1 and I had a job interview, however I was not successful to secure the position. Coming back from Tauranga, I applied for some other positions in all over the country , but again there was no luck. So then I did another observership in Middlemore Hospital for six weeks. Then again a two week period in Waitakere Hospital followed by another six week observer-ship in Tauranga Hospital.

Have not been working for almost a year, and had to pay for accommodation and petrol while doing my observer-ship has put our financial state on a stretch. At the same time, David was involved in a business contract that was unfair that cause a great loss on our side. So by the end of the year we almost had no money. I did some casual jobs whenever I had spare time while continuing my observership, so I almost had no day-off since August 2017. I went down to Tauranga in November for my last observer-ship, with no money in my pocket. I stayed in the Rbnb that I have booked and share the room with another doctor. On the second night, the host of my Rbnb asked if I want to work in the motel during the weekends, as they knew that I desperately needed some money, so I said yes straight away and very happy with the opportunity.

​I am grateful that even in my difficult time, I still finding things to thank for. I met so many nice people who are very generous and kind. These people brought joy and encouragement for me to continue pursuing my dream. I learned new skills, and had great experiences working in different industries.

I realised that sometimes life does not go like what we want, everyone struggles with their own problems. Money, jobs, health, relationship, there is no perfect life. One thing that I learned since I was little, is not to compare your life with someone else's. Everyone has their own time, their own path, so live your life and do the best with it while always find a way to enjoy it. As it is a short journey, and we never know how and when it will end. You can make your own happiness.

I wish you all the best in 2018. Live, learn and be happy.

​Imelda

Three to four weeks before the exam
From my experience the last few weeks before the exam was the most difficult time during my exam preparation. As I felt so tired from rehearsing all the materials over and over again. I started loosing interest in my study and feeling anxious  because I was not ready yet for the exam. So my study partner and I decided to take a week break after the mock exam, and we promised that we will come back with fresh mind and give the best effort to pass the exam.

As the exam exam only a few weeks away, it is natural if you feel more anxious. You may feel that you have learned everything but you keep forgetting the important information for counselling stations or particular questions in history taking, or you keep running out of time when doing physical examinations. The good news is everyone experience the same thing, so you are not alone.

The key to survive the last few weeks before your exam is to organise your study schedule well. Below is some tips from me to help you planning your last several weeks.

1. Attend a mock exam
If you are studying in a group you can organise a mock exam. If you are not part of a study group, start asking around if there is any study group that will do a mock exam. In my experience, the mock exam was a crucial part of my preparation. The mock exam is usually design to mimic the real exam, so for the first timer, this is the best opportunity to experience the exam. You will get useful feedbacks on your performance from the past candidates who volunteer as examiners.

Mock exam is usually held at least four weeks from the real exam so you will know your weaknesses and will have time to make improvement. Cases on the mock exam are usually have high possibility to be in the real exam.

2. Make a list of cases that most likely will appear on your exam or make prediction
Predict and practice those cases. This is sound complicated and confusing but it is actually very easy. Find out what cases that have been in the previous exam up to a year back. Cases from the two previous exam are very unlikely to be on your exam so you can cross them out. Cases from a year ago, are more likely to be in your exam. Then check the remaining cases from the high yield case lists. Cases that are common in New Zealand are more likely to come than more rare cases, however in each exam usually there is one rare case. Remember that this is a prediction only, so there is no guarantee that your prediction will be 100% correct.

3. Recognise your weaknesses
Get honest feedback from your study partner or from someone who has passed the exam, look for your weaknesses and improve them.

4. Do what ever work for you
If you learn more by reading, then read your script again and again. If you learn better by practicing, then practice as much as you can with your study partner. I belief after a few months preparing for your exam, you will have an idea about the best study method that suitable for you.

5. Get in to the habit
You have accepted the allocation letter from the medical council, so you know which slot will you be in. Why this is important, because you want to start building some habits for your body to follow. For example, if you are in the morning slot, you will start your exam at 9 am. So wake up and get ready to start your practice at 9 am. Say "Good morning" when you introduce your self in every practice stations. Pace your self so you are able to last for 3.5hr in your optimal condition. Remember there is only one toilet break, so you will need to train your bladder as well. The same with the afternoon session, train your self to be able to maintain your optimum performance until around 4pm. That's means you need to have lunch before your exam. Use "Good afternoon" for every station when you practice. The main point is to get your self as comfortable as possible when you do your exam.

​6. Do your home work as early as possible
​Aim to reduce as much stress as possible near the day of your exam. Find out where you should go, choose your outfit in advance, book your ticket and accommodation for out of town candidates.
Avoid driving to the exam venue if you can. Organise for your family or friends to droop you off, or to hire a taxi. Public transport in Auckland sometimes can be a bit stressful, so avoid it if you can.

I wish you all the best with your preparation and exam. It is a tricky exam, but it is very possible to pass it with proper preparation. Good luck to all future candidates. Feel free to droop a comment or send me email if you have any questions.

It has been a privilege for me to get know people from around the world trough my blog. Recently, one of my reader informed me that she just passed her AMC-MCQ. I asked her if I can ask her some questions and share her experience with us, and she said "yes". So I sent her email and she has been generously answered all my questions.

I hope it will be useful for those who still preparing for the exam.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear P.R (I am using initials for privacy reason)

Below are some questions that I have regarding your experience.

​Firstly, can you tell me a little about yourself and your medical background?
I am an IMG from the Philippines. I got my degree in 2014 and finished a year medical internship the following year. In 2016, I decided to move to New Zealand. 

How long did you need to prepare for the exam and can you tell me a little about your study plan?
Honestly, I didnt have a study plan. I began preparing for it two months prior my scheduled exam. I made it a point that I am reading at least 1 topic or answering at least 50 questions per day during my 2-month preparation.

What were the difficulties you faced during the preparation, and how did you overcome them?
I think since I am preparing on my own (self study) the greatest challenge was procastination. There were days that I was very lazy and everytime I'd read I almost fell asleep. 
Because of this, I made sure that I was pumped up with coffee and in a place that has a good ambience for studying. I also played music to keep me awake.

What were materials you used, that you found useful?
What I found very useful was the AMC blue book. I used it to familiarise myself on how the questions are asked. AMC questions are very different from what I'm used to. I also answered recall questions. For the topics that I did not understand, I referred back to Murtagh's.

If you do not mind me asking, how many times did you sit the AMC MCQ, and what led you to success?
I was not successful on my first attempt. It shattered my confidence and said to myself that maybe I am not good enough for this.
I am not sure on how I regained my confidence back. One day I said to myself that I need to be doing something for me to be able to move forward. So I scheduled my next exam and that was it - no turning back. With God's grace, I passed.

Is there anything that you regret doing in term of your preparation?
I think if I prepared more seriously and had a study schedule that I strictly followed, the outcome would have been better. 

Finally, what is your suggestion,or tips for those who are preparing for the exam?
-First would be to book for the exam. If you have booked your exam, you will prepare more seriously.
-Second, dont be afraid to ask questions about the things you are unsure of. There are a lot of online groups who are willing to help to answer your queries. Like Imelda, I used to asked her a lot of questions about AMC and about practising medicine in New Zealand. She provides very useful information and I really appreciate her for doing this.
-Third, familiarise yourself with the form of questions in AMC-MCQ. Read the blue book and answer recall questions. When in doubt, always consult John Murtagh's.
-Lastly, pray. As I am Catholic, I prayed to God that He would prepare my mind and body for this exam. I prayed and asked Him to be with me throughout this journey. 
   
Congratulation again on passing the AMC MCQ, and thank you so much for dedicating your time answering questions about your preparation and exam experience to help others that will go on the same path. Good luck on your NZREX, I look forward to hearing more good news from you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Continuing from my last post, below is the list of high yield topics for counselling stations in NZREX:
1. Pre-eclamsia
2. PCOS
3. Lifestyle management (Diabetic and non diabetic)
4. Contraseption
5. AAA
6. Duodenal/gastric ulcer
7. Salmonella infection
8. Colon ca
9. Termination of pregnancy
10. Breast ca
11. Asthma
12. COPD
13. Gout
14. STI
15. Anxiety
16. Otitis media + Grommet
17. ADHD + Autistic spectrum disorder
18. Neonatal jaundice
19. Diabetes management/investigation
20. Male infertility
21. Down syndrome
22. Croup
23. Rashes in children
24. Smoking cessation
25. Drugs abuse
26. Nephrotic syndrome
27. PSGN
28. Alcohol withdrawn
29. Hypertension
30. Hypercalcemia
31. OCD
32. Pneumonia

How to prepare for counceling stations:
Counselling station test your communication skills, and your ability to deal with difficult questions or situations. Be prepared to answer any questions from the patients related to the station. However, some patients might not ask you anything. When this happens, explain everything that need to be explained according to the stations as if in real life. 

In general, you will be expected to explain the diagnosis to the patients. Diagnosis might be stated in the question paper, but most of the time you need to conclude the diagnosis from the history given or from the investigation results. If you are not sure about the diagnosis, take short history, or mention that you need to do more investigations to confirm the diagnosis.

You will be expected to address patients' concern, this is why it is important to ask if the patients have any questions or concerns. Look for verbal and non verbal clues. Get ready to handle resistance from patients, or denial. In some cases patients might be angry or crying. If this happens, do not panic, acknowledge patients emotion and react accordingly. Calm patient down by giving reassurance or explanation.

Prepare the management plans and know how to explain about investigations and treatments. Avoid using  medical terminology, if there is no other option, give short explanation about the terminology that you use, for example: if you mention cervix, then follow with explaining that it is the lower end of the womb.

Know about most common side effects of drugs and complication of procedures or the illness itself. Offer reading materials and supports. Mention about red flag signs or when to seek medical help.  Arrange follow up appointment if needed.

The proportion of integrated stations in the exam is increasing, so prepare to take focus history, do physical examination,  consul the patient about your diagnosis and explain about management plan, all in one station.

I hope that this post will be helpful for those who are preparing for the exam. Please comment below if you find it useful and would like me to post more articles about NZREX preparation. Also read my list of history taking stations on previous post.

Below is a list of history taking cases that you need to study as you prepare for NZREX
This list was compiled to give an idea about some of the cases that may be included in the NZREX. People who passed the exam before me wrote the original list and I just added some more cases.

History Taking

1. Chest Pain (Cardiac related, Anxiety, GORD, Pleuritic chest pain)
2. Ankle Pain
3. Loss of consciousness
4. Depression
5. Chronic cough (Adult)
6. Hearing loss + vertigo + tinnitus
7. Headache (SAH, temporal arteritis, Migraine, SOL)
8. Weight loss + vomiting + amenorrhoea
9. 1st trimester abdominal pain
10. Recurrent cough in children
11. Blurring of vision + carotid bruit
12. Sore throat
13. Jaundice (adult and children)
14. Hypertension
15. Knee pain
16. Anaemia
17. High blood pressure in pregnancy
18. Disruptif behaviour in children
19. Suicide / self harm
20. Vaginal discharge + lower abdominal pain
21. Shortness of breath (CHF, Pneumothorax, PE, Asthma, Pneumonia, COPD)
22. Bloody diarrhoea + abdominal cramping
23. Post menopausal bleeding
24. Abdominal pain in left illic fossa
25. Hyperthyroidism
26. Pre-op assessment
27. Epigastric pain
28. Abdominal pain + vaginal bleeding in pregnancy
29. RUQ pain in the last trimester of pregnancy
30. Lightheadedness + one sided weakness
31. Amenorrhoea (primary and secondary)
32. Hip pain
33. Red urine in children
34. Delirium post-op
35. Rashes in children
36. Child with edema and proteinuria

How to use the list above?

• Check all the differential diagnosis of each case in John Murtagh's.
• Check the management plan including therapy, more investigation and follow up plan in RMO book.
• Plan your list of questions, before approaching the patient.
• Make sure you do not forget questions that can eliminate your differential diagnosis or lead you to your primary diagnosis
• Prepare at least three differential diagnosis for each case
• Know your management plan according to your diagnosis or differentials

I purposely wrote the cases in random manner, as I like to have a mix in my study each day to avoid boredom and bias. I found it better than when I study one system at the time, especially for the beginning of my study. 

There might be some other cases that I have missed, please add in the comment section below if you know of  any. All the  cases in the NZREX are often found in New Zealand hospitals or GP clinics. Also read my post for counselling stations.

David and I spent nine days in the South Island to celebrate our achievements and hard work in 2016. This was my first time to the South Island and I really enjoyed it.

We flew down from Auckland to Queenstown with Air New Zealand and booked the window seat. I would highly recommend to everyone who travels to Queenstown to choose the window seat if you can. If you flying with Air New Zealand, by paying extra fee ($5) you can secure your preferred seat in advance.

We arrived in Queenstown at 5.15pm, I booked the Super-Shuttle in advance to transport us from the Airport in Frankton to our accomodation in Queenstown city. The Super-Shuttle fare is $13 per person, the same fare applies to the airport bus. Super-Shuttle is a good option of transportation from or to the airport, it is affordable, punctual and you can book and pay the $13 fare online, online bookings cost an extra one dollar. The Super-Shuttle is a door to door service which is great when carrying heavy bags.

On this trip, David and I decided to camp in our tent which is a great advantage for us because it gave us more flexibility to go anywhere we want and stay as long as we like. However, because we arrived late in the afternoon and had no car until the next day, I decided to book a campsite in Lakeview Holiday Park in advance. I am pleased with the location of the campsite as it is right in the centre of Queenstown, with only a few minutes walk to the sky-line gondola. However, if you come in Summer or peak season, there is a two-dollar-fee applied to limited shower time. And because of the location, this holiday park can be very crowded, so the big dinning area might not be accommodating and you need to queue to use toilet and shower facilities. there

The Deer Flat camp site is managed by the DOC (Department of Conservation), it is a basic camp ground with limited places and three simple long-drop toilets. As we were there in the middle of summer, the campground was packed and the toilets were not in the best condition. However the views were amazing. Be warned of the sandflies that inhabit the Fiordland region, take insect repellent.
​
One of the journeys that I really looked forward to, was the trip to Milford Sound, and it exceeded my expectations. Snow capped mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, and crystal clear rivers. We could not resist to make several stops along the way. My suggestion is not to rush this trip if you want to truly enjoy it. Stay the night in one of the campgrounds along the way and drive slowly to Milford Sound, make sure you have enough time for your cruise and make a few stops along the way. We booked the last cruise of the day at 5.15pm with Go Orange as this ship provides free dinner, and desert, on board.

As we do not like driving in the dark, we decided to make another stop in Te Anau. After visiting some holiday parks in the area, we decided to stay at Te Anau Lakeview Kiwi Holiday Park. In my opinion this holiday park is the biggest in Te Anau, and it is next to the lake. It also has the best shower and toilet facilities compared to the others campsites I have been to in New Zealand.

On the way back to Queenstown we made a night stop at Kingstown, which is located at the southern end of Lake Whakatipu where we were treated to an amazing view.

If you look closely, will be able to see some snow on top of the mountains in the photo above as the temperature was dropping drastically. Yes that is snow - in the middle of summer. We stayed the night at a small campground in Kingstown (Kingston Holiday Park). The owners were very friendly, and they also offer glamping tents for an affordable rate, for those who want a taste of luxury. There are some downsides though: the kitchen is very small and the area allocated for tents is next to the main road, but I slept well that night thanks to the unlimited hot shower.

Driving to Queenstown from Kingston was very enjoyable as we were driving in between the mountains and the lake. We stayed for a few days in Queenstown.

We visited Glenorchy and Paradise which is about an hour drive north from Queenstown. I was not expecting much but we were very pleased.

On our last day in Queenstown we stayed at Creeksyde Holiday Park, had a BBQ on the converted old style stove. You can find interesting ornaments all over this campsite. This trip was pretty much spontaneous, I booked the plane tickets just a week before, and only booked accommodation for our first day and last day. 
​
Queenstown is very popular, in fact it is the number one tourist destination in New Zealand. So, if there is any particular accommodation or attraction that you really like, I suggest to book and plan in advance to avoid disappointment. If you are into camping, you will have more flexibility as there are many campsites all around the South Island. However, book your rental car as early as possible, because they are booked out quickly, especially in summer.

I hope you enjoy reading my post, it took me a long time to finish as I have been very busy lately. My blog posts have been quite long as I wanted to share as much as possible. I enjoyed our trip so much that I am planning to do another trip in winter.

My NZREX journey started in February 2016. I studied blindly since there is not enough information about the exam itself. I started by reading John Murtagh's, since some people advised me to do so.

After a month reading John Murtagh's for the second time, (I read this book for my AMC-MCQ preparation in the previous year), I was invited to an NZREX vibre group, which changed my journey into a success story. This vibre group connects some doctors who have passed NZREX and who are still preparing for the exam, to share experience and help each other to pass the exam. There are also regular classes organised through this group to discuss common cases in NZREX. I met some wonderful people in this group and joined a smaller study group which I think is crucial for anyone preparing for NZREX. (Please leave me a message if you want me to invite you to this group).

I started in a study group of three, which later grew to six people and we met two times a week for role-play. I enjoyed practising with this group and learned a lot from more senior doctors in our group and from those who have more experience about NZREX it self. However, after a few weeks I felt that the study pace was not suitable for me, since I was very new to the exam format and need more repetition than the others. Apart from that, I also started an observer-ship in a GP clinic, that made me so busy and I felt tired during the practice time. After a lot of consideration, I decided to take a break from the study group.

In April 2016 I met a surgeon from Fiji that was also sitting her NZREX in November 2016, so we decided to be study buddies. I organised our study plan for the next few months and aimed to finish a month before our exam.

My study plan

• 1 month of reading John Murtagh
• 5 weeks history taking practice (aim to finish in 8min/case)
• 2 weeks counseling practice (aim to finish in 8 min/case)
• 2 weeks physical exm practice (aim to finish in 8 min/case)
• 6 weeks of systematic study 
• Random cases as long as possible
• Mock exam (4 weeks before the exam)
• continue with random cases

(read more about my study plan here).

We met twice a week during history taking practice, and three times a week for physical examination and counceling, and only on Saturday during the systematic study.

I was delighted to receive my result at the end of Novenber and to know that my study buddy also passed the exam. At the moment, I am tutoring another doctor to help her to pass the exam.

Insight to NZREX

NZREX is an OSCE, it is similar to all other OSCE but somehow also very different. It is designed to test wheather you are ready to work in New Zealand as a house officer. Some overseas graduates found it very difficult, as they are not familiar with NZ medical system and culture.

You can practice OSCE like you are preparing for AMC clinical or USMLE step 2 CS, since the cases are quite similar. However, do familiarise your self with the NZREX format and with New Zealand culture since in NZREX the way you communicate with patients is very important. I found that doing an observer-ship is the most effective way to get insight to NZ cultur and to polish-up your communication skills.

The exam consists of 16 stations: four history taking stations, four counceling stations, four physical examination and four static stations. Since 2015 there are some integrated stations included in the exam, which means you need to prepare to perform a focus history taking, focus physical exam and conseling in one station. Time management is key to successfully completing these stations.

Time allocated for each station is 10 minutes with two minutes reading time in between stations. There is a 15 minutes toilet break after the 8th station, and drinking water is provided in static stations without extra time for water break. (More information about the exam format can be found on MCNZ website).

The only way to pass this exam is to prepare well. The preparation time required will depend on your medical knowledge, your communication skills and how familiar yourself to New Zealand medical system. (read a more complete tips for NZREX here).

Thank you for reading my blog, I wish you well with your preparation. Do share your experiences, I would be happy to read them. If you want me to write in more detail about NZREX please let me know by writing a comment below.

Check out the list of high yield cases in NZREX history taking stations here.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, thank you for your interest to my story. Since I have been too busy lately it take me longer to reply to your comment. So I wrote some of the most common questions here please check it out.

​Please also read some comments attached to this post as your questions might have been answered there. I will try to reply to all your messages and emails, but may take me some time before I able to.

For those who requesting to be added to viber group please be aware that the group is fully saturated at times, I will try to add at random times, and please make a viber account and send me the right phone number so I can add you. This will save your time and mine.

Thank you for your understanding. I hope you find my blog is helpful and all the best with your own journey.

As some of you might already knew, I am back to my super busy study schedule since the beginning of this year. That is why I have not been able to update my blog. However, I found STELLER just recently, and managed to try it out a few days back, and I love it.

I am thinking that I will be able to post more often on steller, since it is so easy to use, and the theme just so beautiful.

Here my story on stellar that was featured on food + drinks collection.

Hope you enjoy my post and follow me on steller for more stories.