CANDIDATE ORIENTATION

© NAC / MCC Orientation 2016

NAC Exam][ The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) exam

assesses the competence of candidates; specifically the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for entrance into postgraduate training in Canada.

The NAC exam may include problems in:□ Medicine □ Surgery□ Pediatrics □ Obstetrics and Gynecology□ Psychiatry □ Preventive Medicine and Community Health

ConfidentialityUpon registration for this exam, you signed a document attesting you would NOT disseminate or reveal to others the exam materials and content. This means that you CANNOT discuss or disclose exam content at any time, in any way, even after the exam is over. Examples of breaches in confidentiality include, but are not limited to, comparing patient responses with your colleagues, sharing content with future exam candidates and posting information online.Breaking confidentiality and disseminating exam content can lead to candidates being denied a standing on the exam and being reported to regulatory authorities and to other medical organizations, and being barred from taking MCC exams in the future.

][

Duration][ The exam duration is about 3 hours.

Plan to be at the exam site for a minimum of 6.5 to 7 hours.

No external contact will be permitted during the exam and sequestering period.

No conversations about the exam will be permitted.

Candidates will not be dismissed until the time specified on the information sheet.

Items to bring ][

Reflex hammer Stethoscope White lab coat without a university or hospital logo

Items that are NOT permitted: Cell phones, pagers, media players, laptops Electronic devices for internet access, transmission,

reference or recording purposes (includes smartwatches) Electronic stethoscopes Pens, pencils, pen lights Paper, books, notebooks Bags, briefcases, wallets, keys

Coat check][ A coat check will be provided at the site to store your

personal items during the exam and sequestering period.

However, as storage space will be limited, we ask that you please leave all large bags, handbags and unnecessary personal belongings at home.

NOTE: While every effort will be made to store your belongings safely, the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) cannot be held responsible for theft or damage.

Candidate notebook ][

Do not open until the examination begins.

Inside, you will find a sheet of bar code ID labels and 16 blank pages for your use during the examination.

You will be given 1 notebook and no additional pages can be added.

Never rip out any pages; your notebook must be returned intact at the end of the examination.

Introduction to the OSCE][ What is an OSCE?

Objective Structured Clinical Examination A form of performance-based testing used to measure

candidates’ clinical competence.  During an OSCE, candidates are observed and

evaluated as they go through a series of stations in which they interview, examine and treat standardized patients (SPs) who present various types of medical problems.

The NAC OSCE clinical stations are 11 minutes in length.

Candidate instructions][ At each clinical station, there is a written

statement (Candidate instructions) that: Introduces a clinical problem. Directs the candidate to appropriately interact with

a standardized patient (SP). Specifies the task such as:

obtaining a focused history conducting a focused physical examination conducting a combined history/physical addressing the patient’s concerns

Indicates whether there are examiner oral questions at the 8-minute signal.

A copy of the instructions will be available inside the room for your reference.

Your badge has a station number that indicates your start station.

Candidate instructions are posted outside each station.

READ everything carefully. Pay attention to the statement which explains

your task. A copy of the instructions will be available inside

the room for your reference.

[ Important reminders]

[

Standardized patients (SPs) are trained to simulate patients’ signs and symptoms in a reliable and consistent manner.

Treat them as you would real patients.

Hand 1 bar code label to the examiner as you walk into the room (instructions on the door).

Examiners observe and assess your performance with preset rating sheets.

Physician examiners, SPs and labels ]

Physical examinations]

Carry out any maneuvers necessary for assessing the presenting problem.

Examiners only give credit for tasks completed satisfactorily!

[ You will be expected to use the hand sanitizer that

will be available in every physical examination station. You may be prompted by the examiner.

Be sure to drape the standardized patients (SPs) appropriately.

Physical examinations Examiners may intervene to:

ask you to reread the instructions. The intent is to remind you to refocus on the task and to

save you time. stop you from performing genital, rectal, vaginal, breast

or other invasive examinations. If such examinations are appropriate, all you need to do

is clearly inform the examiner.

Help the examiner score by: telling the examiner what you are doing (e.g., inspection). describing any findings.

Include findings that are normal.

][

][ Signals

A signal indicates the beginning and the end of each station.

The 8-minute warning signal will indicate: EITHER that your time with the patient is over and the

physician examiner will begin to ask you questions. OR if there are no questions (as indicated on the candidate

instructions), that you still have 3 minutes remaining with the patient.

After each final signal, you will have 2 minutes to move to the next station and read your instructions.

Physician examiner oral questions may follow the warning signal. They:

are related to the patient you just saw. ask about matters like diagnosis, management

decisions, and/or your response to an ethical issue. Candidate instructions on station doors will indicate

whether there are oral questions at the 8-minute signal. If there are no oral questions, you will have the

full 11 minutes with the patient.

[ ]Examiner oral questions at 8 minutes

[ Before leaving, you must follow the sign-out procedure. When it is your turn, hand in your:

candidate notebook (all pages intact) ID badge unused bar code labels including the backing sheet

Signing out]

Congratulations! At this point, the exam is over!

Sign out on the sheet.

Candidates may be required to remain on site before or after the exam for security reasons. The length of time depends on the time zone.

There is no access to personal belongings or telephones during this time.

No conversations about the exam will be permitted.

Exam conditions still apply during sequestering. You must only speak the language of the exam (English or French)

during sequestering.

Sequestering[ ]

REMEMBER: Breaking confidentiality can lead to being denied a standing on the exam and/or being barred from

taking MCC exams in the future.

If you encounter issues during the exam that you believe may significantly affect your results, you MUST:1. Immediately communicate your concern to a Senior

staff member or the Chief examiner. 2. Submit a message through your physiciansapply.ca

account detailing the incident immediately following the exam.

MCC review of your concern is possible only if candidates provide notification of the concern/problem in this manner.

Please visit MCC’s website for further information.

[ Reporting concerns]

Read the instructions carefully. Complete the specified task. Demonstrate your clinical skills. You receive credit for tasks completed satisfactorily. Treat the SPs as real patients. DO NOT leave without signing out. DO NOT divulge or disseminate any exam content,

even after the exam is over.

[ ]Final review of important points

Your group leader and the support staff are there to answer your questions and guide you from station to station.

Try to relax and stay focused on the exam.

The purpose of the exam is to provide a fair and accurate assessment of your clinical skills.

Focus on the exam][

Bathroom breaks

Before the exam begins

After the exam is over

Urgent need: notify staff

][

Results will be made available to you in your physiciansapply.ca account, 6 to 8 weeks after the exam date.

RESULTS

Through your physiciansapply.ca account, you will be able to: view your results documents. share them with other organizations.

][

Before you start the exam:

If you are unwell or have extenuating circumstances which may negatively impact your performance on exam day, and wish to withdraw from the exam, please notify a staff member as soon as possible.

If you choose to start the exam, it will count as an attempt, even if you cannot finish.

IMPORTANT][