National Review Course in Emergency Medicine
Resident Issues
*St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
*Emergency Medicine Research Fellow, Ottawa Health Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont.
CJEM 2005;7(6):429
For the past three years, 5th-year emergency medicine residents from across the country have gathered in Kingston, Ont., to attend the National Review Course (NRC) in Emergency Medicine (EM). Held in October, this 4-day course is designed to help prepare for the Royal College exam. Coordinated by Dr. Danielle Blouin, the course has consistently received rave reviews from participants. The NRC is not just a Canadian version of the American Board of Emergency Medicine review seminars. The NRC includes didactic sessions on resident-selected topics, visual stimuli stations and mock oral exams.
Didactic sessions consist of densely packed "need-to-know" information on EM core topics. Resident are provided with a comprehensive handout for each session as well as a CD that contains important evidence-based articles. The visual stimuli sessions give residents an unequalled opportunity to practise their visual diagnostic skills on a broad range of photographs, x-rays and ECGs. In addition, the Clinical Education Centre constitutes an ideal location for practice oral exams, using rooms with a one-way mirror. Peers as well as examiners offer structured feedback.
The timing of the NRC allows residents to plan their study schedule for the remaining year. Further, many participants appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with residents from across Canada. The course serves as an anxiety-reliever for some and motivational experience for many. Getting a sense of what the Royal College exam is about settles the fear of the unknown. Residents always express appreciation for the NRC, which the CAEP Residents’ Section supports, as a very beneficial experience that should be offered to all future FRCP-EM residents.
NRC feedback from residents
“Speakers were interested in our learning and success . . . [they were] dynamic and interacted with us on a professional and personal basis.”
“Orals [were] well done. I appreciated seeing different candidates. Good mix of cases.”
“Ability to observe different examiners very worthwhile. Interactive sessions had focus on main areas of content that are high yield for the exam.”
“Excellent speakers, dynamic teaching methods, a truly collegial and supportive environment was created.”
