PLAB 2 & MLA CPSA Keys - Volume 5: Surgery, Specialties, Examinations, Procedures & Professional Skills

Build confidence for high-yield PLAB 2 and MLA Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment stations covering surgery, medical specialties, clinical examinations, practical procedures, result interpretation, prescribing safety and professional skills.

This premium, updated and professionally organised OSCE eBook uses meaningful colour coding and practical UK-style station frameworks to help candidates perform systematically, communicate clearly, recognise urgent risks and present the safest next step.

Volume 5 combines examination technique, procedural safety, clinical interpretation and professional decision-making in one exam-focused resource.

Clinical Examination Coverage

• Cardiovascular examination and concise examiner presentation
• Respiratory examination and recognition of wheeze, crackles and respiratory risk
• Abdominal examination, pain, masses and organomegaly
• Neurological examination, limb weakness and stroke signs
• Cranial nerve and facial weakness assessment
• Musculoskeletal and painful swollen joint examination
• Hand examination, function and neurovascular assessment
• Mental state examination, mood, thought, perception and risk
• Breast examination, axillary assessment and chaperone use
• Intimate examination, consent, dignity and chaperone principles

Clinical Procedures and Prescribing Skills

• Venepuncture, patient identification and sharps safety
• Cannulation, aseptic technique and safe completion
• Intramuscular and subcutaneous injections
• Drug dosage calculation and safe prescribing
• Recognition and correction of prescription errors
• Urinary catheterisation, consent and complication advice
• Cervical smear procedure and patient explanation
• Suturing, wound care and safety-netting

Clinical Interpretation and Specialty Stations

• ECG interpretation, including acute coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation and hyperkalaemia
• Chest X-ray interpretation, including pneumonia, pneumothorax and heart failure
• Arterial blood gas interpretation, hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention
• Red eye, acute glaucoma and keratitis red flags
• Sudden visual loss, flashes, floaters and retinal detachment risk
• Epistaxis management and ENT referral
• Neck lumps and suspected cancer pathways
• Pigmented skin lesions and melanoma warning features
• Testicular pain, torsion, testicular lumps and emergency referral

Ethics and Professional Skills

• Capacity assessment and refusal of treatment
• Best-interests decision-making
• Confidentiality dilemmas
• Duty of candour
• Complaint handling, apology and patient-safety planning
• Documentation, escalation and clear safety-netting

Each structured OSCE station supports:

• Systematic examination and procedural frameworks
• Patient identification, consent, privacy and dignity
• Candidate scripts and clear patient explanations
• Concise examiner summaries and clinical presentation
• Recognition of red flags and emergency referral triggers
• Safe prescribing and medication checks
• Interpretation of common clinical investigations
• Professional communication and ethical decision-making
• Infection prevention and sharps safety
• Documentation, escalation and safety-netting
• Active recall, partner practice and mock-station rehearsal
• Recognition and avoidance of common examiner traps

Designed for PLAB 2 and MLA CPSA candidates seeking premium, concise, colour-coded and high-yield preparation using safe UK-practice logic and Foundation Year 2-level decision-making.

Ideal for structured revision, examination practice, procedure rehearsal, interpretation stations and rapid pre-exam review of commonly tested surgical, specialty and professional-skills scenarios.

You will receive the current updated downloadable PDF eBook version available at the time of purchase.

Digital educational resource only. One-time payment with no subscription. This examination-preparation eBook does not replace official examination guidance, local clinical protocols, senior advice or supervised clinical training.