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Well, I figured since we've got through several of the basics we better do the same for UMAT Section 2 to preserve equality in UMAT relevancy. We will dive into the foundation of Section 2, finish up explanation of Section 1 followed by fine touches of Section 2, then gather both our knowledge and do some hardcore questions together. Sounds good? Let's roll.

UMAT Section 2 : Girls love it, guys hate it. However it does not necessary follow this trend. My cousin's a dude and he had no girlfriend, isolated himself from social activities, and he loved playing warcraft and other internet games. He's also a good reader - the kid scored 97 for UMAT Section 2. Amazing. How he did it even he himself does not know, it was natural for him to identify the feelings behind the question. He says its common sense. I say he's a girl.

There are three important elements of interpersonal skills:

- Personal development

- Communication

- Professionalism

Personal development deals with qualities: attitudes people have towards another. Principles surrounding this can be taught and nurtured through education and personal development. The last two are skills: meaning they are less innate to the individuals and are taught. Most working students will have basic proficiency at communication skills and professional conduct as they are skills used on a daily basis. This is important for specific context questions used in UMAT Section 2 where ethical and legal ramifications are placed on you.

1) PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Empathy: defined as the ability to accurate perceive the feelings of another person and to communicate this understand to the person. Simply put, it is the capacity to share another's emotions and feelings. It is important as it results in treatment of patient and better patient compliance with treatment. Here's an important guideline:

- LISTENING: Empathy can be achieved through attentive listening and attending to the person. Ear is as important as the eye.

- RELATING: Understand the situation/circumstance the patient's in by putting yourself in there. You can't understand a cancer patient's emotion unless you have cancer! Guys struggle with this. And yes, there will be cancer questions in the UMAT test.

- REASURRING: The ability to provide reassurance faith and hope to another person is very important in all settings of customer service, let alone in healthcare. In a medical situation, reassurance may contain medical information that should be explained in a way patient can relate to, understands and is left feeling positive - hence reassured.

Scenario 1

You are an intern who is rostered off ward duty at the end of the day. Just before leaving the hospital, you visit an elderly patient whom you cared for for a week who is awaiting surgery the next day. The old man asks whether you could stay with him and ask several questions about the situation as he is very anxious about the operation. You spent a while with the patient kindly explain the process. It's about time you left because you have an urgent arranged commitment to attend. The eldery patient desperately asks you to stay longer. What do you say to the patient?

Selections:

a) You tell the patient that you have a prior commitment to attend to and are unable to be stay the extra length.

b) You tell the patient you have a previous commitment, which you'll try to re-schedule if possible, that you may spend more time with him.

c) You tell the patient that you're sorry you have to go, however if he has any more questions you will get another doctor to answer these for him.

d) You say nothing about a previous commitment, but simply agree to stay with the patient as long as possible and answer any more questions he might have.

e) You say that you are feeling ill and in need to use the bathroom, and attend to a commitment after.

The preferred answer is (b).

Discussion:

This situation requires you to understand the circumstance you're in and produce a certain degree of empathy and professionalism towards your patients. It is obvious the patient is looking for reassurance and trust, and through spending a few more time with the patient would mean a lot. Thus the correct answer is (b). Option (c) shows inconsideration to the appointment and poor time management even though the heart behind the motif is there.

Scenario 2

You are a nurse on ward round with a group of doctors and medical students. The team doctor interrupts the ward round to attend an important call from the ground floor. In the meantime, the medical students began talking with their colleges and junior doctors in an unhealthy volume. The patients nearby are not pleased especially one that has struggled to sleep due to unfavourable physical conditions. The patient comes to you and asks what is about the situation. How do you respond?

Choices:

a) You explain to the patient about the doctors sudden commitment and apologize to him about the noise.

b) You reply in a loud voice that the medical students may hear you apologizing - that they may quiet down after.

c) You encourage the patient to try sleep and tell the group to move away from the patients ward.

d) You ask the group politely to move away from the patients, explaining the situation to them and then tell the patient to try sleep again.

e) You apologize to the patient and reassure him that you will let the team doctor be aware of the situation to sort out a solution.

The preferred answer is (d).

Discussion:

This is a conflict situation for you the nurse. Would you have empathy for the patient and inform the doctors to lower the volume of their conversation, or apologize and give the patient an excuse, as possibly reprimanding the junior doctors in front of the medical students and potentially embarrass them? The appropriate answer is (d) as it ensures harmony and peace for the patients and avoid miscommunication/direct confrontation with the doctors.