DRE

As 2nd year medical students we are required to perform almost every portion of the physical exam and become efficient while building rapport with the patient. However, there is one portion of the exam that until recently i had never performed... the digital rectal exam (DRE).

I carried out a DRE while trying to avoid blunders such as talking too much or acting callow. As usual, after the examination the patient provided feedback for evaluation in the presence of my preceptor. The gentleman spent 1.5 minutes explaining the soft, gentle and sensitive character of my touch.

No joke; some things are better left unsaid...

Hopefully there's carry over of these skills for the pelvic exam too, but whatever.