CSA History Taking & Patient Interview:

• Pay attention to the patient info presented on the door. Write down the vitals and the presenting chief complaint of the patient. You can review this with the patient once you are inside the room.
• Knock on the door before you enter the room.
• Once you enter the room, shake hands with the patient and introduce yourself. "Good morning Mr. Smith, I am Dr. Tintin. Can you tell me what brings you to the Emergency room" or "How can I help you today" or "What can I do for you".
• Before you begin anything, tell the patient that you will first take a medical history, then do a physical exam and then answer any questions that he might have and discuss the treatment plan.
• Start your medical history taking by encouraging the patient to tell you more about his chief complaint. "Mr. Smith, can you tell me more about your chest pain". Then ask follow up questions on areas missed by the patient.
• Never interrupt the patient or cut him off in mid sentence(For exam purposes, especially - What happens in real life is different). Listen attentively to what he has to say. While it is ok to write notes when the patient is talking to you, try to maintain eye contact, even when you are writing.
• When taking the history, pull up a chair and sit down. Don't stand over the patient. This has several advantages. Patients are more comfortable when you are at the same eye level as them. You can also sit comfortably for the duration of the history taking. It is also easier to write notes in a sitting position. 
• Have one format for the history and physical exam that you are used to. This will ensure that you don't miss anything vital. Commonly missed questions are about the patient's current medications and medication allergy. These are vital components in your history. Use the sample patient history given in Step 2 CS candidate orientation manual to guide your history taking.
• You must read USMLE Step 2 CS candidate orientation manual several times and pay close attention to the evaluation criteria outlined. You must also be familiar with the Step 2 CS orientation video.
• If the patient tells you that he has pain, in addition to taking a full history on pain, you should ask him to rate his pain on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst. Pain is now considered to be the fifth vital sign.
• How you ask the question is more important than what the question actually is. For example when asking about sexual orientation, don't ask, "are you a homosexual". That can be insulting to the patient. Instead start by saying that you will be asking some personal questions, which you ask to all your patients. You don't mean to offend him" then ask "do you usually have sex with women, men or both".
• If the patient is depressed or crying, offer him a box of tissues and empathize with him. You can also briefly touch his hand or his shoulder to show that you care and support him.
• Don't waste time re-measuring the patient's blood pressure and other vital signs. Just use the one provided to you in the Step 2 CS question. However, examination of the pulse for any irregularity (atrial fibrillation) must be done.
• Communicating with the patient is a vital component of the Step 2 CS exam. Do not use any medical terms. It is important that you speak slowly and clearly to the patient, especially if you have a heavy foreign accent. Remember that the patient will grade you on this.
• Be very clear on the questions that you ask the patient. Use simple and plain English. Keep your sentences short.
• It is important to develop a rapport with the patient. The simplest way is to pay close attention to what the patient has to say and being a good listener. You can also crack some jokes if you can. However, act professional at all times. Don't try to act like a teenager. Remember that you are a physician.