FIRST AID for the Step 2 CS provides unique benefits for students because world class authors have written content specifically for clinical boards. The content is organized by system and contains high yield facts essential for reviewing medical concepts.
Five tips for utilizing FIRST AID for the Step 2 CS include:
Know the format – Step 2 CS has a unique format, and reviewing the FIRST AID for the Step 2 CS section that details time limits, do’s and don’ts, and advice on demonstrating clinical competencies is essential. Practicing with friends helps you to ask the right questions, examine patients, take notes, and increase your score. Find out how to register for the exam, make travel arrangements to testing centers, and review scoring methods by reading the Structure of FIRST AID for the Step 2 CS section.
Organize around FIRST AID – The content of FIRST AID for the Step 2 CS is organized according to guidelines set for the Step 2 CS standardized test, and it includes most of the required topics for review. More importantly, using the FIRST AID outline as your study structure provides a familiar approach to studying content.
Annotate and add – Add content, notes, facts, flashcards, or unbind and add supplementing high yield content from other books to develop a huge compilation of high yield information for the Step 2 CS. Daily, after rotations, add your own interesting patient cases or facts into the appropriate sections.
Read, Read, Read – While implementing unique study methods might be required for students, reading a chapter several times and doing practice questions, creating flashcards, and/or reciting content increases you retention of content. Refer to specialized board review books like Case Files, BRS, Kaplan, and add high yield facts into FIRST AID.
Practice, Practice, Practice – Mini cases of cough, psychosis, hematuria, chest pain, abdominal pain, and more provide essential examples of differential diagnoses allowing you to brainstorm ideas of questions to ask patients, do a focused physical exam, and manage time. The practice cases include chief complaint, symptoms, subjective/ objective findings, physical exam and differential diagnosis providing complete examples of requirements on test day, and you get examples of how to write down answers during encounters with patients. Reviewing common cases allows for proper patient interaction and simulates exam scenarios.
First Aid for the Step 2 CS is your virtual medicine bag of high-yield tools.