suresubabu
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 34
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Hi
First let me answer your second question. How different is CK from step 3. Very different. CK and step 3 are both tests of clincal medicine and allied specialities. The similarity ends there. If you look at deeply the differences are obvious.
50% of questions on Step2CK are"What is the most likely diagnosis?". Rest of them are what is the pathognomonic sign, what is the drug of choice? . The basic stuff. If you can differentiate that , pulling the pinna causes pain in Otitis Externa, and does not cause in Otitis media, then you will be fine. If you know that drug of choice is Amoxycilin for media, and PolymixinB for Externa, you will end up with 90s in CK.
Now, the patient was given Amoxi, no repsonse, pateint comes back? What is the BEST thing to do? To increase the dose of Amox, or to change antiboitic or to admit, or to do tympanocentesis, WHAT? Most people will be in dielemma. In reality , even in practice many physicians do differnt things. So, In a nutshell, step 3 is a management exam. It is about the next best step. Assume that you know how to diagnose all the conditions.(You knew them anyway).Assume the best intial therapy is given. Now,.......What is the NEXT best step? Get ready for this.You will be OK on this exam.
Get ready for all the top 5 cancers, top 5 reasons for Clinic visits (For example Gastroenterology clinic-Irritable bowel syndrome, Pulmnology clinic -Asthma). You should know about them thoroughly.
GERIATRICS. Invest at least 15 days on this. Just like Pediatrics, (which you can not answer if you dont prepare) Geriatrics MUST BE PEPARED, PREPARED WELL, that is.
Clinical experience , well, If you are in internal medicine residency for atleast 2 years, in a university hospital with enough time to studywell, then it helps. If you are in any other residency, in a cityhospital, then it is counter productive. With 14 hours devoted to hospital , where do you have time to study,(mere baap)? So, forget about clinical experience, if you are still at home hoping to join residency in July, make most of your time.Try and master the Kaplan2&3, (if possible Swanson-Geriatrics) and go to the exam with a prayer on your lips. You will be OK!!
All the very best in all your future endeavour(s)!!!!
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| nelia
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 31
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hi Suresubabu
I want to add that there are a lot of q about additional sign thats missing to dx the condition or what is the next symptom to appear in such and such disease- that was supprizing for me/ pediatric infectious and neurological diseases/. Alse I had no idea how to answer some q about normal/abnormal variations in apperance-how straight legs should be, or what's on skin.
In addition to that they of course gave me seme weird ethics q- you cannot find more strange ideas in a joke book. You are going to have some laughs during an exam.
I also dont think clinical experience would help me with mcq.
Good luck !!!
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| jayakrishna
Forum Senior
Topics: 30
Posts: 113
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Hi Nelia
That's true. ETHICS are a big-blurr. But let us look at the positive side of the test rather than condemning it alltogether. Statistics are the most concrete questions. If you learn them well, you can not go wrong on these. Definite marks! Also Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is one thing which are giveway questions.Know the flowsheet of BCLS, PALS, of American college of Emergency Medicine and you will get atleast 5 questions on these in EMERGENCY dept. questions.
Goodluck!!
___________________
indian childdoctor
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| Budlight
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 92
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suresbabu,
thats an excellent differenciation of the 2 exams. which book do you suggest to add over kaplan step 3 books,
also one more question
The most common organism in Kaplans step 2 ck for OM in sickle cell is Staph aureus and in step 1 its salmonella, in step 3 it became salmonella again!
what should i pick on the exam?
please answer and thanks again
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| suresubabu
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 34
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Hi Budlight
The most common organism for Osteomyelitis is Staphylococcus aureus. Be it any patient, Staph aureus is the most common organism. It is just the Salmonella typhi is classically associated with the Sicklecell disease. As I have told you, Step 3 is a Management exam. They dont stress on these associations. If a CCS case comes with OSTEOMYELITIS then you can do a culture of the base of the ulcer and treat accordingly. Empirically you can treat with Naf+Genta. Hope I am clear on this.
Restrict yourself to Step3&ifpossible step2 Kaplan books. They are more than sufficient to pass the exam. Not howmuch, but howwell you study these books decides one's fate.
All the very best
Take care
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