If that seems too daunting, reading the pediatrics and ob/gyn sections of Crush Step 2 will at least help you rapidly hit the highlights. Pediatrics: Dehydration, meningitis, limp, normal development, asthma. You likely won't be able to get away with putting off Step 2 to avoid having it matter for your residency applications. It's not enough to just come home and "study for a few hours. " We know this isn't easy. Microbiology (only Microbiology & Immunology). Most medical schools assess your mastery of a particular core rotation through these shelf exams. Always focus on things that might seem similar and be able to tell them apart (placenta previa vs vasa previa vs abruption). This dense book has been an essential read for the clerkship: excellent, organized well, good diagrams, and contains everything you need to know. 3, 500+ USMLE-style practice questions written by high-performing physicians and reviewed by faculty with specific expertise to ensure the questions match the format of the USMLE content outline. While it may seem more fun to actively learn via questions, you need to have an initial grasp on the material before attempting question banks. Only pick review materials that will suit your needs best and are high yield. I don't think remaining awake during your clinical rotations is enough to prepare you for your shelves unless you're a genius of course. Create customized quizzes in either Step 2 CK or NBME shelf exam mode.
Use a high-quality question bank and review thoroughly! For example, I might focus on more detail-oriented resources in a rotation where I felt comfortable with the fundamentals, or I might choose to abandon a nitty-gritty, nuanced resource in order to make sure I had a grasp on the core concepts in a rotation where I was having trouble learning the material. If you've studied for and done well on your shelf exams, UW and Wikipedia should basically be sufficient for Step 2 CK, which for at least the near future will be an extremely important non-pass/fail exam. Thankfully, Med School Tutors has given us an idea of some of the common conditions and cases you will be encountering in your shelf exams. For learning about specific operations and the questions you might be asked in the OR, read Surgical Recall. It's also important to note that shelf exams are not as traditional as it sounds since the tests are actually held online. If you finish UW, do more UW. There are far fewer hoops to jump through than for your USMLE Step exams. Family Medicine: required to score at the 4th percentile to pass. This can help you see what subjects you need improvement in, as well as telling your school what parts of their curriculum might need more attention. Written by Board-Certified Physicians.
Ask your peers or residents if they have any resources that really helped them prepare for the shelf exam you have coming up. Do as many practice questions as you can. Please note, however, that UpToDate is a low-yield resource for Shelf Exams and USMLE Step 2 CK, as it is far too comprehensive and wordy. Seemingly random questions on every test. Connecting the dots from my previous point, you also have to understand that there will be variables affecting your study timeline that are way out of your control. There are 26 known NBME Subject Exams for Shelf Exams. No matter what your score, remember that you still have one to two weeks of studying. The shelves will test you on the bread and butter of medical conditions. Instead, students should immerse themselves in the right follow-up content to improve their weak points in the shortest time possible. UWise is a set of about 500 OBGYN questions produced by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO). Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis. The consequences of a burn out are far more devastating and destructive as compared to missing out on a scheduled reading for your Pediatrics shelf exam. This study was conducted at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS).
Take a deep dive into your specific individual testing habits and behaviors, seeing your average time per question and more with the SmartTips tool. Naturally, the questions in the shelf exams revolve around these same specialties. It is important to remember that studying for your shelf exams is also preparing you for Step 2 CK. The portions that do apply to the shelf though are full of rapid-fire high-yield facts. Two hour shelf-reviews for Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Surgery, and Medicine. Finally, if you're wanting a step-by-step plan to get honors on your rotations, then check out Crushing Clinical program here! Analytics dashboard to track your performance by category and identify any areas of weakness. Gauer JL, Jackson JB.
What to use on the wards? Build the habit from the get go. Obstetrics and gynecology and vascular surgery. I know that certain situations are way out of our control. Given this fact, make sure to pay attention to your USMLEs as you're going to see very similar content in your shelf exams. The shelf exams are not just exams you can pass without preparing for it. All of my NBME practice scores fell within two points of each other, but my raw and percentile shelf scores were much more widely distributed.
Starting in the learning phase, you must complete a targeted review of the material you've already covered. The material is essentially the same, except you will be expected to thoroughly understand all of the material from the shelves. Learn more about Rosh Review's Qbanks for medical students. Additionally, institutions have the option to allow medical students to retake Shelf exams.
Medical students can become members of the AAFP for free and then use the AAFP question bank. Without further ado, let's get on with it!