Case Files vs. Blueprints for Peds???

[voltron77]

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I was wondering which title people preferred or felt was better for preparing for the Pediatrics Shelf Exam: Case Files or Blueprints??? Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance eveyone!

 

[eirinn152]

case files, absolutly, the blueprints series sucks

 

[domer621]

Case Files + lots of questions.

 

[voltron77]

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far. I just bought Case Files Peds from Barnes and Noble.

Just curious: Why does the Blueprints series suck for Peds?

 

[eirinn152]

it's too general, not adequate prep for the shelf...

 

[ESPNdeportes]

Yeah, I found blueprints way too general for the shelf.

Shelf questions are difficult and specific.

I did FA + assigned readings + pretest and got a raw score of 90%, so I was pretty happy with it. The theme of my shelf was immunodeficiencies (7 questions......I counted), and while I was generally familiar with them, wasn't adequately prepared for the shelf.

 

[domer621]

Just curious: Why does the Blueprints series suck for Peds?

I wouldn't say it sucks, because people have used it and liked it. I just looked at it in the bookstore and decided not to get it since it's in a textbook format... if I wanted to read a textbook, I might as well have read Nelson's.

Just remember that Case Files is certainly not comprehensive, but there was a question about almost every single one of the cases on my shelf exam - it's that high-yield of a book.

 

[71263]

I am 1 week into my Pediatrics rotation, and have 5 more weeks until the Shelf. I bought a copy of blueprints a few days ago. Yes, it is general. However, as of right now, I know nothing. I think its critical to have a foundation set before you go and start looking at Pretest, FA, etc, other sources that only give you the strained, dry facts. I plan on reading Blueprints all the way through so I have something to go off when I do end up doing the more detailed questions.

 

[8o8o8o8]

I took peds back in Jan. I would recommend BRS + Case Files + PreTest

 

[lord_jeebus]

I used only Pretest (twice) and Appleton&Lange question books, and scored in the 90s (raw score). My strongest shelf - everything looked familiar from questions I had seen before.

Blueprints is a waste of time. I glanced at it but did not see a reason to buy it.

Case Files looked pretty good but I didn't use it.

 

[mdphd2b]

it's too general, not adequate prep for the shelf...

I never thought Blueprints a was adequate on any rotation. Too general, boring, dry--I LOVE Case Files series and used it on all my rotations. I learn a lot better w/vignettes, cases, and doing practice MCQ's, but that's just me. Blueprints puts me to sleep, and I don't retain ANY of the info I read 👎

 

[katrinadams9]

I did very well on the exam with the combination of Blueprints + Case Files + Pretest. I read through all of blueprints and the important sections twice. I got through all of Case Files and Pretest as well, going back through all the questions I missed once more.