I am trying to decide if I need to buy the new RxPrep 2017 book. Here is my situation. I have the 2016 book and took the exam October 22 (didn't pass). NC has a mandatory 90 waiting period, so I am in the process of registering and plan to re-test in 60 days. I have so many notes in my 2016 book, that I don't want to transcribe that into the new book. I know there are new drugs in the new book, as I have already have run across questions regarding them in the RxPrep test bank. When I asked RxPrep, they told me to buy the new book. I know I can google the new drugs for 2016. Anyone have any other ideas to help me bridge the gap here? Many thanks for your help here!!!!
Do I need the 2017 RxPrep Book?
- Thread starter Ranger17
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If I were in your shoes, I would.
Not only are you paying to take the NAPLEX again... but you're missing out on several months worth of pharmacist wages in pay because you've already failed once. It's worth it to pay for the 2017 book and pass, rather than potentially fail and lose more pay... and then pay to take the NAPLEX a 3rd time... make sense?
Not only are you paying to take the NAPLEX again... but you're missing out on several months worth of pharmacist wages in pay because you've already failed once. It's worth it to pay for the 2017 book and pass, rather than potentially fail and lose more pay... and then pay to take the NAPLEX a 3rd time... make sense?
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It's just my opinion, it's not the books fault he/she didn't pass the NAPLEX on the first go round.
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Why not buy a different book?
Anybody have an idea for a book other than RxPrep to use as a supplement?
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Although I have yet to take the exam, I have always had success with the Kaplan brand, and would not hesitate to read through their NAPLEX book.
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You're better of consulting this topic in the exam forum. Last time i glanced there, i saw at least 4 posters like you with insight on how to study after having to re-mediate the exam. There is now a competitor's video-work book that people like and also chart notes that one poster complimented that helped him pass after initially not being able to.
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You shouldn't need to transcribe all of your notes in the new book. Rather make notes from the new materials and add that to your existing notes. It's hard to keep reviewing that thick book. When I was studying, I would write notes/summaries in a notebook. I would only review my own notes in the last week leading to the exam.
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Please do yourself a favor & don't rely on google for answers; use credible drug info sources (micromedex, clinical pharmacology, lexicomp, etc.). For the most part, they all have the same information necessary for studying drugs. I'm sure your school has free access to one or more of these databases, might as well make the most of them while you can
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Honestly, Kaplan makes a god awful NAPLEX review book.
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Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
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Hey! I'm sorry to hear that you also failed the NAPLEX. I took the NAPLEX 3 days before you did in October (also using RxPrep 2016) and failed, even though I passed my MPJE the first time in May. I was/have been completely DEVASTATED - especially when I see so many of my friends buying houses, cars, etc, on fb, so I know how awful it feels.
As for buying the new 2017 RxPrep book, I was also debating whether to purchase the new book. I emailed RxPrep about the differences, and this is what they said:
"Like the 2016 RxPrep Course Book, the 2017 edition is matched to the NABP competency statements that determine the material tested in the NAPLEX. These went into effect on November 1st, 2015 and have not changed. In November 2016, NABP released a new exam format, with more questions that are predominately case-based. A summary of changes to the 2017 RxPrep materials is provided below. There are many changes and it is important that you are current for the exam (at least to about 6 months prior to your test date). This is why we update our materials each year.
What’s New in the 2017 RxPrep Course Book
Expanded material in Sterile Compounding and Non-Sterile Compounding chapters
These are essential for passing the exam; they were revised completely and expanded, with material that is not in last year’s book but which the board is now testing. This was a needed change to meet the recent updates in testing requirements. The new chapters now include:
- How to garb, how to clean the sterile hood, how to clean hands for sterile compounding, how to compound non-sterile preparations (ointments, capsules, others), and more.
- Definition boxes to help simplify understanding of commonly used terms.
- A complete list of common excipients with common use.
- Pictures and explanations that will make your preparation go well.
- For those using the online videos: the compounding chapters now correspond to demos taped in a compounding pharmacy. Watch how preparations are made.
New Calculations chapter to review basic math
New Clinical Scenarios boxes provide an approach to case-based exam questions
Study Tip Gal & Key Drugs Guy to help you focus
Guideline Updates, New Drugs & Safety Updates
There were > 50 new drugs released in 2016 and > 12 guideline updated (including in key topic areas such as Infectious Diseases, HIV, Anticoagulation, Hepatitis, Diabetes, and more).
Other RxPrep Resources
The online course videos and test banks will be updated to reflect changes in the 2017 RxPrep Course Book. Test banks include more case-based questions to help you prepare for the new format of the NAPLEX exam. The new videos and test banks will be released once the 2017 Course Book has shipped.
For 2017 test-takers—important news!—RxPrep is providing a “road map” to passing the NAPLEX. This will be a tremendous help to those test-takers (as we often hear) who don’t know where to begin or how to proceed with their exam preparation. The road map will include an assessment for you to know where you stand at the beginning of your study, and how to proceed, step-by-step, from that point to a passing score."
From what I have heard, many people have passed the new exam using the 2016 RxPrep book and reviewing the new drugs/guidelines when you see them in the RxPrep test bank. There are several summaries of the RxPrep info (someone recently posted notes that I believe are from the 2017 version of RxPrep) on the Pharmacy Licensing Exam section of SDN.
After reading many comments from people that passed with high scores, I decided to buy PassNaplexNow and use RxPrep as a supplement for the chapters that are complicated/heavily tested on the exam (ID, HIV, oncology, transplant, HTN, dyslipidemia, DM HF, anticoag, asthma/COPD counseling, CNS drug interactions, etc) + the first 26 chapters of RxPrep. The entire RxPrep book was information overload for me, so I am hoping PNN will help. A lot of people said that it helped pass them after failing using RxPrep bc it is more condensed, gives you mnemonics, and is powerpoint style like we had in school.
I also read that doing a lot of practice questions is KEY, so I bought 3 months of BoardVitals since I have heard it is very helpful for the random disease states not covered in RxPrep or other sources (there are usually discount codes on google). There are also a lot of quizlets with brand/generic and RxPrep questions.
Also, as I'm sure many people have told you, practicing math and biostats every day (especially math) with RxPrep and the SDN math questions (along with compounding) is crucial.
Sorry for the long message, but hope that helps!! If anyone has any other advice to add that helped them pass, it would be appreciated 🙂
As for buying the new 2017 RxPrep book, I was also debating whether to purchase the new book. I emailed RxPrep about the differences, and this is what they said:
"Like the 2016 RxPrep Course Book, the 2017 edition is matched to the NABP competency statements that determine the material tested in the NAPLEX. These went into effect on November 1st, 2015 and have not changed. In November 2016, NABP released a new exam format, with more questions that are predominately case-based. A summary of changes to the 2017 RxPrep materials is provided below. There are many changes and it is important that you are current for the exam (at least to about 6 months prior to your test date). This is why we update our materials each year.
What’s New in the 2017 RxPrep Course Book
Expanded material in Sterile Compounding and Non-Sterile Compounding chapters
These are essential for passing the exam; they were revised completely and expanded, with material that is not in last year’s book but which the board is now testing. This was a needed change to meet the recent updates in testing requirements. The new chapters now include:
- How to garb, how to clean the sterile hood, how to clean hands for sterile compounding, how to compound non-sterile preparations (ointments, capsules, others), and more.
- Definition boxes to help simplify understanding of commonly used terms.
- A complete list of common excipients with common use.
- Pictures and explanations that will make your preparation go well.
- For those using the online videos: the compounding chapters now correspond to demos taped in a compounding pharmacy. Watch how preparations are made.
New Calculations chapter to review basic math
New Clinical Scenarios boxes provide an approach to case-based exam questions
Study Tip Gal & Key Drugs Guy to help you focus
Guideline Updates, New Drugs & Safety Updates
There were > 50 new drugs released in 2016 and > 12 guideline updated (including in key topic areas such as Infectious Diseases, HIV, Anticoagulation, Hepatitis, Diabetes, and more).
Other RxPrep Resources
The online course videos and test banks will be updated to reflect changes in the 2017 RxPrep Course Book. Test banks include more case-based questions to help you prepare for the new format of the NAPLEX exam. The new videos and test banks will be released once the 2017 Course Book has shipped.
For 2017 test-takers—important news!—RxPrep is providing a “road map” to passing the NAPLEX. This will be a tremendous help to those test-takers (as we often hear) who don’t know where to begin or how to proceed with their exam preparation. The road map will include an assessment for you to know where you stand at the beginning of your study, and how to proceed, step-by-step, from that point to a passing score."
From what I have heard, many people have passed the new exam using the 2016 RxPrep book and reviewing the new drugs/guidelines when you see them in the RxPrep test bank. There are several summaries of the RxPrep info (someone recently posted notes that I believe are from the 2017 version of RxPrep) on the Pharmacy Licensing Exam section of SDN.
After reading many comments from people that passed with high scores, I decided to buy PassNaplexNow and use RxPrep as a supplement for the chapters that are complicated/heavily tested on the exam (ID, HIV, oncology, transplant, HTN, dyslipidemia, DM HF, anticoag, asthma/COPD counseling, CNS drug interactions, etc) + the first 26 chapters of RxPrep. The entire RxPrep book was information overload for me, so I am hoping PNN will help. A lot of people said that it helped pass them after failing using RxPrep bc it is more condensed, gives you mnemonics, and is powerpoint style like we had in school.
I also read that doing a lot of practice questions is KEY, so I bought 3 months of BoardVitals since I have heard it is very helpful for the random disease states not covered in RxPrep or other sources (there are usually discount codes on google). There are also a lot of quizlets with brand/generic and RxPrep questions.
Also, as I'm sure many people have told you, practicing math and biostats every day (especially math) with RxPrep and the SDN math questions (along with compounding) is crucial.
Sorry for the long message, but hope that helps!! If anyone has any other advice to add that helped them pass, it would be appreciated 🙂
