Dumb Plan for Naplex? Or Do You Think it Can Work?

[doingit4mykid]

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Hello Fellow SDN Users -- especially those who have passed the NAPLEX already. I am preparing to sit the NAPLEX, and would like to know your thoughts on something. You see, it has been quite a few years since I left pharmacy school (but I was a top student, and I have good exam strategies. Meaning, I know how to interpret questions well, and narrow down answers when I am unsure etc etc). I work full time (very demanding) and I have a child. So, I end up putting in many hours of studying and then maybe for a few days, I won't get a chance to study. This results in me forgetting everything, and so each time it feels as if I am starting over.

Anyway, I am sure you want me to get to the point! I am tempted to just study Infectious Dz, Oncology, HIV (and 1 or two more topics based on your recommendations- please recommend), and KNOW the calculations (which I am at this point about 85% comfortable with, and I can get to 99% in a short time) - and then just go and do the NAPLEX! I feel as if, if I continue to wait until I get through the whole RXprep, and then try to read it a second time -- with my schedule/responsibilities -- I won't ever do it.

It seems like if I know calculations well, and a few major topics I can do well.
I took the Pre-Naplex a week ago (I am not even 1/2 way through RXPREP book as yet), and I got 81. I think that was just out of luck, because I didn't know a lot. But still, I am just at that point where I feel enough already.

I want your advise -- Based on Your experience of sitting the naplex:

- Dumb Idea (AKA, belt down, study the whole book twice as I originally planned, and then do NAPLEX. Don't risk it)
- OK idea - (AKA, it is best to be safe and study everything, but if you feel like you know calculations, and a few other topics, go for it. the topics I would recommend are ___________ (fill in the blank 🙂 )
Good Idea - I did the same thing and passed. You don't need an overkill. Trust me

Awaiting Your feedback
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[Chris co2012]

I think it's an okay idea. I say "okay" because it's still possible to fail it and that needs to remain in your mind. This plan isn't full proof for everyone. There are always those who no matter how much they prepare, they still come up short. But you said that you were a top student, so I think it would be fine.

The NAPLEX really asks picky, off-the-wall questions that I probably didn't even read about in RxPrep anyway. The main thing is time management. Don't spend too much time working calculations problems and trying to narrow down answers. If you don't know something, then submit a random answer and move on.

Personally (and I've told this story on this forum a few times), I hardly studied for the exam and I'm a C student. I just couldn't focus on the topics, and I waited until the last minute to cram. I mainly hit the exotic topics like you're planning on studying - HIV, Oncology, etc. Also, I made sure to know the short chapters because they were easy.

Oh, and I wouldn't study Infectious Disease. I think if you know the basics that you should be fine. The NAPLEX did ask me what organism was causing community-acquired pneumo in a patient. But just make sure to look at allergies on the patient profile because that will knock off a few answer choices. Pretty much every patient case for me had allergies.

1. Know math very well - even BMI (I had a question and I missed it), mEq, mmol, allegation
2. Know drug-drug interactions
3. Inducers/Inhibitors
4. I had a lot of anticoag questions, too... heparin, HIT, lovenox, obesity and heparin use, etc.

Good luck!

 

[doingit4mykid]

Thank you for responding Chris. Yes, it is true that such approach might result in a failure --however, constantly putting off the exam is not sucess either 🙁

Ok, so based on your recommendations -- and my decision---I could study HIV, Onco, Infectious Dz +/-, Short Chapters in RxPrep --whatever those are -- and the CALCULATIONS, which are what I am relying on.

You spoke of time management -- Is the time allowed for NAPLEX typically ok, for everyone? Or is it that most people feel like they are SERIOUSLY running out of time?

Again, thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. I look forward to hearing additional thoughts.

 

[Shahis77]

Time is more than enough...185 questions 4 hours....when i finished my exam i still have 20 minutes left

 

[doingit4mykid]

Thanks for the feedback on the time Shahis -- any thoughts on my idea?

 

[Sparda29]

Time is more than enough...185 questions 4 hours....when i finished my exam i still have 20 minutes left

Agreed, I still had 2 1/2 hours left when I finished.

 

[Chris co2012]

Agreed, I still had 2 1/2 hours left when I finished.

Yeah, I think I had about that much left, too.

Oh and one more thing - know your brand/generics. There are even brands for crazy drugs that I've never heard of... so yeah... study that, too.

 

[fowadluking]

Diabetes, asthma, OCPD, hypertension, heart disease, psychiatric diseases, inflammatory disease and a few common OTCs. You must familiarize yourself with these because I know you do not want to commit NAPLEX suicide. These are not very difficult to study and some are the short topics mentioned earlier somewhere.

 

[doingit4mykid]

Thanks - I appreciate the suggestion of additional topics. No I don't want to commit any type of suicide at all 🙂🙂

 

[think]

Hey there
I also took the exam and passed it. I felt most of my questions came from what I had studied in the rxprep book not that I could remember the correct answers for many of them. I only did the book once though. my advice will be to try to get any studying done that is possible for you and focus on math.
If I had very limited time I would prob study the big topics like htn, diabetes, asthma
I did not have any trouble with time but I kept an eye on the click I took my time with every question and had 20 mins when I left the exam

 

[Naplesmark]

Your plan sounds very reasonable.
This is what you should also know. The first 10-12 questions will include a strange disease state. MS , endometriosis, Fibromyalgia . By strange you will need to know everything about it what causes it, diagnosis and the drugs for it. Now, this is the important part, they are attempting to slow you down with these first questions. If you know the answers great if not DO NOT SPEND EXTRA TIME, you will run out of time. Know poisonings. If someone comes into the hospital with Iron and acetominophen poisoning what do you do!!
Also, to everyone. You must have a good math score, know math. The boards rationalize that if you do not know math you will kill someone. Believe me there is a minimum score on the math questions which no one talks about, but it is there.
Good luck, I passed the first time after moving to a state which would not accept my license. It can be done.

 

[Moora]

TRUE TRUE TRUE!!!!

Actually I had the first 50 questions about the weirdest disease states!!!!!!! My goodness... I was about to get a nervous breakdown... I thought I'm totally failing this exam.

Good news: As Naplexmark said here, it can be done!!!! Maths is important! I got at least 60 questions that were maths! I'm really good with my maths. I knew that some of the questions might seem difficult for some people but I solved them. I got A LOT of fill in the blanks... A LOT!

Plus many many profiles, very few individual drug questions... no hypertension or heart meds... But I made it !!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to the Lord...

"The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will arise and build..." Nehemiah 2:20

 

[doingit4mykid]

I really appreciate the feedback. Naplesmark --- what do you mean you moved to a state that would not accept your license? Would you please elaborate?
Moora -- wow, sounds like you were really freaked out in the 1st part of the exam. ...I will keep that in mind and don't get worried if at 1st it feels as if I am flunking.

For those of you who used the RXPREP quiz bank --- do the questions have explanation for the answers. Or is it just wrong/right with no explanation why a particular answer is right (and why others are wrong, like in the APHA). The RXPREP is defintely easier to study than the APHA...I am soooooooo grateful for it. If I can hardly finish RxPrep, imagine me with APHA! However, there are so many errors (typos etc) in RxPrep. No big deal really....but for a book of this level, I wouldn't expect that. Plus they often use abbreviations without 1st giving the meaning of the abbreviation....and the meaning doesn't always immediately pop in my head...but whatever, it helps people pass the NAPLEX..and I hope it will do the same thing for me.

 

[Shahis77]

If you are with RX prep you will we fine...and yes RX prep quiz bank give full explanation with every answer.