FM shelf exam

[Theasam]

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I heard that FM shelf exam is pretty difficult. Anyone have suggestions on what is the best tragedy to tackle this exam? What is a good book to use? I have NMS and Blueprints, but heard that they are not sufficient. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

 

[Kluver_Bucy]

I heard that FM shelf exam is pretty difficult. Anyone have suggestions on what is the best tragedy to tackle this exam? What is a good book to use? I have NMS and Blueprints, but heard that they are not sufficient. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

I used Blueprints mostly. It wasn't enough. I ended up with a 72. Barely passed. Whatever you do, don't just use blueprints!

 

[sophiejane]

Study like you are studying for your medicine shelf, and then learn all about preventive medicine (when to do routine colonoscopies, mammograms, etc.), and then review weird random syndromes and biochemical pathway disorders as if you were studying for step I again, and then learn your fractures and sprains, and you should be fine.

Heh.

You think I'm kidding.

 

[bldavis11]

it was a boat load of reading, but i smacked the shelf....

read majority of the 2nd half of Essentials of Family Medicine by Sloane twice. i picked out the chapters that were high yield (HTN, DM, LBP, etc.). I then did the NMS question book and felt like a ***** as I was getting 40-60%'s on each chapter 😱

i went back and skimmed all of the guaranteed high yield stuff 2 days prior to shelf and spent the day before reviewing all of the answers from NMS.

there were still completely "unfair" family med questions. if you've had medicine, you're set.

best of luck,
davis

 

[Hopefulmeds]

I agree with Sophie Jane's post also know the following
painless limp and painful limp syndromes
neuromuscular diseases
stroke

The shelf is all internal medicine and barely has any family med shelf. Use Boards and Wards for steps 2 and 3 and First Aid for Medicine.

 

[betz]

I thought it wasn't that bad. I was all freaked out, and was reading Swanson's and other Family Practice books. Then I switched and just focused on Boards and Wards and First Aid for Step 1&2. Ultimately, I think that studying for everything was more helpful that any family practice review book. My suggestions, during your first few weeks of family practice, study your patients. Meaning, study the major diseases in outpt medicine, like HTN, DM, osteoporosis, etc. Then during the last part, start studying the review books for Step 2. The shelf is nothing like what you will encounter in the clinic. Its like a mini-step 2. Just my 0.02.

 

[murph79]

For me, the fm shelf seemed to have a lot of generic step I type of questions on it. Yes I said, step 1. It was really easy, just do a bunch of practice questions.

 

[tigershark]

For me, the fm shelf seemed to have a lot of generic step I type of questions on it. Yes I said, step 1. It was really easy, just do a bunch of practice questions.

I agree, seemed like many of the questions were basic science questions from step 1 (eg philidelphia chromosome). Saw absolutley zero correlation between the shelf and my FM rotation.

 

[streetdoc]

Family is a little bit of everything. I stuck to one source (swanson's). I read the summary for each section and took notes on each. For adult med, I read the answers to every question and also took notes. However, during my shelf, I found myself thinking back to path or some 2nd year class. I can't say I saw where swanson's helped me a great deal...well, there was maybe one sickle cell question asking for folate that I remember from swanson's. Anyway, keep it simple for your review-it's easy to get too many sources and you end up not knowing any of them very well. Hope that help someone.
streetdoc
FYI-ended up with 95th percentile...which is good for me, but take it for what it's worth.

 

[Theasam]

Thanks everyone for their reply. Has anyone try the questions from familypractice.com? Do those resume the shelf questions?

 

[betz]

Thanks everyone for their reply. Has anyone try the questions from familypractice.com? Do those resume the shelf questions?

Familypractice.com has pretty good questions. I did about 100 of them. After taking the exam, I would say they were pretty worthless in terms of prepping for the shelf. I think that reviewing your Step 1 and 2 First Aid would be the best prep, and doing review questions for Step 1 would be better than Swansons or familypractice.com.