step 2 CS question

[drake19]

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i'm sure all of you have noticed that in First Aid for step 2 CS they use "electrolytes"....haven't seen the term "comprehensive metabolic panel" or "basic metabolic panel" used - are we allowed to use those terms.

Also do you have to specific which electrolyte, etc. you are looking for if you do use CMP - i.e. for a diabetic in workup would you put "CMP - fasting glucose"

 

[PBandJ]

i'm sure all of you have noticed that in First Aid for step 2 CS they use "electrolytes"....haven't seen the term "comprehensive metabolic panel" or "basic metabolic panel" used - are we allowed to use those terms.

Also do you have to specific which electrolyte, etc. you are looking for if you do use CMP - i.e. for a diabetic in workup would you put "CMP - fasting glucose"

On the USMLE instructions and even in the video, they say to use "electrolytes" rather than "BMP" and "AST/ALT/bili/alk phos" rather than "LFT" or "liver function tests." Note that a CMP is essentially equivalent to electrolytes + AST/ALT/Bili/Alk phos / etc..
I think they want to make sure you know what's in each of those test panels, and that you're thinking about whether it's appropriate rather than just blindly ordering a CMP & CBC for everyone (which some docs used to do back in the day).