Taking Step 2 CS early?

[Darjeeling]

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I'm a third year who is thinking about taking CS in April of third year- mostly because I don't want it to eat into my valubale one week between thrid and fourth year, and because I don't want to worry about it fourth year. I won't have done my neurology and psych clerkships yet.

Is this crazy? Anyone else doing this? I know the prevailing attitude is if you are moderately competent clinically and not a complete jerk, you should be ok. Still, I would be pretty horribly pissed at myself if I took it early and then failed because there were 5 neuro cases.

Thoughts/ other people thinking about doing the same?

 

[TMP-SMX]

Take a month off in M4 and take CS and CK if you really don't want to do it in your time between years. I'd say rotating through neuro is pretty important in doing a proper neuro exam. As for psych, it will help you deal with all kinds of patients whether or not their complaint is psychiatric but you definitely should know what to ask if the patient is depressed or suicidal and what to do about it.

 

[Redrox]

Pssh, how hard could it be? I'm taking mine in April, too. DO's only have one site to take our CS at and June/July was already pretty much booked up a month ago.

I can do H&P's, I can write a note. Should be cake.

 

[FutureDocDO]

You don't need to do a neurology rotation to be able to do a neuro exam. Just know the general CNII-XII, reflexes, muscle strengths exams. Be able to do a quick H&P, show compassion, counsel your patients if they smoke, drink, etc..., make sure you have at least 3 DDx and Planning for each case. Browse through the first 77 pages or so of the First Aid CS book and a couple of random cases where you think you're weakest in. It's not hard. Good luck.

 

[Darjeeling]

Thanks for the input- I appreciate it!