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Hello, I am a 4th year starting to study for step 2CS using firstaid. I have 25 days before my practice test offered by my school and about 2 months before the actual test. I want to study for the practice as if I am preparing for the actual test. I won't have a partner to study with until a little over a month from my test date which is Jan 23rd 2018.
I have a question regarding the firstaid book. I understand that doing the 40 full length cases with a partner are a must. however, the differential diagnosis associated with a complaint based on those 40 cases alone is quite limited.
For example--for CC of Headache, the differential dx for that case is limited to three actual possibilities based on the standardized pt's answers which are migraine, Tension headache, and intracranial mass lesion. Some additional DDx that are listed for reference are depression, pseudotumor cerebri, cluster headache, and sinusitis. Again- this seems limited to me.
Is this where the minicases come into play? I don't really understand how to incorporate the minicases into my study plan. Obviously, the minicases section doesn't go into detail about each of those differential possibilities. should I learn the details (the clinical features, maybe some epidemiology, which tests to order) for each of them on my own?
Should I read minicases pertaining to each CC first followed by the full length cases?
The minicases are really confusing me as to their utility and purpose.
I have a question regarding the firstaid book. I understand that doing the 40 full length cases with a partner are a must. however, the differential diagnosis associated with a complaint based on those 40 cases alone is quite limited.
For example--for CC of Headache, the differential dx for that case is limited to three actual possibilities based on the standardized pt's answers which are migraine, Tension headache, and intracranial mass lesion. Some additional DDx that are listed for reference are depression, pseudotumor cerebri, cluster headache, and sinusitis. Again- this seems limited to me.
Is this where the minicases come into play? I don't really understand how to incorporate the minicases into my study plan. Obviously, the minicases section doesn't go into detail about each of those differential possibilities. should I learn the details (the clinical features, maybe some epidemiology, which tests to order) for each of them on my own?
Should I read minicases pertaining to each CC first followed by the full length cases?
The minicases are really confusing me as to their utility and purpose.
