Customer Reviews

First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CK

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

While I would swear by the step 1 version of First Aid, the step 2 version didn't seem as helpful in studying for that portion of the medical boards. The step 1 book was packed with cold, hard facts, and in my opinion was by far the best study tool for step 1. I can't count the number of times that I had questions on the boards that came directly from data presented in the step 1 book. This doesn't mean I always remembered what the information was, but just that it was there, in the book, to be studied. After that it's up to my blasted brain to remember reading it. The step two book starts out with several pages of "reminder" facts. These are mainly basic science "pearls" of information that will be helpful in preparing for step 2. The remainder of the book is dedicated to case presentation questions, the kind of questions you will find on step 2. These questions are divided up by topic and presented in a logical format.

I think that because of the nature of step 2, it is much more difficult to put together a book that encompasses the majority of the information that will be presented on that portion of the boards without turning it into Harrison's. Due to the nature of the case presentation questions, they take up a great deal of space on the page and can be time consuming to read. This was easily avoided in the step 1 book because many one-line facts can be listed on a single page.

I found the book a helpful review, but not a useful study tool. I would suggest to anyone preparing for step 2 to read through the book and judge for yourself. It is well known that if you take 100 medical students, you will find 100 various study methods. Some will love this book, and others will hate everything about First Aid, their books, what they stand for, and how they are destroying society. (Sometimes med students can get a bit wacky).

Basically, I would suggest you peruse the pages at your medical bookstore, if it looks like it may help, by all means make the purchase. You may also be able to find it used for a cheaper price. I would suggest that this NOT be your only study/review tool as the step 1 version could have easily been. I would supplement it with as many practice questions that you have time to read. This seemed to be the preferred method for everyone in my class.

Whatever you choose to study, I wish you the best of luck. Step 2 is now on computer and only takes 1 day, but 8 hours of sitting at a computer reading "60 year old blah blah blah presents with blah blah blah can get very old no matter how you prepare.

Thanks for your time....

Unlike the step 1 First Aid book, which was simply phenomenal (not to mention vital) for studying for the exam, the First Aid for Step II CK was a so/so text. It's fairly long, and wasn't as concise or as targeted as the step I book, and took more time to really study it and attain the same degree of comfort that I had after reading the first one. Some of this could be accounted for by the sheer scope of the examination itself. Not only does this cover all of the core specialty rotations (and a fair amount of subspecialty info as well) that you will be exposed to as a 3rd year clinical clerk, but it also needs to re-cover a good portion of the step I material that has been delightfully repackaged (i.e. those yummy glycogen storage diseases that you thought were gone forever.... think again! This time, they give you the vague clinical presentation, and then ask about the enzyme).

Within my class, there were really 3 groups of studiers for the step II, and the texts they used (as opposed to those who decided to "wing it"). Some loved this text, some thought that "Step Up" was hands down the best, and some swore by "Crush Step II". Personally... I read this one and "Crush", and thought that "Crush" was a tad more on target and high yield... but I also read this book first, so I may have hit Crush more comfortable in general. No matter what you choose, read something, and preferably more than 1 something, as a single text probably isn't going to be enough. Secondly, and probably more importantly, do practice questions! Whether it's USMLE world, or Kaplan's Qbank, it's definitely the best way to prepare for the exam. The test itself is very long (8 hours), and by the 3/4 point you'll probably be blinking stupidly, drooling, and struggling to remember what to do first.. point.. or click? The more practice you have, the better prepared you'll be, and really... everybody seems to make it through ok. Do the prep work, and you'll be just fine, and the "First Aid: Step II CK" is as good a place as any to start.

I was very disappointed with this resource for CK prep. I found Step 2 secrets to be far superior. I purchased and read First Aid for Step 2 CK based on my positive experience with First Aid for Step 1. Much to my disappointment, First Aid for CK contained quite a large amount of basic information that just isn't high yield on step 2. For example, the basic ins and outs of ECG. On the exam, pertinent ECG findings are usually given, and then you're asked to make a clinical decision (e.g. next test or step in management) based on the ECG findings and other data presented. Step 2 secrets is a much more clinically oriented review of material for CK. WARNING: don't rely heavily on First Aid for CK or you'll be disappointed. USMLE world and Kaplan Qbank are probably the best review resources out there, with review books serving as supplements. Unfortunately, First Aid for Step 2 CK was not very helpful. See my review of step 2 secrets, as I consider it to be the best text resource (remember, only as a supplement to online question banks) for CK. I'm not bashing the First Aid series because many are very good books. For example, First Aid for step 2 CS is right on the money (see my review of First Aid for step 2 CS).

Despite hearing a lot of people's disappointment with this after using First Aid for Step 1, I was wondering what I should use. I decided to use this book anyway, and I'm glad I did. I felt it covered most areas well and used it in conjunction with Boards and Wards, which I had used during clerkships and made notes in. Board and Wards filled in the gaps and vice versa. These along with doing tons of questions (USMLEWORLD rocked!!- I bought Kaplan Q bank too, but that was a waste). I was able to increase my Step 2 by 40 points from my step 1!

First Aid for the USMLE Step 2, on its new edition brings readers preparing for the Step 2 of the American Boards a better book than previous issues. Content has been revised and expanded, and, although worse than the Step 1 equivalent, it is still the best book available to prepare for Step 2. It is excelent for last minute review, and also contains a very helpful analysis of other available board review books. Major problem is the abusive use of abbreviations that are not explained in the appendix.

NOTE: All other reviews/comments have one thing in common - they use the First Aid books as a complete reference. It is NOT it's goal.

I used First Aid Step 2 CK (4th Edition) as an indication of what to look up in my other books and notes, then made small notes into the First Aid book. Got 243/98 in May 2005, with just 3 weeks of studying during my Neurology Residency. The other books/notes I used were simply the notes of the classes and courses I have taken in medical school! No need to buy many books, except ONE review and ONE practice book with questions.

This book is more than "just fine" as a rule of what to study in depth, it serves its purpose perfectly!

According to some friends who graduated over the past couple years, the previous editions of First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 were not worth the money; so I almost bypassed this new edition while browsing in the bookstore, but I'm glad I glanced through it and then decided to buy it. I used this book in conjunction with the Underground Clinical Vignettes by the same authors (kind of pricey at about $200 for the set, but surprisingly worth it; the cases are--usually--keyed to the main text). After spending a total of approximately 120 hours with these books (about four hours a night for the month prior to the exam), I raised my score from 194/79 on Step I to 228/92 on Step II. To me, that was well worth the +/- $250 it cost to purchase the package.

This new edition is much improved over the past editions! Although it's still not up to par with First Aid for Step 1, it's a comprehensive review packed with high yield topics. It's a rather thick book (over 600 pages), and due to the nature of the exam it's not too "crammable" - so you'll need some time to read and understand the material. I recommend this along with the Blueprints series and either NMS Step 2 or A&L practice questions in your preparation of the exam.

I found this book to be very helpful in my studying for step 2. I felt like the book did a good job of breaking down the presentation, differential dx, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. As always with the first aid series, the mnemonics are helpful. I really liked the rapid review section that allowed one to quickly review all key concepts from each section. The emergency medicine section was also extremely helpful. One drawback would be the lack of a surgery section as surgery is one of the subjects tested on the boards. Overall, I think this is definitely worth the money. Another book I found to be helpful was Boards and Wards.

If you don't have the time to read all of the blueprints or the NMS series then this is a good alternative. I have compared the info in this book with others & found that it covers quite a lot. You should pick up whatever details that it lack from Q&A books, such as the NMSR & others. This book alone is not enough, but with supplemental Q&A, it's great.