Step-Up to Medicine (Step-Up Series) [Paperback]

Steven S. Agabegi (Author), Elizabeth D. Agabegi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0781771536 | ISBN-13: 978-0781771535 | Publication Date: April 7, 2008 | Edition: Second, North American Edition

This book is a primary review tool to prepare students for both the internal medicine clerkship and the end-rotation NBME shelf examination. This logical alternative to several limited-focus books blends a bullet-outline format students prefer in a review book with comprehensive paragraphs, as needed, for optimal preparation. Illustrations, charts, tables, graphs, mnemonics, and "Quick Hits" pearls for the clerkship speed and supplement learning. Ample content without superfluous detail enables students to readily evaluate and expand their knowledge of cardiology, pulmonary medicine, gastroenterology, hematology, neurology, endocrinology, rheumatology, nephrology, genitourinary disorders, fluids and electrolytes, dermatology, and musculoskeletal problems.

A new section in this Second Edition presents 100 USMLE-style clinical vignette-based questions with answers. A color insert contains over thirty full-color images.

A companion Website will offer the fully searchable text and color photographs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Second, North American Edition edition (April 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781771536
• ISBN-13: 978-0781771535
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 8.2 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Medical Books > Medicine > Test Preparation & Review
  • #19 in Books > Medical Books > Medicine > Internal Medicine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What you really need to know about this book!, April 15, 2010

By 

William Mcfadden "William Mcfadden" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step-Up to Medicine (Step-Up Series) (Paperback)

If you are nervous about the internal medicine shelf, you are just like I was and rightfully so. It is a very difficult exam that covers an enormous amount of material. For a 3rd year medical student, this is a great source to start internal medicine. The text is all written in bullet points, but isn't nearly as rigged is its grammatical delivery as other books written in similar formats. It has "quick hit" items in the side that allow for understanding key points, and it leaves plenty of margin room to take notes. However, this book has some major down points that really keep it from being truly grand. For starters, it is lengthy! Although I did read the entire book, I found most of my friends stopping it and using it as a reference because they were just too busy to get through it. Even going through it once will take at least half of the clerkship. Some might consider it advantageous to have such a long book because it covers more for the test, but I myself would have been happier with a book that minimized the information that I already knew from 2nd year and maximized what I really needed to focus on (i.e. managing patients and working up conditions). Unfortunately that is where this book just misses the parade! All conditions are well described, but there is a complete lack of how to work up the condition. It gives clinical signs/symptoms, but totally lacks in its ability to approach a problem by crossing off conditions from differential diagnosis. Essentially, your ability to work up conditions will be impaired. The other kicker is that its formal lack of algorithmic approaches to treating conditions. Some conditions have good explanations, not great, on how to treat and others have pitting lack information. Often times the treatment section of a disease is list of drugs that might potentially be used in a condition. It gives no approach on how to use these drugs effectively or any kind of algorithm on how to treat the condition with the possible therapies. The mishaps in this book, unfortunately, paid there toll on my shelf examination, and I ended up just shy of what I really needed. Overall, it is an excellent source, but if you think that you can function as a intern with this book, think again! As a side note, to remedy the lack of treatment information in this book, I would recommend going through the pocket medicine book by Mass. General. It really picks up where this book lacks, but it may be to complicated for some. In retrospect, I wish that I would have read through the Washington Manuel, which really isn't any longer than this book, and I would have felt like I was a real intern and more prepared for the shelf.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for some, not for others., December 12, 2008

By 

Echidna - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step-Up to Medicine (Step-Up Series) (Paperback)

I'm a current 3rd year med student in the U.S. and recently completed my Medicine rotation. I bought this book because it seemed like it was so essential. I found that it was more useful as a reference book to read up about your particular patients than to study for the shelf, but then I guess that sort of is studying. Step Up really has good info about managing your patient's care though. It might also be quite useful for an intro to clinical medicine type of course where you are learning clinical details in an organ system by organ system basis to compliment your basic science knowledge.

However, it is long, very dense and the bullet point format is not easy to read/retain (at least for me). I don't know how people say they actually read through this in a few days and retain anything for the shelf exam.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best review book for physician assistant students for the PANCE., August 13, 2010

By 

PA student - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Step-Up to Medicine (Step-Up Series) (Paperback)

I recently graduated from a Physician Assistant program and took the national board exam (PANCE). I had studied all of the recommended PANCE review books over and over, and needed something new. This book is the absolute best review book I have ever used, and is even better than most text books I've read. Thanks in part to this book, I scored in the 99th percentile in the country on the PANCE. I would recommend this book to both PA students and med students alike for board review. BUY THIS BOOK! You will not regret it.