First Aid for the USMLE Step 3 (First Aid for USMLE 3) (Paperback)

by Tao Le (Author), Vikas Bhushan (Author), Patrick O'Connell (Author), Murtuza Ahmed (Author) "For house officers, the USMLE Step 3 is the last step to becoming a licensed physician..." (more)
Key Phrases: surgery consult, advance diet, patient counseling, New York, United States, Tachycardia Abd (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The ultimate resource for USMLE Step 3 preparation! This addition to the best-selling medical review series supplies key information about the USMLE Step 3 exam, evaluates study tools, and reviews tested patient-management information. Provides residents with essential strategies for the computer-administered test, high-yield information, and includes a section of mini-cases to prepare examinees for the CCS portion of the exam.

About the Author
Tao Le, MD Fellow in Allergy & Immunology Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland

Vikas Bhushan, MD Medsn.com in Santa Monica, CA

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Medical; 1 edition (December 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071421831
• ISBN-13: 978-0071421836
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #113,174 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best of several not great books for Step 3, March 1, 2005

By	eye doctor (Stanford, CA) - See all my reviews

Lots of people suggest using Crush Step 3, but I looked at it, felt it was a) too thick and b) the questions and topics were not that relevant to the actual exam (especially in retrospect).

First Aid step 3 continues the long tradition of First Aid books for the USMLE's. But let's face it, you need the books less and less, and they put less and less into them for each one. The best one is/was for Step 1. Step 2 book was useful. Step 3 book is somewhat useful. (Having said that, it was the only book I studied from, to the extent that I studied, and I got over 240...).

The book has an above average number of typos and appears to have been rushed out.

The highlight is the 100 mini cases that have differentials and lab tests that are useful for the CCS cases.

But overall, I think it is the best review book for step 3. Not too much extraneous information, no fake questions that are either too easy or too hard. Just a lot of good info. Some of it is, however, utterly and completely irrelevant to the exam. And they could have spent more time reviewing outpatient material such as derm, emergency room, and less about inpatient medicine, almost everybody who takes step 3 does not need a review of inpatient anything after internship :)

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adam, April 13, 2005

By	Adam Rosh "Anooleaf" (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just finished taking step 3...I highly recommend First Aid, it is concise and, most importantly, the information in the text is relevant to the actual exam. It is easy to get through and I actually learned quite a bit reading it. Lastly, the description and tips it provides for the new interactive section of step 3 was invaluable, trust me.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent review for Step 3, June 19, 2007

By	Adam J. Pruett (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm finally finished with these stupid exams! Like probably all of you, I didn't have much time in between work to study for this exam. Now more than ever it was important to find something that provided the most information in the least amount of time.

First Aid was really helpful here. The High Yield facts was helpful and packed full of what you needed to know for the MCQ's on the exam. But the book really stands out with the 100 CCS cases. I read this section a couple of days before the exam, along with doing the USMLE CD. It was very helpful in providing the language necessary to complete the cases quickly. To my knowledge, no other written source provides this review.

Even though First Aid was not the only source I used to study for the exam, I think it's absolutely necessary for a quick read to pass the last of these painful exams!