Thread: Book Recommendations for Third Year

Hey guys,

What books and pocket references have you have found to be useful while doing rotations, if any? How about residency resources?

Digi.

here's mine.....

http://www.valuemd.com/sgu-medical-s...rotations.html

Thanks K-Girl! Any opinion on the FA series for Step 2? I've been looking on Amazon and the reviews are variable.

I used Toronto Notes for the CK, but that's b/c I was going to be taking the Canadian exams as well. It's way above and beyond what you would need just for CK. USMLEWorld was once again my mainstay for that exam. I've heard that the FA is ok, but I looked at it and thought it was kind of crappy. FA for the CS is money, only thing you need.

fa for ck is ok. i used it but supplement it with adam brochert's books.

Does anybody have advice re: books for 3rd year in general (like how to write a good progress note, give a good presentation, how to present patients to your resident/attending, how to write scripts, etc.)? I have seen some people recommend "how to be a good junior medical student" or something like that and another one called "250 mistakes 3rd year students make" and of course there is also FA for the Wards or whatever.

I'm sure some would say these books have common sense-type info in them and aren't worth the $$, but I like to be overly prepared and since our clinical training so far hasn't seemed very helpful to me, I think I would benefit from these books.

Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by failure2thrive

Does anybody have advice re: books for 3rd year in general (like how to write a good progress note, give a good presentation, how to present patients to your resident/attending, how to write scripts, etc.)? I have seen some people recommend "how to be a good junior medical student" or something like that and another one called "250 mistakes 3rd year students make" and of course there is also FA for the Wards or whatever.

I'm sure some would say these books have common sense-type info in them and aren't worth the $$, but I like to be overly prepared and since our clinical training so far hasn't seemed very helpful to me, I think I would benefit from these books.

Any thoughts?

I got the "250 mistakes" book, but the majority of it is common sense "show up on time, look professional, ask questions, read ahead, blah blah blah..... Every attending likes their pt's presented in a different way, and their notes written in a different way too! I learned so many different way to present on medicine and surgery it was crazy, the ID guys likes certain things whereas the renal guys and neuro guys want something else. Same with gen surg vs vascular surgeons....etc, etc. You'll get the hang of it on your first couple of days. Notes are the same, in medicine you'll hear "your notes are too short" in surgery, you'll hear "your notes are too long!", even though they were only about 6 lines long

There will probably be a bit of it addressed during your orientation and if you want more info ask the attending or a resident who seems like they'd be willing to go through it with you. Some people pick it up quick and others....well, not so much, some people will always be nervous presenting pt's.

Not sure about the "FA for the wards" book, I'll let someone else comment on that.

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