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Step 2 CS Exam Insights and Tips

The document shares a fourth year medical student's experience taking the Step 2 CS exam. Some key points: - The student found First Aid for Step 2 CS useful for reviewing diagnostic studies, differentials, and exam tips. - Each patient encounter lasts 15 minutes for history and exam, followed by 10 minutes to write a note on the case. Notes focus on HPI, physical exam, differential diagnoses, and diagnostic orders. - Examinees are only allowed to bring a white coat and stethoscope. All other belongings must be locked away. Lunch is provided. - The exam proceeded quickly with 12 patient encounters. With focused history and exam following First Aid guidelines, the student had

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92 views2 pages

Step 2 CS Exam Insights and Tips

The document shares a fourth year medical student's experience taking the Step 2 CS exam. Some key points: - The student found First Aid for Step 2 CS useful for reviewing diagnostic studies, differentials, and exam tips. - Each patient encounter lasts 15 minutes for history and exam, followed by 10 minutes to write a note on the case. Notes focus on HPI, physical exam, differential diagnoses, and diagnostic orders. - Examinees are only allowed to bring a white coat and stethoscope. All other belongings must be locked away. Lunch is provided. - The exam proceeded quickly with 12 patient encounters. With focused history and exam following First Aid guidelines, the student had

Uploaded by

JuliaQ4102
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Step 2 CS Experience

A current fourth year shares his experience…

What to Study?
I spent 2 days reading First Aid for Step 2 CS. It was very useful in terms of
tips and tricks to remember for the encounters. It helped jog my memory on
diagnostic studies and differential diagnoses.
I cannot speak for everyone, but I barely studied because I thought it was like our
OSCE a week before. It was a bit different though, easier in some ways. For
EVERY patient encounter, you need to write a note (12 total). More later.

Also, the USMLE people have this orientation site. I suggest everyone watch the
videos (even though one is repeated the day of the exam, but its good info to
know). [Link] Think link also
has a lot of general information as well.

General Comments
Don't sweat it. If you've done tons of consults, this is just another set of them -
except much more general. I was a bit nervous at first, but after the first
encounter, time just flew by. Since there is no proctor in the room, it really felt
like a real patient encounter (their acting is great).

Patient encounters are 15 min, then 10 min to write a note. It is not so much a
SOAP as it is a "consult" - a section for HPI, Physical, Diff Dx, Diagnostic Orders.
You can write it by hand or on computer. I seemed to be one of few to chose the
computer, but I did that because I have a lot of afterthoughts and corrections so I
really need the copy and paste feature. You can switch between the two, but NOT
for the same note (i.e. if you start a note in pen, you must continue, but you
can type the next note).

You are only allowed to bring a white coat and stethoscope to the exam area (NO
pens, penlights, equipment, NOTHING). They provide pens, clipboards, paper. If
you have a white coat without a badge, that is better, otherwise they make
you put a white sticker over the WSU badge - take off all pins and stuff from the
coat; nothing in the pocket except for your ID and some cash for emergencies.
There is a place to lock up all your other stuff, but there is not too much
room, about the size of our school lockers is what we get.

Lunch is provided (NOT breakfast, like I was told - so make it a big one). Lunch is
deli style stuff (what I had anyways).

Follow the advice in First Aid and you should be all set. Basically, just do the
same thing for each patient (OPQRSTAA, PMHx, Meds, All, PSHx, Soc Hx, FamHx,
General PE (HEENT, Heart, Lungs, Abd)) - of course changing your focus for each
patient based on the case. Then go over your thoughts about what the problem
is, do some counseling if needed, tell them about diagnostic testing, and you are
done. Only about twice did I need the full 15 min, and only once did I barely
finish my note - time is NOT an issue really. The whole exam went by quickly.

You will probably get a phone interview (be sure to auscultate and palpate the
handset) and a case of mom but no child.
You cannot write on the sheet before they start the 15 min, nor do you know what
you're getting yourself into, and they collect your notes after every encounter
(after you write your note, of course).

When they said "examinees, you may now...", what I did was reveal the patient
data sheet, jotted down name, CC, vitals, the whole HPI/PMHx/PE stuff, and a list
of differentials to think about before kicking the door down - takes about 30secs.
Also, I actually visited the exam center the day BEFORE the exam to know how to
get there, where to park, where the elevators are and where the office is - takes a
lot of stress off on exam day. I drove straight home after the exam (don’t forget to
adjust for time difference).

Good luck!

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