Book Suggestions

[LTC 526]

I've seen posts about books for specific rotations but thought it might be helpful to add a forum for book suggestions for any of the rotations. This way, we can hopefully have them all in one place. I've heard the Lange Case Files for each rotation can be helpful. I also used Surgery Recall and Abernathy's Surgical Secrets for lecture and found them really helpful. They're filled with Q&As so they keep you entertained and hopefully will be a good prep for rotations.

 

Any other suggestions? Thanks!

[winterallsummer]

I put this in the main PA-S forum but I will repost it here:

 

During the didactic year you are overwhelmed with notes and recommended reading that are impossible to get through.  There is no shortage of material to study and it is easy to know what to focus on.  During the clinical year, there is a shift.  The recommended reading may or may not be helpful and there are many, sometimes expensive, "study books" that can be either greatly helpful or a total waste of time and money.

 

I am compiling this list to try to help out all students on clinical rotations.  It is a list of recommended books for each block.  I am basing my choices on three things:

 

1. How helpful was the book in getting a good score on the PAEA EOR exams.

2. How helpful was the book in actually understanding what to do on your rotation and figuring out what's going on around you.

3. How easy and enjoyable is the book to read.

 

For all rotations, if you enjoy videos, I recommend: http://www.onlinemeded.org/

(better for the test, more concise)

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/tomiwa007

(more entertaining but often too long and not as test useful)

 

 

With almost no exceptions, an older series of the book (1 prior edition) will completely suffice.  

Without further adieu, here is my list!

 

1. OB/GYN

First line: Blueprints - OB/GYN: http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/1451117027

Not all of the Blueprint series are good - some are totally worthless (IM and FM).  This book is concise, covers everything you need, and has a ton of questions after each chapter and one in the end.  Don't waste too much time bearing over complicated staging for GYN cancers or interpreting fetal heart monitors.  The rest of the book is a great investment.

 

Second line: Case Files - OB/GYN: http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/0071761713

Mostly a great and easy read, only sometimes superfluous.  This book also has lots of Q&A and is easy to finish fairly quickly.

 

Third line: Obstetrics & Gynecology: http://www.amazon.co...srch_res_rpli_4

You may have this left over from the didactic year.  Most of the information here is in blueprints and presented better in blueprints.  But if you finish the other two books and must read, this book is actually surprisingly useful for a textbook.

 

2. Family Medicine

First line: Case Files - Family Med: http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/0071753958

Covers most the common issue and lots of Q&A.  Very little unnecessary information, and an interesting read.

 

Second line: Swanson's Family Review: http://www.amazon.co...t/dp/1455707902

A great, great book that is more clinically useful than EOR exam useful, but will work well for both.  All Q&A format with lengthy explanations and a very readable format.

 

Third line: Step Up to Medicine: http://www.amazon.co...N/dp/1609133609

Actually an USLME 2 book, this is the only "outline format" book that is really worth a read, IMHO.  Detailed enough for the exam but not too much to bog you down.  Some mnemonics and very concisely organized.

 

Key Hint: Spend at least 1-2 days towards the end of your test reviewing your OB/GYN notes, and at least 2 hours reviewing your psych notes.

 

3. Surgery

This rotation often allows the least amount of time to read.  Do your best and always read on down time or when on call.

 

First line: Case Files - Surgery: http://www.amazon.co...E/dp/0071766995

Easy to read, somewhat superfluous but actually covers most everything on the exam.  If you have time to finish only one book, this is what I recommend.

 

Second line: Blueprints - Surgery: http://www.amazon.co...p/dp/0781788684

A bit too simple and more of a review for some, but it does cover a lot of heavy hitting test questions and is very readable.  Be sure to do the practice test in the back.

 

4. Psych

First line: Case Files - Psych: http://www.amazon.co...E/dp/0071753915

Okay so I really recommend case files.  There is no rotation that these books are not a huge help, IMHO.

 

Also First line: Pre-Test - Psych: http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/0071761012

This is equally as good as case files.  All test & explanation so less readable, but many questions from the EOR are on this, in different wording, one way or another.  In general, I do NOT recommend pre-test because they are not similar to PA questions but more like long paragraphs more in line with USMLE 2/3.

 

Extra credit: http://www.barnesand...n=9780940780675

Admittedly only somewhat useful for the test and somewhat outdated, this is actually an incredibly useful for psych (and medicine) on real life clinical scenarios.  Very easy and enjoyable read, as far as studying can go.

 

5. Internal Medicine

To some this is the most daunting exam to take.  IMHO, the FM and EM are both more difficult.  FM because it also includes ob/gyn, and EM for some reason was a little tricky.  So don't be intimidated by this.  In this test, you will hit a TON of "heavy hitter" questions - the popular ones you saw during didactic year.

 

First line: Case Files - IM http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/0071761721

This doesn't cover everything in IM, but most of it will be on the EOR exam in one way or another.

 

Second line: Step Up to Medicine: http://www.amazon.co...N/dp/1609133609

More useful for IM than FM.  Actually an USLME 2 book, this is the only "outline format" book that is really worth a read, IMHO.  Detailed enough for the exam but not too much to bog you down.  Some mnemonics and very concisely organized.

 

Third line: Wikipedia, CMDT.

 

6. Pediatrics

Let me preface by saying I had very, very few vaccination and milestone questions on my exam.  I chose not to study them and just guessed when I got them.  I ended up being very happy with that decision.  If you do study them, then do so while on rotation.  Before going in a room, glance at a table to know at least 1 milestone the infant should have, and if they are here for a vaccination, what shots they should get (assume they are on schedule).

 

First line: Blueprints - Peds: http://www.amazon.co...o/dp/1451116047

A very great book, this and OB/GYN of blueprints are both A++ and include questions after each chapter and a practice test at the end.  Covers nearly everything for peds and fairly readable to boot.

 

Second line: Case files - Peds: http://www.amazon.co...E/dp/0071766987

Half good, half bad.  The common conditions are great and well explained and you will see them on the exam.  But you must skip the esoteric questions (kid drinking goat's milk, baby with extremely rare congenital abnormality) and the complicated questions.  Still, readable and very useful!

 

Third line: Pre Test - Peds: http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/0071761233

 

 

7. Emergency Medicine

This was my first rotation and I didn't know what to read.  In retrospect, I recommend blueprints (read it - good but a little too simple) and case files (didn't read it but wish I did).  

 

8. In general

A week or two before your test, start taking practice tests.  Lange's PA review (http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/0071628282), the "official" guide's online version (http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/1605477265), and PAEasy are all solid choices.  If you have ExamMaster, do not waste your time.

 

Always balance your time between clinically useful and test-useful reading.  Do read about your patients and their conditions, but don't neglect preparing for the test.

 

Extra Credit

If you have time, I highly recommend

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/0683301675

and

http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/0940780801

 

Good luck and happy reading!

[LTC 526]

Wow, Thank you SO much @Winterallsummer!!!!! This is amazing. I really appreciate your help!!!!

[marktheshark89]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to make all the students out there aware of a book that is helpful for the surgery rotation. It is called "Surgery for the Physician Assistant" and is available at www.lcbellpress.com. As a current student who does not plan to go into surgery, but still needs the basics to be able to pass PANCE and EOR exams, I found this source to be very helpful. It provides an intro to the basics of pre and post-operative care of the surgical patients, and then has chapters divided by body systems that go through the major diseases that have indications for surgical interventions. There are also 100 PANCE practice questions included that were helpful. It a good resource to quickly read up on a surgical case the night before you scrub in and impress your preceptor. Hope you find it helpful too!