(Part 2) Best products from r/physicianassistant

Like almost 10% of PAs who responded to the AAPA yearly review, I'm in orthopedics.

I used Handbook of fractures during my first year. I literally carried it everywhere I went
I am using Surgical Exposures in Orthopedics to learn my anatomy beyond Netters
I use Orthobullets every day and am working my way through their residency 365 day core curriculum study plan
I used Pocket Orthopedics when I first started, but now I realize its a bit outdated
I used This Instrumentation Book when I first started to learn all the instruments
I used this Scrub Tech book when I first started
I used Essentials of General Surgery for basic floor management stuff

Hope that helps

This is a great resource, and only $32 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Certification-Recertification-Examinations-Assistants/dp/145119109X

I used a previous edition when I studied for the PANCE. I am actually taking the PANRE on Saturday and used a newer edition.

It has about 400 pages of content, a 300 question practice test and an online question bank (not sure how many).

When studying, practice questions are key. I also really like:

https://www.amazon.com/Physician-Assistant-Examination-Seventh-Allied/dp/0071845054

About $38 and has 1300 practice questions.

There is a book by Kaplan that is absolute garbage.

I'll echo what's already been said, don't waste money on an expensive suture kit. [These] (http://www.ethicon.com/healthcare-professionals/education/student-knot-tying-kit) are always on backorder but keep checking and eventually they get more... they are free.

The only thing I can't imagine doing without during my clinical (and something your program won't require) was [Pocket Medicine] (https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Medicine-Massachusetts-Hospital-Handbook/dp/1451193785/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478036929&sr=8-1&keywords=pocket+medicine). I am convinced this book alone can get you through 90% of your rotations... It was the only pocket reference I carried in my white coat for every rotation. It's the only pocket reference I STILL carry from school. I think a new version is coming sometime this month so you could wait for that!

My program director, who is/was a GI PA exclusively out of school, really liked Current Diagnosis & Treatment GI. She actually had us read it for our GI class and it seemed like a good overview.

Cold Brew Coffee maker. Save money and make the best tasting coffee on this earth right in your apartment.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FFLY64U/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1507823633&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=cold+brew+maker&dpPl=1&dpID=31%2BIc2UCSpL&ref=plSrch

I wouldn't pay as a student to get the advanced version of Epocrates. If the hospital has access to UpToDate and/or Lexicomp I would use those if you need more information. You could also purchase this pocket guide (https://www.amazon.com/Tarascon-Pocket-Pharmacopoeia-Classic-Shirt-Pocket/dp/1284095290/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467399861&sr=1-1&keywords=tarascon+pocket+pharmacopoeia+2016) if you really like. However, as a student you won't be prescribing medications so I would just save your money.

For Wilderness: Auerbach or the WMI/NOLS Handbook. There are also CME wilderness options out there through WMA.

Before PA school I was a ski patroller and SAR team member for almost 10 years. Having done a bunch of first aid in the woods, both Auerbach's book and the NOLS book are great for skills. More important than hard skills are decision making. To that end I'd highly recommend taking a wilderness medicine class. Or Avy I/II if you're a skier. The hard part is deciding when to make the call to evacuate.

Greenberg is the go to.

afterwards you should also get this one
and this one for the OR


as far as expectations, expect to not know a lot in the beginning. It's easier to learn things as you see them rather than trying to study everything at once. ICP management has some basic but also some specifics depending on the etiology. Look at every scan on every patient you have and compare to the previous when able, repetition makes you better as it will with most things. Don't shoot from the hip, if you don't know look it up and ask for clarification questions.

I'm not a CC guy, we have neurointensivists for that so I'm of no help there.

Here's the one I was talking about:
http://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Certification-Recertification-Examinations-Assistants/dp/1605477265/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380770283&sr=8-2&keywords=pance+review

Here's the Davis, which has better reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Daviss-PA-Exam-Review-Focused/dp/0803629516/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380770187&sr=8-1&keywords=pance+review

Here's my personal favorite:
http://www.amazon.com/Step-Up-Medicine-Series-Steven-Agabegi/dp/1609133609/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380770247&sr=8-1&keywords=step+up+to+medicine

I really, really recommend you read some of Atul Gawande's work, specifically "Better: A surgeon's notes on performance"

He covers a lot of what you are concerned about in this post at length. When I first became a corpsman I felt like I had way more power than I had knowledge - I had a core group of patients after just four months of school. This book really helped me come to terms with how little I knew, and stressed the importance of seeing these kinds of deficits as learning opportunities.

He's not a PA, but I can't hold that against him ;)

omg Blueprints OBGYN
It's one of the few textbooks that I can actually sit down and READ. it explains things very clearly.

https://www.amazon.com/Blueprints-Obstetrics-Gynecology-Tamara-Callahan/dp/1451117027

also PANCE PEARLS is a good supplemental for any specialty

Just wanted to reply with some links to see if these are the books are referring to.


I found both a standard text and pocket edition of Physical exam techniques by Bates. Is there a significant difference between the two besides size and perhaps less detail in the pocket edition?

http://www.amazon.com/Bates-Guide-Physical-Examination-History-Taking/dp/1609137620/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427548257&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=physical+exam+techniques+Bates

http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Physical-Examination-History-Taking/dp/1451173229/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427548199&sr=8-2-fkmr2&keywords=physical+exam+techniques+Bates

For clinical presentation, I found this on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Clinical-Encounter-Medical-Interview-Presentation/dp/0815113749/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427547965&sr=8-1&keywords=clinical+presentation


For Diagnoses and treatment "The Merck Manual" I found this

http://www.amazon.com/Merck-Manual-Robert-S-Porter/dp/0911910190/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427548053&sr=8-1&keywords=diagnoses+and+treatment+%28Current+2015%2C+Merck


Couldn't find anything on Harrison's anatomy on amazon. I currently have rapid interpretations of EKG, the latest addition as well.