hey guys I thought i would post this in here for anyone who hasn't taken the exam yet. some one asked me a question and this was my response
....
first, don't be nervous be confident... you have been studying hard and with a few weeks left you will study harder!!!
a few tips:
if you study hard and have looked of everything... more than likely you will be able to narrow your choices down to 2!!! at this point you have to figure out why one is true and the other is false. this is why many people come out of the test saying you either knew it or you didn't. it is specific but at the same time a straight forward question.
Law: you have to nail every question or as close to every question you get for Law. I had anywhere from 15-20 Law questions. some where simple and straight forward where they might ask you about how many years a record should be kept type of question. while others you will be able to narrow down to 2 choices and have to figure out why one is false and the other is the best choice. I felt really good about the law portion of my exam.
study material:
first time I took the test:
I only had the blue book weisman. I read the book once and then did the questions in the back of the book twice.
Second time I took the test:
-I got the RxPrep Law review. (I recommend this 100%) I literally watched the videos and kept up in the book at least 10 times. (it takes anywhere from 4-6 hours to get through the video lectures). then I narrowed in on things I couldn't remember off the top of my head like PSE sales/ who can get plan B otc or needs a script/ who can purchase syringes/ and def. how long records have to be held.
-I did the questions only in the wiseman book twice. (did not read it again)
- went to a website called quizlet.com and typed in CPJE and there were a lot of helpful flash card type question (but but but.... be careful because some of the information was incorrect since the laws are always changing. so make sure you know your stuff before jumping into quizlet)
my main focus was the RxPrep book and the exam question after each section after the videos.
Clinical: This is the tough part. it is as random as you think it might be. it is hard to prepare for but not impossible. some question will focus on pt. cases and ask you to change the therapy
some where straight forward asking to substitute one drug for another in the same drug class, you just had to know which drug was in the same drug class
some questions would give you a pt. profile and then a written rx and they would want to know if you will fill it or call the doctor or not fill it
some would give you a disease state and ask you which drug is for that disease state
some would give you a drug and ask you what disease is it for
some would just as for brand or a drug or the generic name of the drug
some where based on renal function and to adjust the dose
some where about infection disease drugs and classes
sOooOOOooo basically anything and everything!!!
study material:
first time i took the test:
Rxprep book and with two weeks left i purchased the entire rxprep package with the videos and exam bank (that was not enough time to review everything)
second time i took the test:
Rxprep book, videos, exams questions
I purchased a similar item to pharmacy chart from eBay. it was called (complete CPJE review 2017) it had law in it but
I did not look at the law in there because some of the stuff did not make sense and because i had the Rxprep law review online, i felt more confident and comfortable with the material they were providing me since they are continuously updating their notes. so i didn't look at the law part.
I review the videos/exams/ for all major topics (infectious disease, diabetes, asthma, copd, cardio, and anti platelet/stroke, renal/liver, etc) and then on top of that i review them again with the CPJE complete review packet) i wanted to know as much as possible about these disease states, the drugs, and interactions.
The other sections i watched the videos and just focused on disease state what what are the drugs that treat it.
I focused on big drugs that everyone should know or have an idea about like warfarin, amiodarone, methotrexate, etc... drugs that always come up
i reviewed the top 300 drugs, brand and generic like 5 times the week before the test so that they would be fresh in my brain.
and again lastly i did quizlet for quick question answer memorization
The exam:
some people say don't study the day before the exam... i am not one of those people!!! i rented a hotel room a block away from the test so i could walk there if i had to. i was alone all day and i sat there and watched all the videos in the RXprep law section. did quizlet and top 300 drugs.
i walked into the exam room and the first thing i did was write as much as i could on the sheet of paper they gave me.
on top of the paper i wrote 3 questions which i asked myself on every question i got even if it was a law question!!!
1. what allergies does the pt. have
2. what is their renal function
3. are they pregnant
you can not miss these things on the exam because this could help you narrow it down.
i wrote CrCl equation
IV compatibility acronym
Cpy450 inducers/ inhibtors acronym and any other acronym that i had memorized or was offered to me in the rx prep book.
from there I started the exam I was coasting through it at the beginning and then on the harder ones i made sure i took my time and asked myself what a few times why i am choice the answer i am choosing. question i had no clue about. i would look at the answer choices and try and remember things about the drugs and why it would be a good choice or a bad choice or if i see one of them more in practice of pharmacy.
and before i knew it the exam was over. i only remember like 5- 6 questions after the exam to look up and i got most of those right so i felt confident that i did good on the exam. I hope this help a little bit. if you have any questions please send my way. Good Luck... you will do great!!!!!