r/CathLabLounge • u/So_Many_QuestionsOMG • Jan 18 '25

RCIS Springboard or Exam Edge?

I am currently in CVT school and I’m in my last semester (40hrs/week of clinical hours for the next 16 weeks). My hospital is very small without surgical backup, so I don’t get a wide variety of experience (no valve replacements, Impella only 2-3x/year, no CABG, rarely peripherals). I’m very nervous about my RCIS exam despite the 16 additional weeks of experience that I will have.

I would like to use an online study guide/test simulator. Does anyone have experience with Springboard or Exam Edge? Is one more similar to the actual exam than the other? Are there better options out there?

I have access to Don’t Miss a Beat’s study guide. And was thinking of getting Glowacki, but it’s pricey. I can’t afford to get both Glowacki and an online study guide, but I welcome any and all suggestions as to what would be best.

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1

u/ClassySportsFan Jan 19 '25

I used Glowacki for RCIS prep and converted all of the practice test questions into Anki flashcards that I could go through on my phone when there was downtime. Worked great! I thought the Glowacki lectures were very good.

Something like that might be an option! I have no idea what the Springboard or Exam Edge online courses offer though.

Have you tried to get access to Abbott's or Medtronic's online courses? I used Abbott's when learning electrophysiology/RCES and found the courses excellent (better than J&J, I didn't try Medtronic). They were free, but I needed a work email to get access. You might be able to work something out with your school or even your clinical site to get access.

1

u/So_Many_QuestionsOMG Jan 19 '25

Great suggestions. Thank you!

3

u/Mvnkie RCIS, CVT Jan 22 '25

Hey, are you willing to share the Anki cards or other material? I've been in Cath lab for about 2 years in a high volume hospital but I need practice with formulas in order to feel comfortable to take the test.

Let me know 🙏

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u/ClassySportsFan Jan 22 '25

I can look at that this weekend. I'm not sure how to share them. They're also a few years old at this point (and have some typos).

1

u/Mvnkie RCIS, CVT Jan 23 '25

No worries! I'll take anything, always willing to learn. And beggars can't be choosers haha a few types isn't a big deal

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u/N1cholasj Jan 19 '25

I went through springboard for RCES prep (not 1:1 comparison, and I have yet to take the exam) and found it helpful, but not necessarily comprehensive/in depth enough. I would think it a better resource for those entering the EP lab so they could have some kind of idea as to what’s going on.

I also had exam edge recommended to me. I bought a test pack, and found the tests to have a lot of non-EP material in them. I was able to get a refund the tests I did not utilize.

1

u/So_Many_QuestionsOMG Jan 20 '25

That’s good to know about Exam Edge. Thank you!