Adult CNS-EXAM

Specialties CNS

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FluffyNipper

14 Posts

Specializes in psychiatry, addictions.

I feel bad for you. My heart goes out to you. . . . After such a long preparation to fail an examination is a crushing defeat.

I am dismayed at what I face. Here is my story: I am 66, retired, and contemplating a return to work as a PsychCNS after a long period of employment in a state that did not previously require the CNS exam.

I got my MSN in psych in 1988 (Pittsburgh) and worked in a variety of MSN-CNS jobs including Nurse Manager (6 years), clinician (12 years, some of them while in school), and a variety of CD positions. I want to relocate to another state that requires the CNS certificate (Texas did not require it when I registered here in 1995.)

I am taking ANCC's online preparation course for PsychNP since it seems to be about the same as psych CNS. The course seems helpful. I also gave a first try at their online set of test questions (150 of them, I think $99; you can take these tests as many times as you want to for a period of 3 months.)

I was dumbfounded when I scored about 63% on each of the two 75 item tests.

A lot of the questions made no sense to me or they referred to theories or factual issues that I have never heard of in spite of my having read extensively since I got my MSN (plus I took 15 more post-MSN credits at a local university (Incarnate word)).

I found a lot of the questions vague and poorly written. Sometimes several answers seemed correct or no answer appeared correct. (I have written professionally but not in nursing.) A lot of the answers could well be a matter of opinion. The stem of the questions often lacked essential facts for making a good decision. A lot of them I found to be tricky and I wonder if they were designed to trap you into giving the wrong answer.

I have two bachelor's degrees, one in liberal arts and one in nursing, and none of my tests in the liberal arts even approached the vagueness or elusiveness of the ANCC test that I just took a stab at.

I am fortunate that I can "take it or leave it" as it is not necessary for me to return to work as a CNS (and I could always stay here in Texas or go to one of the other states that don't require the ANCC exam to practice as a CNS.)

I wish you the best of luck in your future preparations for another possible exam. The ANCC practice exams and review course(s) are probably good preparation for the real test. They at least should give you and idea of what to study. Good luck!

Hello all.

I completed my MSN program in december, and sat for the Adult CNS exam yesterday... and i FAILED! such an embarrassment, humiliation, failure, I was so sure of myself and this test... everyone I talked to said not to worry, no need to really study. I do not know what went wrong, some of the questions were so vague, I could not even eliminate to the top 2 choices.... I did not do the online review course, regretting it now, all I did was read through a book I bought online and some material from my MSN program... I scored low in research, which boggles my mind since i was a research assistant and published in a few journals!!

so now i am having no luck contacting the ANCC regarding the new test blueprint. not to sure which test I have to take now!

anyone else in this desperate situation??? the test blueprint changes on April 5, 2011.... oh gosh, tears are starting again :crying2::crying2:

so disappointed and lost right now

:confused:

FluffyNipper

14 Posts

Specializes in psychiatry, addictions.
thanks for the uplifting message. I went away for the Labor Day Weekend and feel a little better now!

I'm going to check out the Barclay & Assoc. group that you cited in one of your earlier posts, too. Looks like my reviewing and studying might be interrupted to have an artificial cardiac pacemaker "installed" (is that the right verb?). I've been bothered by HR's as low as 40, so I guess it is time to have it done. I'm afraid the procedure and the anesthetic will further interfere with my studying and concentration and the cd's that Barclay offers will allow me to study at my own pace. I might be about 75 before I get around to taking and hopefully passing the test!!!!! Once again, good luck 2 u! Bob

infect

4 Posts

hello

infect

4 Posts

I took the adult cns exam in August and got 345. needed 350. what was strange to me was out of the the 4 sections I scored high in direct care and low in the other 3 sections, yes 3. then only failed by 5 points. strange to me. I did the correct study things, read hamric, bastable, did 2 fitzgerald np books for extra questions and answers, flash cards other peoples old study stuff etc. ordered just about all the review info that the ancc had on the web for cns and a few np things - question/answer tests. not all real helpfull. test questions were as i have never really seen. well at least half were. did the teleconference too but that was more of an outline. just didnt do good on the test, felt I a little rushed towards the end. I guess was actually overprepared just missed a few more than I could afford too. I will keep reviewing now and retest. I was told to really look at the test outline on the ancc site as I did before but this time I am going line for line and word for word to look up stuff. any advice ?

infect

4 Posts

any ideas

ziad1986

1 Post

Hi!

I am Juan and I also took the Adult CNS Exam March 2011. I graduated in December and started stuyding for the exam January 2011. I purchased the audio review offered by ANCC, Mometrix review, and the Fidzgerald Adult Health NP questions and answers book. I passed my exam and I believe the combination of these three elements helped me. I studied for one hour or so every afternoon. Sometimes, I felt my study time was truly great and others, I just was not able to concentrate. I believe the Mometrix had a good review since it was based on the topics covered in the exam. I found the test taking strategies truly work. But, you need to remember them and of course being able to know at least some of the wrong answers in order to apply them.

I truly recommend to review the material, take lots of practice exams. Review the answers and retake them at least once or twice until you achieve 85% or higher in the score. Read the rationale of each answer.

Reviewing the material is truly important. Spend a couple of months reviewing and practicing exams. Do not take the exam without stuyding.

Good luck!

Juan

hi Juan!!! congratulation !! i have many questions!! i am a foreign nurse and am not familiar with what you said!!

1- i searched the net for "Fidzgerald Adult Health NP questions and answers book" but i don't find it , would you please send me the specific title of this book ?

2- You said that you used the Blue Print ?? do you have a specific link

3- Mometrix review ???? i dont understand well !! would you please explain !! and if any body know ,would you please help me

infect

4 Posts

What audio. I didnt find an adult cns audio rev on the ancc site. I found a np one but it was pretty much the same as reading np books or fitzgerald books. What was the cns audio

JoMo

4 Posts

hi Juan!!! congratulation !! i have many questions!! i am a foreign nurse and am not familiar with what you said!!

1- i searched the net for "Fidzgerald Adult Health NP questions and answers book" but i don't find it , would you please send me the specific title of this book ?

2- You said that you used the Blue Print ?? do you have a specific link

3- Mometrix review ???? i dont understand well !! would you please explain !! and if any body know ,would you please help me

Just go to the internet and search for' Mometrix' and a black and gold paperback book comes up called Mometrix. There are several that are separated into different disciplines-CNS-adult, or pediatrics etc.

It's more or less an outline format containing the information listed on the ANCC outline for you to study from. Mine cost about $40 18 months ago.

I really did not like it that well. But plenty of others here have given it a good review, so it's worth a try.

I can not help you with the Fitzgerald.

Good Luck!

bsnanat2

268 Posts

Specializes in ..

Just thought I'd share...this guy is a man of color who is inspiring for his nursing skill, not the fact that he is black and may be of foreign descent. I've rarely been moved in my life but this guy made me so proud to be a nurse and he is why I want to be a CNS. Check him out. He can inspire us all.

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

You are so right - what a wonderful video! Sloan-Kettering should be very proud of him and their nursing staff.

Zuni

1 Post

Specializes in Diabetes Education and Management.

WOW! I am in a similar position as FluffyNipper (not quite 60). I was thinking about taking the Adult CNS exam. I received my MS in 1996 and took the Community Health CNS exam and then took the Advanced Diabetes Management exam. Both of these are no longer ANCC certifications. I am having a hard time finding a job because I live in a small town. The CNS credential is not recognized and I have specialized in diabetes management too long which limits me for other positions. Plan B is to get into a post masters NP program.

Sounds like there is an opportunity for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit to provide some coaching/mentoring.

dwagner100

2 Posts

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories of struggles and successes. I'm trying to find on-line study guides - like on-line test taking examples for the Psych CNS exam. Does any one have any thoughts or ideas where I can find these tools?

Thanks,

David

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