To those of you who have taken ANCC- a few questions...

Specialties NP

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Specializes in Urology NP.

I am graduating in two weeks with my MSN/FNP and so naturally am thinking ahead to boards. I am planning to take ANCC and I have a few questions to those of you who have taken it.

How long after your graduation date did you have to wait to take boards?

I work in a private practice (have for the last nearly 10 years) and my physician/employer is very anxious for me to be up and running so the sooner the better.

Did any of you choose to pay to expedite the process ($200 charge)? If so, how much time did this save you and do you recommend it?

When did you start studying? Ideally I would have liked to start by now but not realistic due to being in last semester+capstone+working+24 clinical hours per week+11 month old that decided to start walking at 10 months. :)

Thanks in advance.

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I guess I waited about two months or so to take the ANCC. I started studying about 2 weeks after graduation, and I felt I pretty much took the max amount of time to study based on reports from my peers. That said, I have children and a busy home life, so I had to squeeze in study time whenever I could, and I just don't have hours and hours to devote to it ...so that probably dragged it out for me.

I am not aware of the option to pay extra to expedite the process. I think that stinks that they try to extort even more money out of anyone ...they ARE extremely slow in their process ...but to ask for more to speed it up? That just annoys me, lol.

I know employers want you to "speed up," but you get this from everyone. I started a job recently, and started earlier than I was really ready for ...as a result, I am SO tired and just struggling to catch up on sleep and just general relaxation time, of which I have had NONE since I graduated.

If you can, ask them to be patient ...do it at the pace that is right for you. You can't start a job burnt out ..that is what I've done and I'm regretting it. After your boards, take a week off if you can ... you will need it. It was a very draining and emotional experience for me and I just wish I'd told the world to WAIT a bit before I started working again. I guess i'm thankful to have work, but I'm TIRED!

Good luck and enjoy your little one most of all!

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Specializes in Trauma 4yr Flight 8mn.

If they want you to speed up, ask them to foot the 200$....

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I agree with the above.. have them pay if they want to speed up the process. I graduated in May 2013, applied right after I graduated and received my authorization to test a few weeks later. I would not pay the extra money... because as soon as I got my authorization, I would've been able to test a week later. There were plenty of test date options so I could've taken it really soon or really late. I graduated in May and did some review here and there, but didn't really study hardcore. I did practice tests 2 weeks before I tested which I bought from familynpprep.com... which I highly, HIGHLY recommend. I test at the end of July and passed on the first try. Good luck!

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Specializes in family nurse practitioner.

Thats a hard test to study for as it is mostly non clinical questions. Start studying now...get out your research, theory and policy books. They changed the test recently as well..multiple multiples. You may not need to study super duper hard, but I would at least make a plan and start chipping away at it. Congrats! Looks like you have a job lined up and a lil one. Double congrats! YAY

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I agree with Tinabeanrn - have a plan. I started studying seriously about two months before the test. I kept doing practice tests to find both my strongest and weakest areas so I would know where to focus my energies. I took my ANCC exam in psych but I found that the test questions were not nearly as straight forward as the practice questions. This is not an exam for which you can memorize. It's much more important to be able to figure things out. Just my opinion.

When I started studying I told myself I would not let myself do anything else until it (the exam) was over. I work full-time, have a family, and we're also trying to sell our house, so that was easier said than done. Ultimately, it all paid off!

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