AANP Certfication Exam ( I failed it)

Teacher First · Jul 9, 2010

Please don't feel like a failure, it is a tough test. I have been a nurse full-time for 33 years and have worked in critical ICUs and almost 20 years in the ER, as well as having taught for over 26 years. I took the AANP exam last October, and I agree that it was quite different than I expected. I thought that a lot of the information did not look remotely familiar, then I started looking at the questions from a teacher's point of view:idea:!! I had "marked" 25 questions, and when I looked them over the second time, I tried to see exactly what they were asking for.....go back to nursing process, Maslow's Hierarchy, etc., and answered based on that. I really thought I had failed and was so excited to see that I had passed that I got tearful!

My heart was pounding throughout the test, I was spending quite a bit of time just trying to relax and calm myself down! Yes, I did pass, but I agree with someone else who posted that there needs to be a review of what is being taught in schools and what is being tested for on these exams. Good luck on your next exam!

Kangoshi_ · Jul 10, 2010

Mickey4 ... I am so sorry. do you usually have severe test anxiety? sometimes a little pre-exam anxiolytic can really help. i know that's not a customary suggestion, but it may be something to think about.

was the material on the test not covered in your review books? maybe we can suggest different ones to you. if you can think about what the hardest aspects of the test were, perhaps the group can help guide you on what to focus on.

we're all here for you!!!!

NPinNY · Jul 10, 2010

That was a great response from TeacherFirst... I took, and fortunately passed, my ANP exam not long ago. I studied hard, harder than I'd ever studied for any test in my life, and on top of this (by sheer luck of the draw) happen to be a really good test-taker... and STILL found it one of the most difficult and challenging experiences of my life. You can't help but feel that this moment is the culmination of all your years of work and study blah blah blah... and the anxiety this breeds can be, and certainly was for me, really, really awful. It can dull your acuity and slow your mental process to a crawl. I promise, if you looked at those questions now, in a non-pressurized situation, you'd breeze through most of them -- and the ones you didn't breeze through you'd think through to an informed guess with a good likelihood of success. For what it's worth, I spent a LOT of my time during the test telling myself to breath, relax, take a moment, maybe look around the room a little... reminding myself to go slow, re-read the question, identify the stem, and so on -- all in an attempt to stay calm and focused. I also reminded myself -- and hope you can remember too -- that a lot of excellent NPs have had to retake the test, sometimes more than once. It has nothing to do with how good you are, or how smart you are, or how hard you work. I could go on with what I'm sure will sound like cliches but it's true: this is just a setback -- not a defeat -- one you'll laugh about someday after you've been practicing for a while (which you will!). Like someone else said, go have some drinks, some laughs, and know that a lot of people have been where you are and are pulling for you now.

nurseguy1961 · Jul 10, 2010

I am sorry to hear so many are having such a hard time. I took the AANP yesterday and I thought it was the strangest test I have ever taken. The first 4-5 questions I had no idea, that really put me on edge. then as I progressed I got some i know I knew hands down but the majority were nothing that FItzgerald CDs or class even touch on. The other books I used didn't seem to help. As I finished I went back and reviewed the "marked" questions. Seemed I had more marked than not. by the time i finished and had to hit enter I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

It said I passed, I think. can't remember anything on that screen except those words. I am hoping I didn't miss something because I couldn't focus enough at that time to read the entire paragraph.

Anyone remember what it said when it told you you failed or passed. someone told me it says it in big bold letters

The testing site was no help, wouldn't tell me a thing. all i know that I am glad didn't want to do a rectal search, since they did everything else to me before I was allowed to start. Now I have to wait to hear from them more stress.

Say a prayer for me that I did pass, I don't want to have to ever do that again. I will keep all of you in my prayers as well.

Anyway, we will all get through. all my instructors said remember this is only "entry" level. Entry level to what?

mabritton · Jul 11, 2010

I just looked on the certification history on the AANP website. It has been three weeks since I took the exam and finally it showed that I had passed the exam. I could not remember exactly what the screen said after the exam. I took the APEA review and found it to be extremely helpful on the exam. This is the review that I would recommend and even if you are unable to go to the review, APEA has several review books that are helpful. There are also practice exams on their website. Good Luck!

mickey4 · Jul 11, 2010

Thanks everyone for your support. I took the Fitz review and used her 3rd edition of the review book. Someone let me borrow her CDs from 2004 and I listened to each one and it was the same replica of the review course that I attended because as I was listening to the CDs, Iwas following her with my notebook from the review class.

I also did the Dunphy review book that I bought during Fitz' review classes. I have the APEA book also. :idea:

I think the pressure on myself is that I have this job waiting on me... a job that several people, even some of my classmates applied for, and I was the one that got the job offer pending my passing of the boards. So I pushed myself on a deadline and now I am anxious. I gave them my word that I will take it by the end of August. My wish is that I can retake it by that time and successfully pass. The anxiety at that time is going to be that if I fail again, I can't retake til next year. Apparently, you can onbly take it twice in a year. I am trying not to tell anyone unless I absolutely have to because I don't want them to think of me differently and I don't want to lose credibility.

Dixiecup said she was able to retake in 6 weeks. I took my test last Thurs and my plan is to finish the CEs required to retake by the end of this weekend. There is a form that you can download to apply for retake, but it does not have an online link to submit it that I could see. I contacted someone on Friday via email and he said it is under forms and information- but that's just the downloadable forms. Dixiecup also said she did not wait for the formal paper. Dixiecup- how did you submit your retake app?

Kangoshi- I thought abt taking something, but I've never taken anything before. I did not want to fall asleep or be confused which will not help me on the test:lol2: It seems that the same topics were covered except that what Fitz had in her multiple choices were the ones given as the scenario and the exam was asking about a totally different aspect of it and because I was having an anxiety attack, I could not focus. I have never ever had this problem before. My test was at 1630 that day which would have been perfect for my brain, I used to work the 3-11 shift when I was at bedside 10 years ago. When I woke up that morning, I was already having palpitations, etc that by the time I took the exam, I was so drained already. I peed twice before I finally went in to take it.

Dixiecup · Jul 11, 2010

mickey4 said:
Thanks everyone for your support. I took the Fitz review and used her 3rd edition of the review book. Someone let me borrow her CDs from 2004 and I listened to each one and it was the same replica of the review course that I attended because as I was listening to the CDs, Iwas following her with my notebook from the review class.
I also did the Dunphy review book that I bought during Fitz' review classes. I have the APEA book also.
I think the pressure on myself is that I have this job waiting on me... a job that several people, even some of my classmates applied for, and I was the one that got the job offer pending my passing of the boards. So I pushed myself on a deadline and now I am anxious. I gave them my word that I will take it by the end of August. My wish is that I can retake it by that time and successfully pass. The anxiety at that time is going to be that if I fail again, I can't retake til next year. Apparently, you can onbly take it twice in a year. I am trying not to tell anyone unless I absolutely have to because I don't want them to think of me differently and I don't want to lose credibility.
Dixiecup said she was able to retake in 6 weeks. I took my test last Thurs and my plan is to finish the CEs required to retake by the end of this weekend. There is a form that you can download to apply for retake, but it does not have an online link to submit it that I could see. I contacted someone on Friday via email and he said it is under forms and information- but that's just the downloadable forms. Dixiecup also said she did not wait for the formal paper. Dixiecup- how did you submit your retake app?
Kangoshi- I thought abt taking something, but I've never taken anything before. I did not want to fall asleep or be confused which will not help me on the test:lol2: It seems that the same topics were covered except that what Fitz had in her multiple choices were the ones given as the scenario and the exam was asking about a totally different aspect of it and because I was having an anxiety attack, I could not focus. I have never ever had this problem before. My test was at 1630 that day which would have been perfect for my brain, I used to work the 3-11 shift when I was at bedside 10 years ago. When I woke up that morning, I was already having palpitations, etc that by the time I took the exam, I was so drained already. I peed twice before I finally went in to take it.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I did not wait for the formal paper to do the required CE's. You DO have to wait for the paper to re-apply because it has a number on it you have to submit. I probably could have re-tested in as little as five weeks, but stupid me, I sent in a whole other complete application instead of the re-take form on the website. So I was informed I submitted the wrong application and had to do it again. If it had not been for that I probably could have re-tested in no longer than 5 weeks.

lovely30 · Aug 5, 2010

Anyone taken the AANP recently? If so, can you guys pls give me any info. I am scheduled to retake this Friday but I am moving it to next Thurs.

mickey4 · Aug 5, 2010

Let me know how it goes. I am scheduled to retake mid Aug. For the ones who passed already- how long did it take to get the paper that states you passed, then how long does it take for the Board of Nursing to issue license after that?

FNPGrad · Aug 5, 2010

Good luck Lovely30 and mickey4! I will keep you both in my prayers. :hug:

I take the AANP for the first time on August 22nd and soooo want it to just be over! :no:

lovely30 · Aug 6, 2010

Thanks God!!! I passed. I took my

retake today n passed! It was too late for me to cancel it yesterday so I went shard n took it. Mickey, good luck on ur retake. Make sure u know what to prescribed if patient is allergic

to one antibiotic. I had lots of

those. Also, study rashes!!!!

mickey4 · Aug 19, 2010

For the ones that already passed after retake, when you fill out the credentialing questions- do you have to disclose that you failed the first time? Does AANP or ANCC give out our personal hx abt taking those exams to the Board of Nursing and employers?