A week from Monday is my certification exam. I'm nervous!

suni, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

I took the AMSN certificatin exam and found that the less I study the better I did, relax

tokmom, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

How long ago did you take the exam? I wish I wasn't nervous, lol. I just feel like I don't know enough. It's not a good feeling!

kcardinalrn · Apr 18, 2012

I took the ANCC med surg certification exam late march. I was a total wreck! I took the study class in September and waited until almost the last minute to finally take it! Fortunately, I work well under pressure and I crammed all week and passed! I felt like I was taking my boards again! How did you do? What did you think about the test?

tokmom, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

I took the ANCC med surg certification exam late march. I was a total wreck! I took the study class in September and waited until almost the last minute to finally take it! Fortunately, I work well under pressure and I crammed all week and passed! I felt like I was taking my boards again! How did you do? What did you think about the test?

I passed and did well. I never want to do it again, lol. The questions, some of them anyway, were so random. It was weird. A friend just took it at the end of March..passed..and said she is still traumatized, lol. People ask me what they should study, and I honestly don't know what to tell them. I know three people that took the test and we all had different tests.

I really don't know how a nurse with only 2 yrs of med/surg experience could pass it without taking some sort of study course with guides on what to study. I pulled mostly on past knowledge because the study course I took didn't talk squat on many test questions.

Congrats on passing!

tokmom, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

Did the ANCC have a lot of scope of practice and ethics questions?

kcardinalrn · Apr 19, 2012

There were a lot of research an evidence based practice questions on my test. There were also a lot on specific meds and their side effects! Which really threw me as I didn't know any of them and couldn't figure them out from the suffixes or whatever! I'm just glad it's over!

kcardinalrn · Apr 19, 2012

I passed and did well. I never want to do it again, lol. The questions, some of them anyway, were so random. It was weird. A friend just took it at the end of March..passed..and said she is still traumatized, lol. People ask me what they should study, and I honestly don't know what to tell them. I know three people that took the test and we all had different tests.
I really don't know how a nurse with only 2 yrs of med/surg experience could pass it without taking some sort of study course with guides on what to study. I pulled mostly on past knowledge because the study course I took didn't talk squat on many test questions.
Congrats on passing!

You too! On my unit there was a binder with information from a previous study session that was held. It had an outline of different areas to study and about 10 CDs that had the study session recorded on them. I listened to the CDs while using the outline kind of like being at a lecture! I focused a lot on acid base balances and things that I thought I was not as strong with. I do agree with you though, it is like going over a&p and nursing school all over again! Like I said, I'm glad it is over, but I am going to be sure to keep up with my continuing ed so I stay current!!

tokmom, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2012

Oh I know. I'm not going to let this sucker lapse for anything, lol.

I was thinking I would have tons of acid base, and I had very few. Lots of meds, like you, and some I had never even heard of or given. My friends were the same way. Tons of endocrine for me. The oddest ones for me were a couple of penile implants and sleep study questions. OMG...who does sleep studies?

kayern · Apr 22, 2012

Congratulations.............now you never have to take it again provided you keep up with your continuing education credits and options. Keep an eye on the renewal requirements, maintain a binder with all your credits, log your professional organization involvement. Don't wait until its renewal time to get your records in order. I'm renewing two certifications this year and it was merely as easy as filling out the application because I kept very good records.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2012

Yes, I bought an accordian binder and am starting to stockpile. I have to have 15 per year for my license and 18 per year for the certification. I don't know with the ANCC, but with the AMSN, 75 of the credits have to be in med/surg and the rest can be professional developement. I'm worried about the med/surg and what really counts. I do a lot of committee work, and have helped develop the ED to Med/Surg flow that took weeks of designing. I'm not sure if all of those count.

What kind of professional involvement do you mean?

kayern · Apr 24, 2012

I just renewed my Nurse Executive with ANCC and had way more CEs and options than I needed. I'm sure AMSN I'll be fine, I've presented at their National Conventions and serve as Secretary for my Local Chapter.