I just thought I would post something about the two exams: AANC and AANP for family NP certification. I was in search of people's experiences with the two exams before I took them and maybe this will help someone else!
I signed up for the AANC exam and then became worried that I had chosen the wrong exam because it seemed everyone else I knew had taken the AANP one and the AANC exam has the added component of non-clinical questions. With continued anxiety, I decided to sign up for the the AANP exam and scheduled it for about 2 weeks after the AANC.
I did pass AANC exam. I debated about whether to take the AANP exam since I had passed the AANC, but the AANP gives no refund at all if the test has already been scheduled, so I decided to go ahead and take that exam as well. I passed the AANP exam as well.
For anyone trying to decide which test to take, I can offer the following:
For me, the AANC exam was much harder. The clinical questions required a more in-depth understanding of the conditions and treatments. There were a few questions showing pictures which required a very good understanding of what I seeing. The questions that pertained to research, cultural issues and professional issues were a real mix of easy and difficult.
As for the AANP exam, the clinical questions were shorter and more direct. There were no picture questions, no questions requiring multiple selections and no sorting questions. I used all of the 4 hours allowed for the AANC because I went back and reviewed a bunch of questions I had flagged. I did not need all of the 3 1/2 hours allowed for the AANP exam even after reviewing my flagged questions.
I studied quite a bit for the AANC exam. I did not study (during the 2 weeks between the two exams) for the the AANP - after the AANC, I was a little mentally fried;-). I had taken the Fitzgerald review well in advance of both exams and found the example questions to be similar to the AANC so I would recommend the Fitzgerald especially if you plan to take the AANC. I purchased the 2 volume review book set from the AANC and used that to study from. I found it to be very helpful for covering the clinical information but surprisingly, found the professional issues, cultural and research areas to be lacking somewhat. I also purchased the sample tests from the AANC. Those were pretty representative of the real exam but without any picture questions. In preparing for the AANC exam I would recommend reviewing some materials from your leadership/managerial course and know your levels of research. Also, make sure you know your medication categories.
Both tests required an understanding of physical examination tests and expected results. Both also covered required a solid understanding for diagnosis and treatment of the most common chronic conditions.
Some other sources I used for studying included the review book by Leik and the online questions at FamilyNPPrep. Although I purchased a package at FamilyNPPrep, I personally did not find it similar enough to either exam to really recommend it. I liked the book by Leik but did find it to have some mistakes - so be careful in using it!
That's about it! Hope this helps someone else who is as anxious as I was!
I think I will probably keep the AANC certification and drop the AANP rather than maintain them both, but if anyone has any opinions to offer on which one to keep or if there is any benefit to keeping them both, then I would appreciate the advice!
I failed the AANP 2 days ago and feel exactly the way you did. I am going to check out the Hollier online and go from there. Congrats on your pass! It looks like you took it the second time less than a month after your first attempt? Did you feel more confident when you took it the second time?
I have not logged in quite some time, so I've just seen your posts. Sorry to hear about your difficulties & I hope things work out for you in the long run.
Bizconchiz3, I was not confident at all when I took the AANP about 2 weeks after the AANC. I think I tend to underestimate myself so I thought I had a good chance of failing, but as it turned out, the AANC test was the more difficult one, clinically and otherwise.
For anyone studying for the AANC, the majority of the questions are the ones with clinical content so you need to spend the majority of your time preparing for those questions.
As for how to prepare for the non-clinical portion of the AANC, my best suggestion is go back to the texts you had in your 1) nursing research course, 2) nursing leadership/management course, & 3) NP ethics course. The most important content includes 1) levels of research, 2) basics of research vocabulary (like variables, controls, population, etc.), 3) understanding different study types & what is better (e.g. controlled, random sample with a large sample size is better than convenience sampling, with large sample & control), 4) basics from your NP ethics course concerning license maintenance obligations, privacy, etc., 5) a little of basic types of management theory (I think I did have maybe one or two questions of this type but I wouldn't spend as much time in this area.)
As I said before, the Fitzgerald course seemed very much geared towards the AANC, and if you are prepared for the AANC I think you would also pass the AANP as I did. The Fitzgerald course had the non-clinical portion in the supplemental portion required to complete the course, not in the live portion. If you decide to take Fitzgerald, complete the entire course, live & not live portions, and make sure you allow plenty of time for that, so you don't miss any of the subjects.
Success2014np, I would not judge the live NP courses on the live NCLEX prep courses. I also did not feel like the live prep for the NCLEX was all that helpful but I did feel like the Fitzgerald was a helpful prep for the NP exams (that may not be true for everyone and I hesitate to suggest that you take it since it is so expensive!). They are just completely different beasts. For me, the thing that I think it was helpful that I did not rely on just one source for study material. I did not make a point of just answering question after question. I spent plenty time actually reviewing content from my coursework as well as the other sources such as the ANCC texts.
I think BostonFNP might be suggesting that you owe it to yourself and your patients to be clinically well-prepared and that the clinical questions on both exams cover just the basics of practice (sorry if I misinterpreted, BostonFNP). I do agree with this, but I am so sympathetic to the extreme stress of exam taking. It's easy to psych yourself out about such a crucial single exam, plus, some people are just not good test-takers!!. I got a job soon after completing the exams and there just isn't time to be spent on the most basic aspects of the job so being well prepared is extremely important.
My experience is very similar to carWR (the initial post). I, too, started to doubt myself and signed up for both AANC and AANP. I also took AANC first and passed. I was so fried that I did not study anymore for AANP and passed that 6 days after AANC. I wasn't being cocky--just exhausted.
My first words of advice: Avoid reading all negative posts! It is easy to get stuck in the vortex of posts about inferior programs, lack of time to study and fears about not passing. One night at 0200 I read through all of the posts about having to take the test second and third times. That is when I got out my credit card and signed up for AANP after I had previously decided to take AANC and had already scheduled a test date. The next morning I woke up and I knew I had to stop looking at theses posts. I switched my approach. When I started to read a post about not passing, I would stop and silently wish the author well and move on. I mean no disrespect. We all have different experiences. The stress of graduate school, exit exams and boards is huge. I also literally stopped replying to texts and calls from downer classmates. This is a time where you really must take care of yourself.
As for preparing for the tests: I studied for 6 weeks. I took a week off after graduation and then hit the books.
-I went to a live Barkley review 3 months before graduating. I highly recommend his review course. I had been listening to all three review course CDs throughout my program (Barkley, Amelie and Fitzgerald). I would have gone to Amelie if she had a review in my area. Several of my classmates went to Fitzgerald and did not recommend it. I suspect it is because Dr. Fitzgerald was not there. I was told (and saw pictures) of several attendees with their heads on the desk asleep!
-I recommend signing up for the "Q-Bank" on the APEA site (Amelie Hollier) a month before your test. It is great to be able to quiz yourself on your phone or iPad at any time--you can monitor your weak areas and there are tons of questions.
-The main resources I used were the Barkley CDs/book and the Leik book.
-The Leik book gives you the majority of what you need to know about the non-clinical component of the AANC exam.
-Be sure to be really familiar with the different derm conditions. Look at lots of pictures of the classic presentations.
-Practice questions--I focused on the APEA Q bank, Leik and the questions available for purchase on the AANC and AANP sites.
Advice that sounds obvious (and some may sound kooky), but it really makes a difference...
-Do not study in bed. Use a desk or the dining room table. Beds are for sleep and (you know...).
-Make a schedule for each day with the topics you plan on covering. I found it helpful to sandwich areas that I was strong in around the weak areas. It is important to keep your confidence up.
-Study in blocks of 45-60 minutes at a time. Take breaks.
-If you get easily distracted at home, go to the library, Barnes and Noble or a coffee shop that is quiet.
-Every time you sit down to study say something positive to yourself--mine was "I am passing ANCC and AANP" and I would think about clicking "submit" and seeing "passed" on the screen.
-If you start to think about failing, find a way to stop that thought--I would envision a stop sign and try to redirect my thoughts. You will get to a point where you will not even let yourself think about not passing. Passing is the only option.
-Let your significant other know that you may have irrational mood swings and a sudden need to be alone. Let them know that you apologize in advance for anything you say or do before taking boards.
-Avoid ordering expensive test review books on Amazon at 3 in the morning. They have the same info as your other books and you won't have time to use them (and you already know this stuff!)
-Don't have chips or candy in the house! I swear I gained 10 lbs. between graduation and boards.
Thank yo very much for sharing your experience and recommendation. Now, I have a better view of the exam, and what I need to focus on. This is so unselfish of you. I learn from your experience. I am taking it in 4 weeks, please keep me in your prayers.
I swear I gained 10 lbs. between graduation and boards.
Bizconchiz3
1 Post
I failed the AANP 2 days ago and feel exactly the way you did. I am going to check out the Hollier online and go from there. Congrats on your pass! It looks like you took it the second time less than a month after your first attempt? Did you feel more confident when you took it the second time?