AANP Certification Exam

Nursing Students NP Students

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Well, I took the AANP certification exam today and failed. It was the most horrible feeling in the world.

I took the Barkley live review seminar. It was three jam packed days and they sent us home with a notebook of everything covered. They made a very big deal out of stating they have a 99% passing rate for the exam if you know the material they covered.

Well, I knew it backwards and forwards, practically memorized the entire notebook. And to be honest, I would have done just as well if I had never even opened the thing. It literally only helped me with about two questions. I am so disappointed.

It's so nice to be in the 1% group. Now I don't know what to do. I guessed at probably at LEAST half the questions. It was very hard! What's bad is you don't know which questions you got right or wrong.

I was not nervous at all so it was not test anxiety. It's like I just knew absolutely nothing. The whole test was clinically based but the answer selections were just so confusing.

If it weren't for student loans to pay back I think I would not even bother taking it again.

I'm open to suggestions on how to study now. I actually thought I was well prepared when I went to take the test but obviously NOT!

I'm going to go sit in my recliner and bask in my depression now!

Hi Dixiecup,

So sorry to hear what happened. At least you know that you are not alone. I remember when I took the ANCC ANP exam, I was soooo stressed out and started to forget things while I was taking the exam. I thought I failed it because it was so hard and I have very bad test anxiety. Let's just say I passed, but not by the biggest margin.

You have some things on your side. You have taken the test once already so you know what the next one will look like to some extent. Also, this gives you an edge of how to study for it. It also helps to have a study partner if you don't have one already.

I wish you the best and will say a prayer for you the next time you sit for the exam.

My $.02 would be to take the ANCC exam for no other reason than Margaret Fitzgerald teaches certification review seminars throughout the country and sells a review book that very adequately can prepare you for the ANP/FNP exam. I did both. She prepares you for test questions, style, how to approach questions, etc and her pass rate is phenomonal. Seminars are available online and on CD as well-she has a very engaging style that is easy to listen to. Well worth the money if it helps you land the job you want. Otherwise, I have been able to earn CEU's free online through Medscape. After you register, they keep track of your cumulative totals by year, which is nice if you have to prove them for licensing purposes. They also will separate out pharm credits for your prescriber license. Good luck to you, you will pass-many do not get it on the first go round. Ivory tower and all that you know....

Hello,

I also recently within the past week failed my AANP exam. I unserstand the devastation. I immediately sent off my application for the ANCC. I have not received a letter from AANP so do not know exactly where my weakness is...but I saw things on that exam that I have never heard of. Anyway does anyone know where I go to find the ceu's that AANP will accept in case I need to take that exam again. I am determined to pass one of these exams.

Thanks for any information

They don't give you a very specific answer on where your weaknesses are. They have free CEU's on the AANP website. I am just doing all off them and sending them in. I am going to try the AANP one more time and hopefully pass. If not, I guess I'll try for the ANCC.

I feel your pain!

Patrik I send in my application to re-test to AANP and they excepted what I sent them for the 15 CEU's. I went to the AANP website and they have a CEU link. It was alot easier than I thought. If you want to chat about the exam my email is [email protected]. We can compare notes for the next ti,e we take it! AHHHH:mad::uhoh3:

SNAPPY NP, would you be so kind as to let em know how the test was? If you get a chance before you take the test drop me an email [email protected], I will tell you how my test was. :mad:

I just finished my CUE's. I'm sending my app in tomorrow!

Specializes in ER and Aesthetics.

Hey I did not pass my exam as well. I just got my results and I took my test April 3. I went to AANP education page, free CE for non members, I did all 15 within a few days. I am mailing off my stuff today. Let me know if you need anything. [email protected]

Well, I am sorry to hear that you did not do well on exam. I too took the live Barkley review and I also failed. Yes, they kept saying that if you knew their notebook that you would pass the exam. I can only remember a few questions that the notebook was helpful with. I have applied to take the ). Thr only problem I have now is that I have been so depressed since failing it that I can't get the energy to study again. There is so much information to go over for 150 queations. The questions on the exam blew me away. Some of the questions were even difficult to understand. The answer choices sometimes were vague. But, thousands of people have passed it so I figure it has to be something I am doing wrong. I am just not sure what. But for now I need to work myself out of a depression and get back in the book. There is a review book by Leik that some of my classmates that have passed reccomend.....check it out. Good luck to you and God bless.

Well, I am sorry to hear that you did not do well on exam. I too took the live Barkley review and I also failed. Yes, they kept saying that if you knew their notebook that you would pass the exam. I can only remember a few questions that the notebook was helpful with. I have applied to take the ). Thr only problem I have now is that I have been so depressed since failing it that I can't get the energy to study again. There is so much information to go over for 150 queations. The questions on the exam blew me away. Some of the questions were even difficult to understand. The answer choices sometimes were vague. But, thousands of people have passed it so I figure it has to be something I am doing wrong. I am just not sure what. But for now I need to work myself out of a depression and get back in the book. There is a review book by Leik that some of my classmates that have passed reccomend.....check it out. Good luck to you and God bless.

Thanks for all of the words of comfort and understanding. Thanks for the information in how to get ceu's. I have decided to get up out of bed and get to my computer. I am kind of lost about how to restudy. Obviously, what I did before did not work. This site has been a great source of inspiration for me. Thank you all so much! Any ideas on how to restudy I would appreciate. I took Barkley review live a few months ago...but do not think it was very helpful....with the test I took anyway. Any suggestions????

Patrick21

Yes, I thought the Barkley review was a waste of my time and money.

Like you, I counted about 3 questions on the test that I knew the answer from taking the review course. I emailed the guy giving the course and told him of my disgust and it's been two weeks and he hasn't even had the decency to email me back.

I am going through the Fitzgerald review book. Don't know if it will help but we gotta do something! I am also going to review my phamacology book from my NP program.

I am also at a loss of exactly what to do now. I'm almost thinking that they have a new test template or something because I have never heard of so many people failing before. Almost everyone I know has passed on the first time except for the last couple of months. Strange.

I thought the questions were extremely hard and numerous of them did not even make any sense or I had never even heard of the content.

Go to the AANP site and start taking the CEU's. It will get you motivated a little and some of them do have some good review information!

Good luck.

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