aanp exam

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 29, 2014

Well I take mine tomorrow and I feel pretty ok about it. I've used Hollier/ APEA review CD's. I've listened to them about 4 times through now. Also I really like Leik's intensive review though it does have some issues but overall seems good.

Using these two seem to really help me. On practice questions I'm consistently scoring 70's-80's.

Also make sure you read the question WELL. A chunk of the ones I miss are because I misread the question.

nkumar · Dec 30, 2014

All the best. Good luck.

Please let me know how you make it. I did listen to the cd's but I feel like I'm still making silly mistakes

MikeFNPC, MSN · Dec 30, 2014

Take the AANP practice exam. It's very similar to the questions I had.

nkumar · Dec 30, 2014

Thanks Mike. I took Barkley's course and as he says do I have to memorize ( master) the whole book???

MikeFNPC, MSN · Dec 30, 2014

No, you don't. I took his course immediately before sitting for the exam. Some of his material was almost word-for-word on the test. I'd also been listening to his CD's for about a year on and off. His course is right off the CD's, even his jokes, lol. The book let me know where to brush-up. I made note cards and furiously reviewed them for 2 days then took the exam. I thought the test was easy. They give you 3 hours to take it, I finished in 1.5. I'm no genius for sure, but if you've studied, just use common sense and you'll pass. When are you taking it, and I'll say a prayer for you to be less nervous?

nkumar · Dec 31, 2014

Hi Mike Thank you so much for being so supportive. I took it once and didn't make it that's why I'm going crazy. I don't know where I went wrong. Always been a A student and now this. Very hard to accept.....

Happy New Year to you and your family!!!!

MPH to FNP · Dec 31, 2014

Hi Nkumar,

I took the AANP exam yesterday, 12/30/14, and passed.

I used every minute of the 3 hours to take the exam (I'm just a slow test taker).

I wouldn't say that the exam was easy. And like someone else said in another post, I often found myself hovering over two answer choices. However, I had encountered the vast majority of concepts in the resources below.

For preparation I used:

-Hollier's live review course (July 2014)

-APEA Q-bank questions

-Leik's intensive review

Ideally, I should have started studying immediately after the live review course while it was still fresh in my mind. But I was still in clinicals and working, so I was not able to stick to a consistent study schedule; and I was not feeling confident at all (so I chickened out and paid the $50 fee to reschedule my exam). Finally, I quit my RN job at the end of November in order to exclusively focus on exam preparation. My study strategy was to do as many practice questions/tests as possible. It seems like that last month of intensive study (8-10 hrs/day) did the trick for me, as I felt much more prepared. I start my new FNP job on Jan. 20, 2015!

Good luck and Happy New Year!

nkumar · Jan 1, 2015

Hi,

Congratulations.. Thanks for your guidance. I think I need to do more practice questions.

Happy New Year.

Laura.NP, MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 2, 2015

I found Fitzgerald (both the live review, CDs, and book) to be quite helpful. In addition I bought the APEA Q-bank and studied from that for about a month prior to taking the test. While I didn't think the Q-bank's questions were strikingly similar to AANP's it got me to answer many questions in a timed format. Moreover, it prompted me to review, in great detail, topics that I was weak in.

Also, I utilized the white board to its fullest while taking the test. Once entering the room I wrote down various mnemonics (e.g. cranial nerves and their function). While I knew this information, it put me at ease to know that the information was at my fingertips should I "freeze" during the test.

nkumar · Jan 3, 2015

Thanks Laura for your tips.

overwhelmed72 · Jan 4, 2015

Hi there. Just to let you know, you are not alone

. I too failed the exam in December. I have been needless to say extremely sad and overwhelmed with the fear of failing it again. I am however back at the drawing board again. I took a much needed break after failing it along with the holidays. I am using my notes, review books, and doing my own note cards. Keep me posted as to how you are holding up.