AANP failed

bethymaester · Aug 18, 2015

I don't know if this is helpful for you, but my strategy for AANP (and most tests like it) was to thoroughly understand the basics - ex. drug classes and commonly occurring disorders for each body system. I didn't try to learn every drug and disease, because I feel like you can pretty much figure out where the question is going without knowing every detail. I got a very good score with that strategy. Maybe try to approach your practice questions by looking at what general area you think it's addressing - like instead of focusing on xyz disease, identify it as a cardiac problem or ortho problem and use what you know about those issues to eliminate answers. Obviously that won't work with every question because you do need to know the major diseases and drugs! But I think you will do great the second time around, just keep steadily studying and don't stress out!

lcharris · Aug 18, 2015

Thank you! I will try that approach. That makes great sense :) I appreciate your help! I've been looking through a textbook from school to review basics. I'm hoping if I have a solid foundation in the patho that I will have better results.

blondenurse12, MSN, NP · Aug 19, 2015

I took the AANP exam a year ago. Personally, I think Fitzgerald is the biggest scam, it's useless and they provide nothing but a glossover. Leik's text is far superior and is extremely comprehensive. Study that and you should do well.

lcharris · Aug 19, 2015

I agree about Fitzgerald... I knew her entire book and everything in her lectures and still failed. I received Leik in the mail today and I've already seen some of my test content within a few minutes. Already love this book.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Aug 19, 2015

I found that you shouldn't memorize the information, but understand the physiology and be cognizant of the guidelines. I did Leik, Fitzgerald, and Hollier and did not find that the certification exam came anywhere close to the programs, but by using the information about reading the questions and answers really helped me as did the mnemonics to help remember things. Did you utilize the test banks?

lcharris · Aug 19, 2015

That makes great sense; thanks! I used ExamEdge practice tests. How do I access test banks?

Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Aug 20, 2015

Here is an article link in detail of what I did to pass the AANP that was posted here late last year. Above and beyond the most helpful thing was the APEA Q bank. The questions were harder than the real deal. If you didn't take the AANP practice test, also take that. I had a few word for word questions on the exam from the practice exam.

https://allnurses.com/student-nurse-practitioner/passed-aanp-fnp-964539.html

Did you wait 3 months after graduating to take the test? If so that might have been a stretch. If I recall correctly, during the Fitzgerald course they told us that students have the most success if they test within a month or so of graduating. I personally took my boards a month after attending the fitzgerald review and 2 days after graduating. The only people in my class that failed waited several months to test.

lcharris · Aug 20, 2015

Okay, great I'll try that those practice questions. I took it 3 months after I graduated; however, my program DID NOt prepare me at all. Classmates and I were talking about that... We basically had to prepare ourselves.

allnurses Guide · Aug 20, 2015

Okay, great I'll try that those practice questions. I took it 3 months after I graduated; however, my program DID NOt prepare me at all. Classmates and I were talking about that... We basically had to prepare ourselves.

Provide that feedback to the CCNE and/or ACEN! They should know your program needs improvement!

Did other classmates fail? How many out of what sized cohort?

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Aug 20, 2015

That makes great sense; thanks! I used ExamEdge practice tests. How do I access test banks?

I did not find the ExamEdge tests to be at all helpful! You can go on to APEA and look at the Q-bank...very good! The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program site also has a link for additional great tests.

tobyrn · Aug 22, 2015

I'm sorry. If we are in the same area may be we could study together. you can contact me at [email protected]

Alicia777, MSN, NP · Aug 22, 2015

I took the AANP exam a year ago. Personally, I think Fitzgerald is the biggest scam, it's useless and they provide nothing but a glossover. Leik's text is far superior and is extremely comprehensive. Study that and you should do well.

That's all I used. And I passed.. Never hurts to use more than one study guides though.