AANP-How I passed.

Published

Hi all!

I passed my FNP AANP exam today and I just wanted to share a little of my experience with anyone who may be stressing out.

I studied for about 3 weeks prior to the exam by using the Fitzgerald online review, her workbook, and Leik's review guide. I also used questions from the APEA question bank but honestly felt like they were a waste of time.

As far as practice questions go, I feel like they are a double-edged sword. Yes, I learned a lot by answering questions and reading explanations, BUT I also felt like I caused myself a lot of undue stress by equating my practice test score with how I thought I would do on the exam. DON'T do that!!! The practice questions are not similar to the exam and my scores on them did nothing but discourage me.

Also, I can't stress enough about the BASICS. Know your antibiotic tx, childhood development, Htn medication, etc...

Are there random questions from out of left field...Yes, but I don't feel like there is really a good way to prepare for those AND there really aren't too many of them. I felt like a got a lot of women's health questions, but again, all the exams are different.

Good luck everyone!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Reading your post made me feel hopeful!

I am currently using a Winland-Brown/Dunphy book and there are a ton of statistical questions, most common, least common, etc.

I was under the impression the exam is scenario based. is that correct?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes. Lots of scenario based questions. "A 74 year old patient comes in with these lab results and/or these complaints" etc...

Some straight forward questions.

I'm not familiar with the book you are using, but I think I only got one statistical question.

Fitzgerald and Leik are the books I used (word of mention though...apparently there is an edition of Leik's book that has a lot of inaccurate information. She has since reprinted it without the errors, but keep that in mind if you are purchasing.)

I honestly would not recommend studying for an extended amount of time after graduating (ie all summer!). You want your knowledge to be fresh, you want to be comfortable with the BASICS in all systems, and you don't want a lot of extraneous information information clouding your judgment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Point well taken. thank you LizRN. i've been studying (for real) for about 3.5 weeks and am planning on taking it in July. i don't want to wait too long for the reasons you mentioned and besides .... i don't think my brain can handle much more!

I studied out of Leik (which had crazy errors) and the one I mentioned which got some pretty bad reviews on Amazon. SO - i'm switching to the Fitzgerald and Hollier books because people seem to have more faith in those.

thank you for the feedback!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Trauma, Anesthesia, Education, etc..

Congrats on passing the exam:smiley_aa

You must be soooo relieved! Thank you for the advice! I am focusing on Fitzgerald and the APEA reviews. Would you suggest focusing on the info provided in the Fitzgerald workbook? My head is seriously spinning!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, substance abuse, MR-DD.

Yes, Congrats!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

FNPGrad: Fitzgerald was awesome. I used her book almost entirely. However, I do think you should be supplementing that with something else since she doesn't cover the less common diseases that can crop up on the exam. I used Leik (not for the basics, but for the other information). Leik isn't as up to date with the stuff that Fitzgerald covers so I would only use that book for the stuff she doesn't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've also heard good reviews about Hollier.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just took aanp and failed!!!!!!!!! I am devastated!!!!!!!!! Humiliated!!!!!!!!! I have been working already!!!!!!!!! I took review and bought an extra fitz cert exam and pract prep book for 60 bucks...took 2 fitz online pract tests.......needless to say i am mad!!!!!!!!

None of the questions were like review!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

what were the questions like?? did the majority of your study focus on Fitzgerald? what other books did you use?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.

Liz, you give such great advice. The tests are written for the basics. The review tests/books really are to help define weak areas and you're right, most of the questions are scenario based. I found the AANP to be so much more so than the ANCC. Not sure if there is any ONE way to study for these.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats to all who passed! Has anyone used Kellerman to study?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion