AANP testing in August

Specialties NP

Published

Anyone taking the AANP test soon? I take it next week and I'm super nervous! I took it once a few months ago but was not prepared. I studied Hollier, Fitzgerald, Leik and dunphy winland brown. I did a couple practice exams and I'm scoring in the 70s. I really changed my pace and studied hard core for the last 8 weeks on top of what I already knew prior to taking the first exam. Anyone with last minute tips, I'd greatly appreciate hearing from you! My biggest battles are calming my nerves and staying focused these last few days.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine.

Get a low dose Valium 2 mg for the exam.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×

GraduateFNP,

I just took it the other day. I was a nervous wreck and cried on my way in and on my way out. I passed it but it was truly an overwhelming experience. Testing well in my mind is as much about your mind set as your knowledge base. You need to go in there believing and knowing that you know this. The day before I didn't study or work. It was just a day of relaxation. A day of reassuring myself that pass or fail I was going to be ok. It is a bummer to fail but ultimately worse case scenario I test again. Nobody is going to throw rotten tomatoes at me, it doesn't make me a bad person, or any less of a nurse. Once I accepted that I moved on to imaging that moment when I finished and "you pass" shows up on the screen. I reminded myself over and over that I know this stuff. I'm not cramming for a test here this has been years of building a knowledge base.

The night before I made sure to get plenty of sleep and drank tons of water. And I hate water. The morning of I ate well, and plenty! I didn't want to be hungry in there. I looked over some of the memorization pieces that I was still having trouble committing to memory. Mcmurrays sign, peds viral illnesses/rashes, and other definition type things-ACL-vagus maneuver. When I went in there before even turning on the test I immediately wrote that stuff down. That way I wouldn't get thrown off and panicked while in there. Everything I thought I had trouble committing to memory I wrote on the paper they allowed. As I tested and remembered other things I wanted to write down I'd stop and write them down. That way when those questions came up I just checked my paper. I tried to answer the questions before I looked at the choices. The Fitzgerald mnemonic for cardiac carried me in that section. And unless I had a really good reason, like really good objective reason for changing an answer I didn't. In the end I changed one. I went with my first instinct no matter how unsure or vague my instinct was. In the end it worked out. But it's nerve wracking for sure. Just keep reassuring yourself that no matter what happens its ok, you are ok. Breathe. Don't over think the questions. That's one thing that was obvious, they're direct questions they're not trying to trick you.

Keep us posted! Good luck, but you don't need it. You'll be fine.

Sarah

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SarahFNP,

Thank you for the advice! I do feel much more confident this time, but still nervous!!! I studied a much as I possibly can and my improvement on practice tests is really what raised my confidence this time. I can't wait to put it all behind me! It will feel like a huge weight lifted from my shoulders! The first time there were so many I was unsure of or had no idea. I hope with the increase knowledge it will appear to be a much easier exam. I'll keep you updated thanks for the advice!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.

Good luck on your test!

I focused only on my weak areas.

I studied mnemonics for things that just aren't sticking to the brain.

Day if test. Got plenty if rest.

Wrote down all my tips I memorized- such as the cranial nerves, anemia chart.

Took a break midway

Went through first time and answered what I was confident on.

Second time answered the rest.

I did find I wanted to go back and change answers.... So I just hit the submit button.its too easy to second guess yourself.

Just only answer the question they are asking for and not dissect the question. Way too easy to answer the question wrong doing that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I PASSED! thank you everyone for your encouragement and support this is such a wonderful feeling!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

And Sarah, I cried before and after too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine.

This has truly been a helpful site for me. So proud of you girls that passed! We did it!!! Woohoo!!! Praise God!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats!

I'm in the same boat of nerves. I scheduled my big day and have only told 2 people, but am so nervous! I've been studying my A** off but when I do practice tests I score in the high 60s to low 70s... I'm not thrilled with this, but with AANP you need to get 500/800 points which converts to about a 66%. I have 4 days a week off and have spent committed every one of those days to studying. I did the Fitzgerald live review course and have completed all the online course content; I have the next 3 weeks plotted out with subjects to study and tests I should be taking; after I do an exam, I review what I got wrong if I don't know it and try to talk about what I've studied... I'm even beginning to have dreams about the stuff I've studied. Today I reviewed mental health, substance abuse, and abuse just as an example... My biggest fear is feeling like I've studied and then getting to the exam to find out that I didn't study enough. I'm so afraid to fail although I know that I'll still be loved, but it's still there.

Any help? Am I scoring too low or is the score "good" enough to predict actual passing? I know Fitzgerald says you need to score 85%, but WOW, that seems high (although I would like to get in that range on my practice exams). Any advice/help would be appreciated! Thanks all and good luck to everyone taking the exam!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats!

I'm in the same boat of nerves. I scheduled my big day and have only told 2 people, but am so nervous! I've been studying my A** off but when I do practice tests I score in the high 60s to low 70s... I'm not thrilled with this, but with AANP you need to get 500/800 points which converts to about a 66%. I have 4 days a week off and have spent committed every one of those days to studying. I did the Fitzgerald live review course and have completed all the online course content; I have the next 3 weeks plotted out with subjects to study and tests I should be taking; after I do an exam, I review what I got wrong if I don't know it and try to talk about what I've studied... I'm even beginning to have dreams about the stuff I've studied. Today I reviewed mental health, substance abuse, and abuse just as an example... My biggest fear is feeling like I've studied and then getting to the exam to find out that I didn't study enough. I'm so afraid to fail although I know that I'll still be loved, but it's still there.

Any help? Am I scoring too low or is the score "good" enough to predict actual passing? I know Fitzgerald says you need to score 85%, but WOW, that seems high (although I would like to get in that range on my practice exams). Any advice/help would be appreciated! Thanks all and good luck to everyone taking the exam!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I'm going in today in 3 hours. I'm so scared. I'm scoring in the 60's.. I cried last night, panicked, husband had to give me a pep talk. Chest pain the whole nine yards. Ugh, can't wait for 8 am

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm going in today in 3 hours. I'm so scared. I'm scoring in the 60's.. I cried last night, panicked, husband had to give me a pep talk. Chest pain the whole nine yards. Ugh, can't wait for 8 am

How did you do?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment