ACHPN exam?

Specialties Hospice

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Anyone take the ACHPN exam? If so, how was it? How long did you study for? Was there one area represented more than others?

Specializes in Hospice.

For the CHPN exam in 2015 (different exam/ certification, same credentialing agency), I used the candidate handbook and purchased the core curriculum. I also purchased practice tests from HPNA, which included 2 practice tests. I took the first one as I was beginning studying to identify areas that I needed to focus on and took the 2nd practice test about a week before my "real" test. I think I prepared for 4-6 weeks total.

As for the areas represented, I seem to recall the candidate guide pretty much gave an accurate picture. I also know several other nurses who have taken the test and all of us had either different tests or different perceptions of what areas were more represented.

Good luck! I encourage any of my hospice colleagues to pursue certification. I learned a lot from studying for the test and I think it has positively impacted my practice.

Specializes in Family Nursing & Psychiatry.

I am currently enrolled in the CSU Insitute for Palliative Care course which will help me prepare for this exam. I have heard from friends who have taken this exam that the Core Curriculum book HPNA has is really the best thing to review before taking it.

db2xs

733 Posts

On 3/30/2019 at 12:25 AM, matthewandrew said:

I am currently enrolled in the CSU Insitute for Palliative Care course which will help me prepare for this exam. I have heard from friends who have taken this exam that the Core Curriculum book HPNA has is really the best thing to review before taking it.

I'm wondering how the CHPN core curriculum book would be the "best thing" to review for the ACHPN exam? The sample ACHPN exam has questions on ordering labs, etc., which are not reviewed in the CHPN Core Curriculum. Or were you referring to a ACHPN core curriculum book? Thanks

Specializes in Family Nursing & Psychiatry.
8 minutes ago, db2xs said:

I'm wondering how the CHPN core curriculum book would be the "best thing" to review for the ACHPN exam? The sample ACHPN exam has questions on ordering labs, etc., which are not reviewed in the CHPN Core Curriculum. Or were you referring to a ACHPN core curriculum book? Thanks

Who said CHPN? Obviously, ACHPN core.

db2xs

733 Posts

The first respondent, Vampire Girl, talked about using the CHPN core curriculum in this thread about ACHPN. I was tired and was confused about that and wasn't sure what I was missing.

db2xs

733 Posts

@matthewandrew, are you using this book?

https://www.amazon.com/ACHPN-Core-Curriculum-Study-Guide/dp/1720738947/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ACHPN&qid=1562262718&s=books&sr=1-1

There are not a ton of reviews and I feel concerned reading that there are a bunch of typos, etc., in it. Thanks for your input.

Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Care.

I have the same concerns about this book. There are, indeed, tons of typos but I'm going with the actual content, along with other things, because, well, can't hurt!

db2xs

733 Posts

@time2go I ended up buying the books and am currently studying

Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Care.

Old thread but I took the test today for the second time and passed.  Both times I took the test, the questions were so different.  I would be interested to hear if anyone used a test prep they thought was useful.  I think the test is so broad, there's no way to really select a useful study aid.  For MAYBE 10% of the questions, I was relatively sure of my answers but there seemed to be a lot of wiggle room between 2 out of 4 answers throughout the whole test.  Any thoughts from anyone who has passed the ACHPN exam?

db2xs

733 Posts

On 9/28/2020 at 9:43 PM, time2go said:

Old thread but I took the test today for the second time and passed.  Both times I took the test, the questions were so different.  I would be interested to hear if anyone used a test prep they thought was useful.  I think the test is so broad, there's no way to really select a useful study aid.  For MAYBE 10% of the questions, I was relatively sure of my answers but there seemed to be a lot of wiggle room between 2 out of 4 answers throughout the whole test.  Any thoughts from anyone who has passed the ACHPN exam?

I haven't taken the exam yet but I'm curious as to what test prep you used. 

Specializes in Palliative acute care.

I am studying as well for the ACHPN. Congratulations ???? on passing yours. I also feel their is a ton of content and not a-lot of practice questions. 

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