ANCC FNP Board Exam

Nursing Students NP Students

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I passed my board exam yesterday. Prior to taking the exam, I searched this board for advice/tips and thought it was very helpful. I am posting now to pay it forward.

This is what I did to prepare (2 weeks: around 4 hours a day):

1. I took a DRT exam from Barkley to see how much I remembered (took the boards 7 months after I graduated) and what I need to focus on. Tip: take the test as soon as you can after you graduate. It's hard to get back into studying mode if you wait too long and you would've forgotten much of what you learned in school. If you get a 70 or above, you will very likely pass the boards.

2. Read the ANCC FNP exam outline.

3. Listened to all of the online FNP lectures from Barkley. (Very useful but very time consuming) I took notes so I can I quickly look it over before the exam.

4. Read the Leik book: read the tips. If you have time, do the questions in the back and read the rationales. I didn't. Download the app: read and do questions.

5. Google pictures of different skin conditions. There were a few pictorial questions for you to pick a skin condition.

6. Took another DRT exam from Barkley. Read the rationales at the end.

7. Had coffee, ate breakfast and went to the exam center. Go at least 30 minutes before the exam. Make sure you use the restroom right before you start your exam. There are no breaks once you start. You will lose exam time if you need to use the bathroom after.

You got this! Study hard and get it. Good luck!

Specializes in MS, RN, FNP-BC.

@Aimee Getter I am sorry to hear that. It must be very frustrating. I believe that you can definitely do it. If you have been a nurse for 31 years and have done well in your graduate program, you can absolutely pass this test.

Take a break. Don't touch a book and relax, then regroup. I am no expert on the test, but here is what I think:

1. Do not use too many study guides. Sometimes, they offer differing/contradicting answers, which can confuse you. Pick at most two study guides.

2. I assume you did the questions in the study guides, but did you review the rationales? Knowing the knowledge is good, but it is also important to know the thought process behind how to arrive at the right answers. If you know the thought process, you can address questions that you may not have seen before, but still get the right answers.

3. Perhaps, create a condense version of the study guide from your study guides. This will help you remember the info and you will have something to quickly look over the day or two days before the test. Stop studying the day before and just relax. Take the day off from work if possible.

4. I would also take some DRTs from Barkley. A score of 70 or above would indicate that you are very likely to pass the test. Review the rationales after.

5. Look at my initial post to see what I did for the test. If you would like to take a look at my personal study guide, feel free to message me your email address. Although, you may want to make your own to help you remember the info. I took it more than a year ago, so things might have changed since then. Do look at the current blueprint to make sure you are covering all of the areas.

You can do it! Good luck!

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@Aimee Getter I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t pass! I just took the ANCC FNP today for the first time and passed it. I agree with @clam151543 and you should do the Barkley DRT. I did 4 and scored between 65-75 on them. I also really liked examedge bought 25 tests and took them all. You should def take a break and relax then stick to one study guide like examedge and do only that. You already studied so many different things so now pick one and do that only for another month or two until you can take the ANCC or AANP again. Good luck! 

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@Aimee Getter: I can’t imagine the frustration. The test is difficult but I know you can do this! BoardVitals App was exactly the type of questions on my exam! I did over 1500 questions in 2 weeks and read the rationale. I also read the Leik book cover to cover. You got this! 

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Hi everyone, 

I have submitted my application to ANCC for FNP.  Anyone has tips & tricks  study for this exam? I am doing Exam edge don't feel it's good enough.  Any feedback is greatly appreciated. 

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Leik Codina is great too 

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Thank you Emma88 for your suggestions. I will focus on her book. 

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Specializes in FNP.

@msjune Hey I am taking the Leik live webinar review starting Tuesday 2/26/21-Friday 2/29/21. I am signed up to take my test towards end of the 2nd week in February. Do you think the live review helped the most or her book? Or both? I’m so nervous about this test. I didn’t know if I should do purchase examedge and do those questions or the Ana test that they have. I took the APEA predictor test and scored a 65%. I am nervous about this test. Did you have many select all that apply and or pictures? 

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4 hours ago, whit24 said:

@msjune Hey I am taking the Leik live webinar review starting Tuesday 2/26/21-Friday 2/29/21. I am signed up to take my test towards end of the 2nd week in February. Do you think the live review helped the most or her book? Or both? I’m so nervous about this test. I didn’t know if I should do purchase examedge and do those questions or the Ana test that they have. I took the APEA predictor test and scored a 65%. I am nervous about this test. Did you have many select all that apply and or pictures? 

Hi @msjune, I heard many students' comments about APEA predictor exam, saying if one scores 65% and above he or she can pass the actual FNP exam. I did not try it, so, I do not have much to say about her predictor tests. 

Generally  speaking, exam should be approached this way: It is as if you are an NP prepared and ready for any patient's problem that a patient seeking your help and at your clinic door; no one but you and  no physician or at least pharmacists to go to for question or suggestion in managing patient's problem or problems. Patient's life is on your hand. You have no options to run away from it. Now, it is you, a patient's life, and the law under which the NP practice is governed. 

Very quickly ID patient's problem. Is it an emergency? stabilize and refer. Acute or chronic?  Acute, but is it manageable at clinic? excellent assessment skills needed here to NOT to miss the actual emergency and mislabeling patient's problem and delaying care. 

Good luck and let's know what happens. 

 

 

 

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Specializes in FNP new graduate.

Email me at [email protected] and I'll be more than happy to send some awesome review notes for both the ANCC and AANP exams. Thanks Katrina

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