ANCC FNP Exam 2014

[nancy23]

I just wanted to share my experience concerning the ANCC exam for FNP's. Previous threads helped me and I would like to give some tips to help others.

My study time was limited unfortunately due to my pregnancy; so I only had 13 days of study time, which is not suggested. My review course suggested 4-6 weeks of studying.

I graduated in the middle of June. Took 2 1/2 weeks off.

Then I took Berkley and associates review course beginning of July. I did the 3 day live course. I really liked the live course. They provide the review book which gives you all the info you need concerning peds and adults. It also provided some info on culture, research, ethics. But I do think it needs to include more on culture, research, and ethics because half the test was on these topics. Of all the review books, none of them really cover these topics very well. It also did not have much on ICD-9 coding which would have been nice to include as well.

So my test was scheduled aug 31st and 10 days before my test I started studying. First I started reviewing my Barkley review book and note carding important topics i needed to remember. I reviewed the book once. Took me about 3 days to go through it and note card it. I studied about 6 hours a day, sometimes less and sometimes more due to being 9 months pregnant.

I then used the Leik book which other threads suggested. Really loved Leik review book. I used it to review the topics I was weak on and did some of the review questions. Love this book.

I also took the advice of other threads and started from day 1 taking familynpprep.com.

I did a total of 12 tests. I think this test bank was very helpful in helping me pass the exam because it had a good amount of questions on theory, ethics, E&M coding, culture, research. Which is not covered very much in the review books I had. I would take a test or two a day and then I would review my wrong answers. I started in the not passing range at 326 and improved. By day 10 my last test score was 376, which is not great but passing. This made me nervous but I figured passing is passing.

The last three days before my exam I made sure to go over my notecards, which had the topics I needed to remember.

The day of the exam was very stressful because I had only 13 days to study. Im sure if i studied the whole 4 weeks I would have felt better but I figured I would just try and hope for the best because once baby came I was sure I would have no time at all. I was also fortunate to have a husband who kept insisting on me taking it because he knew I would pass. I was going to reschedule my exam so many times. Luckily he was right and I passed!

The test was not what I expected and some of the questions that were asked I didn't study in my review books I just remembered from what was taught in school.

I recommend doing a review course, buying the leik review book and taking the familynpprep.com questions.

Hope this helps! Glad I am done. Next step is applying for Jobs!!