Can't find the FNP review book by Zerwekh & Claborn any where. Very frustrated!!!

zenman · Feb 19, 2011

So, actually you found it. Why do you want that one if it's out of print....which usually also means out of date?

labbio · Feb 19, 2011

You are right; the book is old 2004. However, I have heard/read many positive reviews on the product. It's also has a CD with practice questions and I think it will be helpful in preparing for board exam.

BlessedOne · Feb 19, 2011

Wow.. I just looked on amazon and they are selling it for over $1,000.00. There is one used for about $45.00 on amazon now. I used it because it got you in a mode of taking a 175 question test in one sitting.

kimsherr00 · Mar 8, 2011

Is it worth the purchase? I am graduating in May and have the Fitzgerald cd

kyboyrn · Mar 8, 2011

I did the online Fitzgerald review, I started it two to three days before my AANP certificatin exam. I waited so long so it would be fresh on my mind. I waited too long because I had to fly through a part or two, but it was more than adequate to prepare me. It was expensive, but I feel like it more than prepared me, and the certification exam wasn't that bad. I would guess that the Fitzgerald review book would be helpful too since the review was so good. I have the Fitzgerald book, someone gave it to me, but I never used it, but I did browse through it the other day, and it seems like it would have been helpful. I just relied on what I learned in school, did the review close to exam time, and I assure you it wasn't that bad. Over 90 percent of test takers pass both the AANP FNP and the ANCC FNP exam the first time, so don't sweat it. It's not easy, and it's a very important exam, but over 9 out of 10 people pass it the first time, so that right there should assure you that it's NOT THAT BAD!! Trust in what you know, review as much as you can, and by no means pay ridiculous amounts of money for book from 2004 when the material they focus on changes somewhat every year. Just a hint, and I've heard it from several people and noticed it myself (if you're taking the AANP exam) study your derm. For whatever reason, it seems like myself and everyone I've talked to have quite a few questions on derm. Also, everyone I've talked to has had a few questions on murmurs. I'm sure it's always different, but that's just a couple things I've heard and I've noticed. Just go in believing you'll do fine. I used to tutor, and I always told my students that confidence really does make a difference. So trust you'll be in the 90 percent that does pass, get a good review book and do a review if possible, live or online (I think Fitzgerald stuff is great) and trust in what you've learned. You're gonna do great!!!! I have a lot of faith in the NP profession and all of my colleagues that have made it through the programs. You're obviously intelligent or you wouldn't have made it this far. If you don't make it the first time, get those requirements done and try again. Still, don't think about that until the time comes. Believe in your abilities and I'm sure at the end of tht test you'll be walking out with a smile on your face when that screen says that you PASSED!!!!!:w00t:

kimsherr00 · Mar 8, 2011

Ahh thank you. I am having anxiety already but I do believe in self talk. The Fitzgerald cd's are really good, however I did not know if it was enough. I have to pass....I am a single mom with 2 kids and I haven't worked this last semester because it is just to hard. I am running out of $$$.

indimoore · Mar 24, 2011

I just registered on allnurses so I could answer this question :-). I passed the ANCC FNP cert exam yesterday. I bought the Claborn book off Amazon, and I found it helpful for the research and legal/ethical sessions. The CD is nice since you get the subjects mixed in a nice long amount, as you do on the exam. But as you do them, you have to keep in mind what things have changed. Some of the questions and answers in certain subjects are outdated.

I used the 2009 Fitzgerald CDs (I graduated May 10...procrastinator), and the Leik, Fitzgerald, and Hollier books to prepare, in addition to Claborn. I also have the ANCC clinical and cert review book. I also used the ANCC online questions (way overpriced for what you get--$99 through isoph blue, if I'd known about the Fitzgerald online questions, I'd have purchased those or the APEA ones). And I did the free sample ones on the ANCC website as well...in all the areas, just for practice. But that's how I prepare for exams, by doing questions and then working them out backward.

I finished the questions in about 1.5 hours, then used the restroom and jumped around a bit, and used another 1.5 hours to check all the ones I had marked or skipped, and then went through the whole thing again to see if I could find any clues to answer the questions I totally didn't get. I wanted to stab myself in the eye.

Oh, one more thing...I think the exam changes/updates each year starting April 1? I read something about that on the ANCC website. Fitzgerald puts out her updated CDs shortly thereafter, from what I can tell. My classmates and I pooled our money and bought them during our last clinical rotation course. I highly recommend having her cert review book handy while you listen to them; the lecture mirrors it.

GOOD LUCK!