Failed AANP Twice-Need Motivation!

[Sarah R]

PLEASE HELP!! I failed the AANP twice.

Here are my results from the 2 times that I took my exam...

As you can see SO close, 494 than 497. The largest frustration is the Strengths to Weaknesses are completely reversed. I have no idea what to do or where to go from here. I feel that it must be how I am interpreting the questions being asked on the exam, thinking as a nurse not as an NP, but I do not know how to change that.

Both time I used Latrina Walden Solutions along with a lot of practice questions. 1st time: 6 week live review, a lot of test questions including the LWES, Leik, AANP practice, passing all of the exams. 

Because of the "guaranteed pass" I contacted LWES both times. After the first failure, they said study more. So I went back over the 6 week course, took the 3 day live review, more test questions from multiple sources. Failed. 2nd failure, they said appeal the score, I did, hand scored results were the same, 497. That was in July 2024. I have given up at this point. What program should I try? Or is there someone or something that I could do?

 What I would like in a program: 

I like interactive, random testing/questions, exams as you go, knowledge testing. I like a schedule as well. I liked the set up of LWES, I tried Barkley and that online program does not work for me, it is very dry and no interaction just lectures. I am NOT an anxious test taken, so this is not a problem. I eat well, sleep well, exercise, do all the things they suggest before testing, so it isn't anything that simple.

Please help.

I honestly don't know what to change, how to study any different. I'm lost, frustrated and don't know how to find any motivation to do it for a 3rd time.

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

Definitely check out other resources as it seems you had solely focused on just use LWES. I'd recommend Amelie Hollier's lectures for a good, condensed, clinical version of FNP and any of her textbook study material. APEA (Hollier's company) has many online practice questions and predictors that may help. Fitzgerald text is a very dry textbook but it has the material of FNP in it and a decent handful of practice questions. And lastly, I recommend Leik which I primarily focused on for a condensed textbook with many clinical pearls (content that might be on the exam) with many online practice questions. I used all 3, but focused on Leik's the last few weeks before my exam.

"I feel that it must be how I am interpreting the questions being asked on the exam, thinking as a nurse not as an NP, but I do not know how to change that." If this is the case, at least partly, then you definitely need to work on reflecting on your answers after taking practice exams. I would take practice exams from different resources, score it, look at your incorrect answers, and reflect on why you got those answers wrong. This could help clue you into how your thought process works (RN vs NP).

Other questions to reflect on:  How often are you second guessing or triple guessing yourself? What areas (assess, plan, diagnose, evaluate) do you think you struggle with when you take your exam?

Looking at the strength and weaknesses being flipped, it's tough to say how to fix it other than just having to continue to study all 4 areas. You are right at the cusp on both exams and I definitely think that the 3rd time you'll pull through.

[abari2]

Have you thought about taking the ANCC ? ... I used Leik , Fitzgerald book, a little board vitals questions which were hard and Cohen review on YouTube passed on my first try. Check out Cohen review, she's an FNP as well, she has interactive videos , questions and monthly zoom calls to see if your ready , if your not ready she will tell you push your date back to study more.  When taking the exam don't change your answers. Do all the Leik questions, read the whole book with the Cohen review PowerPoints. Take a break , breath and get back at it you can do it . Goodluck 🍀