Failed ACNP

Oh I am sorry to hear you did not pass by a few 7 points. Don't be too hard on yourself. You made it this far through and while this is a setback, it can be remedied. Schedule another test soon, study and review. I took the Fitzgerald review course and this was very helpful to me. We were also informed during this review course, there are a certain percentage of people that do not pass on the first try. This test measures how well you took this particular test, your recall and knowledge on these particular test questions. You will do better next time!

Again you made it through school with all the clinicals, papers and tests. Think positive. You will have your job if not this one. In the future it won't matter if you passed on the first try or not.

Good luck and schedule that test. Study, review, be calm.

Oh I am sorry to hear you did not pass by a few 7 points. Don't be too hard on yourself. You made it this far through and while this is a setback, it can be remedied. Schedule another test soon, study and review. I took the Fitzgerald review course and this was very helpful to me. We were also informed during this review course, there are a certain percentage of people that do not pass on the first try. This test measures how well you took this particular test, your recall and knowledge on these particular test questions. You will do better next time!

I concur:

....you made it through school with all the clinicals, papers and tests. Think positive. You will have your job if not this one. In the future it won't matter if you passed on the first try or not.

Good luck and schedule that test. Study, review, be calm.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Since I don't graduate until December, I don't know what to tell you except to hang in there and don't let this take you down. Your dream job still exists. Will they allow you to work until you re-take the exam?

I appreciate everyones response so far. I realize that I do need to keep a positive perspective on this. It's truly a small bump in the road of life, however, right now it seems like a mountain! Really the worst part was having to email the hospital to tell them I failed (oops sorry, I mean I was "unsuccessful")

I can retest in 60 days. I used the Fitzgerald review cd's, and honestly think that I just didn't study as effectively as I could have (in the living room with Spongebob blaring from the TV, and the kids bouncing off the walls because thier dad can't play with them:D) -kidding. I did plenty of content review, but not as many practice questions as maybe I should have.

Thanks for the advice PinoyNP. I've looked into the AACN exam, but I would have to start from square one with them (transcripts, signature from program director, waiting, $$, etc.) I guess 60 days in the grand scheme of things, is not terribly long to wait, just a hard pill to swallow at this point.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Since I don't graduate until December, I don't know what to tell you except to hang in there and don't let this take you down. Your dream job still exists. Will they allow you to work until you re-take the exam?

Unfortunately no certification = no job. Your right though, my dream job does still exist, and they were very gracious and understanding when I let them know what happened. They told me they may have approval for another 1-2 midlevels in Oct, so who knows......

Hi all,

I took the ACNP exam last Friday and scored a 343 (needed a 350 to pass). I'm feeling pretty bummed out, embarrased, and completely dissapionted in myself. Scholastically I've always done very well, and my score came as kind of shock to me. I had a (dream) job lined up, in fact today would have been my first day at work!

Anyway, any words of advice and encouragement from the allnurses community would be greatly appreciated.

I've heard that test is tough. Can you remember some of the questions you had problems with?

I know it's too late now, but in the future, people may want to schedule exams with both certifying bodies. I have a friend who scheduled the AANP and ANCC for her FNP exam and when she passed one she cancelled the other one, she got a refund (minus $100). That is definitely the way to go, because you won't have to wait 60 days to retake the test and no one ever has to know you failed!

I know it's too late now, but in the future, people may want to schedule exams with both certifying bodies. I have a friend who scheduled the AANP and ANCC for her FNP exam and when she passed one she cancelled the other one, she got a refund (minus $100). That is definitely the way to go, because you won't have to wait 60 days to retake the test and no one ever has to know you failed!

Oh what a great plan that would have been if only I had money in buckets!! But alas, I am in debt up to my eyeballs. $390 for the ANCC exam was all I could afford. Is every state accepting the AANP exam at this point?

Hang in there, looks like you have a plan in place. Good luck and I am sure you will do fine.

Oh what a great plan that would have been if only I had money in buckets!! But alas I am in debt up to my eyeballs. $390 for the ANCC exam was all I could afford. Is every state accepting the AANP exam at this point?[/quote']

Yeah, it's expensive alright. Fortunately, they take credit cards and I know that the AANP will refund all your money except $100 for the processing fee.

According to the AANP website, every state is accepting their certification exam. Unfortunately, they only have the ANP, GNP and FNP exams though.

I agree with the other posters-for whatever reason, you were just a little "off" on test day. I feel your pain as I am scheduled for ANP exam next week. I attended the Fitzgerald review and have been using her NP review handbook as my main study guide. Grouped by body system, it has a question/answer section, then a discussion on the topic. I imagine the tapes you used were similar. Do you feel the content was adequate for the questions you received?? One big problem I am noting on my performance is that way too often I am finding I am either misreading the questions or the answers-trying to work on this bad habit but a few instances of this could really tip the balance the wrong way. You will pass next time!