Failed ANCC FNP certification exam

urbanrn328 · Feb 15, 2016

I'd like to join your study group and share my information - I'll email you. Let's pass this ! Thanks!

Ruth FNP · Feb 16, 2016

Hi, I just wanted to give my two cents on the AANP FNP exam. I failed with a 493 the end of January. I didn't feel great about it. I blanked out. I let myself get anxious and frustrated. Then I got serious. I left that building and wrote down every topic or key phrase I could remember right there in the parking lot on my print out that they gave me. I went home and looked up everything that I had jotted down. I made flash cards of each topic or phrase. I didn't even look at my prior information I just did it again. I was so mad that I had spent all that money on Fitzgerald review, Barkley book, and Leik question banks just to fail. I felt that knowing all the signs and maneuvers was huge. Some of the things I focused on were just simply not an issue. I got way to detailed in my study. I was trying to remember so much that I couldn't remember anything. When I focused on what I had written down and truly knew the basics of the topics instead of focusing on fine details I got the big picture. I started putting the pieces together and getting the subtle little hints in the question that pointed to the correct answer. I went in with confidence two weeks later and in an hour walked out with my print out that said PASSED and cried all the way home :) I knew I had done it. I was ready this time.

So, I loved the info in Fitzgerald's review but it was really just more detail than I needed. As she says it is good to know and you use it in your practice. I had the Barkley book and found it to be more to the point once I knew what I was up against. His approach gave the broad picture and made you responsible for fine tuning your knowledge. The Leik question bank was good just to boost my confidence. When I started knowing things before I read the entire question I was excited. I am looking forward to getting my score in the mail this time!

GizaGora · Feb 16, 2016

Hi, I just wanted to give my two cents on the AANP FNP exam. I failed with a 493 the end of January. I didn't feel great about it. I blanked out. I let myself get anxious and frustrated. Then I got serious. I left that building and wrote down every topic or key phrase I could remember right there in the parking lot on my print out that they gave me. I went home and looked up everything that I had jotted down. I made flash cards of each topic or phrase. I didn't even look at my prior information I just did it again. I was so mad that I had spent all that money on Fitzgerald review, Barkley book, and Leik question banks just to fail. I felt that knowing all the signs and maneuvers was huge. Some of the things I focused on were just simply not an issue. I got way to detailed in my study. I was trying to remember so much that I couldn't remember anything. When I focused on what I had written down and truly knew the basics of the topics instead of focusing on fine details I got the big picture. I started putting the pieces together and getting the subtle little hints in the question that pointed to the correct answer. I went in with confidence two weeks later and in an hour walked out with my print out that said PASSED and cried all the way home :) I knew I had done it. I was ready this time.
So, I loved the info in Fitzgerald's review but it was really just more detail than I needed. As she says it is good to know and you use it in your practice. I had the Barkley book and found it to be more to the point once I knew what I was up against. His approach gave the broad picture and made you responsible for fine tuning your knowledge. The Leik question bank was good just to boost my confidence. When I started knowing things before I read the entire question I was excited. I am looking forward to getting my score in the mail this time!

Congratulation Ruth! We are so super smart NPs and all would want to pass our boards. Unfortunately, I have failed my FNP AANP twice by couple of points each time. Your are on the point about the specific hints rather than details of each disease or condition that we all must know. I am hoping to pass the third, fingers are crossed. I have a great information to share with you even if you passed. Here is my email [email protected] Congratulations to you once again.

kenwright52 · Feb 29, 2016

Hello I was wondering what ANCC practice exams are you referring to?

Thanks,

Kate

kenwright52 · Feb 29, 2016

I agree what is this ANCC Yellow Book?!? IF you have any insight could you please email me [email protected]

urbanrn328 · Mar 2, 2016

What exams have you taken?

urbanrn328 · Mar 3, 2016

Hi Splitpeas, sorry to hear about this but at least you learned a lot from the experience. Have you taken the exam again? I hear lots of people juggle between the AANP and AAANC exams because AANP only lets you take it 2 times in one year. Contact me if you still need to get more information on the exams, and join our study group. Good luck to you!

veryhopeful1 · Mar 3, 2016

I recently passed the ANCC AGPCNP exam, and also wanted to share my experience. Thank you to everyone who had posted before - I felt that it helped me focus my studies and gave me some great tips.

I used the following resources to study:

-Fitzgerald Review Online: I felt the online version was better than my classmates who took the live version, as I was able to listen to her lectures 4 times each, and they were divided into 30-45 minute segments. Her review questions on each chapter and the exam at the end were VERY helpful.

-Leik book: MUST HAVE, in my opinion. So easy to read, just the basic need to know for the exam. No extra information, and 600+ questions in the back. Great resource!

-Fitzgerald Book: This is the extra review book with tons more questions (not the one that you get with the online/live review course) While this is a good clinical resource, I did NOT find this helpful in preparing for the test, EXCEPT the Medicare/Medicaid information which I thought was well written. Overall, it's just too much information that you don't need for this exam.

-Exam Edge Questions: I purchased 15 tests. Not necessary. I ended up doing about half of them. Lots of typos, and not reflective of ANCC exam type questions, like they led you to believe. I passed all of them too, with scores around 375 to 425.

I also tried to look up the yellow book by ANCC, to get a kindle version sample or whatever people have been saying on here. They must have caught on, because doing that is no longer possible and I wasn't about to spend any more money on test prep materials. I also didn't find it necessary. Leik and Fitzgerald both covered professional issues, research, and all of the other nonclinical issues well enough to help me pass the exam. I dedicated approximately 3 weeks of studying, about 2 hours a day... some days more, some days not at all.

I felt the test was at least 50% nonclinical.

Good luck to all!

lliu008 · Mar 15, 2016

I need your help for aanp pass. please email me, where to get 15 unites, I failed aanp.

IowaFNPhelp · Apr 9, 2016

Please anyone help! I took the ANCC twice and failed.. study Fitzgerald and leik books. I also bought the edge exam bundle and found ,many errors and the questions are nothing like the exam so stopped taking them. Took the boardvitals review which I thought was right on point but I needed more knowledge on policies and leadership. I just signed up for AANP. I am terrible test taker! I am so devasted, tied and broke. Please please can someone help me so I can pass any boards? ? ;-(

FNPinNY · Apr 21, 2016

No not forget... I am told Calendar Method of Birth Control is sometimes asked.... We need to post any tips we find to support each other... FNPinNY...

Calendar Method Of Birth Control

Don't use the calendar method if all your cycles are shorter than 27 days.

Chart Your Calendar Pattern

To predict the first fertile day in your current cycle:

Find the shortest cycle in your record.
Subtract 18 from the total number of days.
Count that number of days from day one of your current cycle, and mark that day with an X. Include day one when you count.
The day marked X is your first fertile day.

To predict the last fertile day in your current cycle:

Find the longest cycle in your record.
Subtract 11 days from the total number of days.
Count that number of days from day one of your current cycle, and mark that day with an X. Include day one when you count.
The day marked X is the last fertile day.

Here is an example:

Predicting your first fertile day. If your shortest cycle is 26 days long, subtract 18 from 26. That leaves 8. If day one was the fourth day of the month, the day you will mark X will be the 11th. That's the first day you're likely to be fertile. So on that day, you should start abstaining from sex or start using a cervical cap, condom, diaphragm, or female condom.

Predicting your last fertile day. If your longest cycle is 30 days, subtract 11 from 30. That leaves 19. If day one was the fourth day of the month, the day you will mark X will be the 22nd. That's the last day you're likely to be fertile during your current cycle. So you may start to have unprotected lady partsl intercourse after that day.

In this example, the 11th through the 22nd are unsafe days. All the others are safe days.

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The Role of the Calendar Method

The calendar method can only predict what are most likely to be safe days. It is especially risky if your cycles are not always the same length. That's why it should always be used with other methods. Do not have unprotected intercourse on any day that the calendar method says is unsafe.

This information is not meant as a substitute for professional advice.

Fertility Awareness-Based Methods | (FAMs) Natural Birth Control

marvinalpn · May 13, 2016

Hello,

I am wanting to know what is the ANCC yellow book?? Can anyone give me the name of the book.

thanks