Failed My AANP Today, I'm Very Upset

[uniqueguy34]

Hello everyone, 

I will make this post as short as possible , I really appreciate your contribution and reading .

Today December 11th 2022, I failed my AANP, first attempt, it took me about 5 months of studying an average of 2 to 4 hours per day after work, I thought I was ready, I ended up failing and I am feeling very upset and defeated.

I have read leik book entirely, I did the questions in the book and then the online practice questions twice, I took lots of notes along the way while I was studying, (50 pages). I also did the FNP mastery app, about 1500 questions and I read the rationales very carefully,

Unfortunately I did not pass, I am not surprised because I failed the NCLEX three times in the past, I am not the smartest person out there, I have a brain fog which makes it very hard for me to retrieve information I have learned, so for me it's either I know the question or I don't know, it is very hard for me to think about the materials that I have read,

What would you suggest at this point? I would really appreciate if you could add some advice or recommendations or study strategy. When I was doing the exam, I was not nervous at all, I did not waste any time, I used my time very efficiently and I had about 10 minutes left to review some of the questions that I marked.. however for me it's either I know the question or I don't know. So I would really appreciate if you could give me some recommendations on how to study moving forward....I was thinking APEA, but I'm really trying to  not to spend too much money ..unless it's worth it ..

[londonflo]

On 12/11/2022 at 12:56 PM, uniqueguy34 said:

I have a brain fog which makes it very hard for me to retrieve information I have learned, so for me it's either I know the question or I don't know, it is very hard for me to think about the materials that I have read,

What percentage of your student NP course exams figured into your grade?

[uniqueguy34, BSN, MSN]

On 12/18/2022 at 9:31 PM, vintagegal said:

Let me first start out by saying I am so sorry you didn’t make it on the first attempt but there is hope…

I am a DNP student for AGNP. I took my exam on December 9th. I took it in one hour and I am happy to report that I passed. 
All through my program I struggled with testing anxiety. The only tried and true method I use that works for me is the speed dating sort of test taking. What I mean by that is I read the question, look at the answers, make my selection. I either know it or I don’t. I don’t go back I do not change answers and if I don’t know it I guess. Re reading the questions or taking a long time causes me great distress and more brain fog. 
My study plan included Leik, the Sarah Michelle quiz bank, and APEA video review. I highly, highly recommend the APEA videos. HOWEVER, I am an audio visual learner. I do not retain much from reading, whereas I always remember a good lecture. I suggest going online and taking a free test to see which way you learn best in order to reframe your study plan. Also, with AANP you can print off their reference list, to know where they are getting the test questions. And take as many quiz questions as you can to get used to the format and what they are asking. Take a break! There is such a thing as over studying. Enjoy your Winter break, and re take when you are comfortable. 
All in all, I studied for two solid weeks prior to the exam, 8-9 hour days. The day before and the morning of, I didn’t look at anything. I created a 2 inch binder with sections (cardiac, GI, etc). I filled it with notes. Do not try to study while working, you need to be able to focus solely on the information you need to retain. After a 12 hour shift there is no way you can adequately do that. Clear your schedule prior to your next exam, focus, exercise, and continue to focus on self care. Take a deep breath, you got this!

Hi, I appreciate taking the time to reply and offer me help .. 

I am at this point trying to come up with a new study plan, I am watching some video review PowerPoints ( archer review) , someone told me that Walden review are good, some people discouraged me from using the apea, but I think I'm going to give it a try. The FNP mastery application was very very helpful because I was able to do more than 1000 questions with very detailed explanation and rationales. Does the APEA have lots of questions or just videos review ? Do you have the link ? Sometimes I think about getting a tutor to kind of guide me through this because unfortunately I have very little confidence and these type of tests. I passed the NCLEX on the 4th attempt and I had to do the whole 265 questions. So there is lack of confidence in my personal ability to execute this. I know it is very unfortunate but I will keep trying until I get it

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

13 minutes ago, uniqueguy34 said:

Hi, I appreciate taking the time to reply and offer me help .. 

I am at this point trying to come up with a new study plan, I am watching some video review PowerPoints ( archer review) , someone told me that Walden review are good, some people discouraged me from using the apea, but I think I'm going to give it a try. The FNP mastery application was very very helpful because I was able to do more than 1000 questions with very detailed explanation and rationales. Does the APEA have lots of questions or just videos review ? Do you have the link ? Sometimes I think about getting a tutor to kind of guide me through this because unfortunately I have very little confidence and these type of tests. I passed the NCLEX on the 4th attempt and I had to do the whole 265 questions. So there is lack of confidence in my personal ability to execute this. I know it is very unfortunate but I will keep trying until I get it

https://www.apea.com/
They have everything from the in person and online lectures/seminars as well as study guides and plenty of practice questions. They have predictor exams, but keep in mind, those exams are just predictions, it's not necessarily something you use as a gauge if you immediately pass or fail. From what I can remember last year when I took two of them, the predictors do not provide rationales but only the end of the exam scoring and a breakdown of sections/topics with a percentage of how you do. They might have changed it now by adding rationales, maybe someone else who took it recently can verify. As mentioned in my reply to you weeks ago, I highly recommend doing the seminars/lectures. It really helps the content sink in for both clinical and textbook setting while doing the rest of the practice questions and study guides can hopefully help solidify the information.

[uniqueguy34, BSN, MSN]

22 minutes ago, barcode120x said:

https://www.apea.com/
They have everything from the in person and online lectures/seminars as well as study guides and plenty of practice questions. They have predictor exams, but keep in mind, those exams are just predictions, it's not necessarily something you use as a gauge if you immediately pass or fail. From what I can remember last year when I took two of them, the predictors do not provide rationales but only the end of the exam scoring and a breakdown of sections/topics with a percentage of how you do. They might have changed it now by adding rationales, maybe someone else who took it recently can verify. As mentioned in my reply to you weeks ago, I highly recommend doing the seminars/lectures. It really helps the content sink in for both clinical and textbook setting while doing the rest of the practice questions and study guides can hopefully help solidify the information.

OMG. Again . You are so kind . I appreciate your reply. . 

Does it matter which bundle I purchase, are they all the same content, when should I start doing it, how long before I take the exam.? My problem is that I study very slowly every day over an extended period of time, I wish I can do intensive type of studying over a short period of time before I do the exam, but I think this time I will try to do that...

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

I actually do not know much about how the bundles and pricing work because my APEA's lectures and exams were included in my program's curriculum. 

Maybe take some of your previous experience, some of the advice given here from the other posters, and the knowledge of what areas you did not do well on (based on the AANP scoring/percentage breakdown they sent you post-exam) to create a study plan and then schedule a test based off that plan. You know you so no one here can tell you when to take the exam and if you are ready or not. You just have get the confidence and do what you need to do to pass. Just keep in mind that once you pay for your AANP test (assuming that's what you are taking again)/get confirmation that you are eligible to take the test, you have to take/schedule that test within 90 days. 

[uniqueguy34, BSN, MSN]

16 hours ago, barcode120x said:

I actually do not know much about how the bundles and pricing work because my APEA's lectures and exams were included in my program's curriculum. 

Maybe take some of your previous experience, some of the advice given here from the other posters, and the knowledge of what areas you did not do well on (based on the AANP scoring/percentage breakdown they sent you post-exam) to create a study plan and then schedule a test based off that plan. You know you so no one here can tell you when to take the exam and if you are ready or not. You just have get the confidence and do what you need to do to pass. Just keep in mind that once you pay for your AANP test (assuming that's what you are taking again)/get confirmation that you are eligible to take the test, you have to take/schedule that test within 90 days. 

Thanks . When I got an email it just said my score and then it said only the areas that I was weakest and and strongest in. It's really did not break it down,. I usually study very slowly because I have a full-time job and I have a family and a pregnant wife. So I cannot put too much hours each day so I tend to schedule the exam much later than most people I think. So I would say this time around I will need another 2 months of preparation, I definitely want to buy another high quality study course this time around to try. I really appreciate your comment and the time you took to post

[RNNPMNANDRE]

I took the AANP in October and December 2022 and failed both times, first with a 461 and then with a 469. I simply read Leik's exam tip and clinical pearls and answered all questions twice the first time. Then, in my second attempt, after two months of in-depth study, a L.W. comprehensive review, a S.M. crash course, and redoing all of Leik's questions, my score went from 461 to 469! I have never failed an exam before until now, not in my undergrad (the NCLEX, which I passed in 75 questions), and not in my master's program.

I will be retaking the AANP FNP, probably this week (because I have a conditional job offer); reach out if you want some resources that I have. I just recently realized that I know way too much content, but I also realized that I don't know how to take standardized exams! And this might just be the key—learning how to decipher what the exam is really asking in terms of the entry-level competencies.

standarized test.pdf

[Dora The Explorer]

Hey,

I know your feeling the pressure, but you totally got this! I also have to take the exam again after failing once and have a similar background. I'm thinking it may be choosing the answer that applies more specifically to the question in front of me and not thinking so much of hypothetical scenarios indirectly. I'll take any study material your willing to part ways with, if any and congrats on the job offer as well.

[uniqueguy34, BSN, MSN]

RNNPMNANDRE said:

I took the AANP in October and December 2022 and failed both times, first with a 461 and then with a 469. I simply read Leik's exam tip and clinical pearls and answered all questions twice the first time. Then, in my second attempt, after two months of in-depth study, a L.W. comprehensive review, a S.M. crash course, and redoing all of Leik's questions, my score went from 461 to 469! I have never failed an exam before until now, not in my undergrad (the NCLEX, which I passed in 75 questions), and not in my master's program.

I will be retaking the AANP FNP, probably this week (because I have a conditional job offer); reach out if you want some resources that I have. I just recently realized that I know way too much content, but I also realized that I don't know how to take standardized exams! And this might just be the key—learning how to decipher what the exam is really asking in terms of the entry-level competencies.

standarized test.pdf

Hi, I really appreciate your message and reaching out to me. I don't know if you have done the exam, I would really love to get in touch with you and really appreciate if you can share any kind of resources with me, I am planning on buying the Sarah Michelle course and I would love to share with you if you need it or whatever advice you can give me. I will try to get in touch with you on here, I don't know how to message you. But I will try to figure it out I am at this point studying everyday, my wife is pregnant and that is kind of making my test date unclear at this point as she is in her last month of pregnancy, and I have two sons and a full-time job, but I am not letting my guards down when it comes to studying, I'm still in it daily and.. I'm planning to buy the questions Bank of Sarah Michelle as well as the crash course. Any other advice or recommendation will be very appreciated... My number :[phone]. Hussein 

[uniqueguy34, BSN, MSN]

Dora The Explorer said:

Hey,

I know your feeling the pressure, but you totally got this! I also have to take the exam again after failing once and have a similar background. I'm thinking it may be choosing the answer that applies more specifically to the question in front of me and not thinking so much of hypothetical scenarios indirectly. I'll take any study material your willing to part ways with, if any and congrats on the job offer as well.

Hi Dora . Thank you for reaching out, I would love to get in touch with you and we can share materials for sure, again like I said before, I don't know if I can message you on here. I will do the best I can otherwise, please feel free to reply to this message with your contact info, if it is easier. I am pretty sure that we can help each other.. 

Email: [email protected]

My number : [phone]

[RNNPMNANDRE]

uniqueguy34 said:

Hi, I really appreciate your message and reaching out to me. I don't know if you have done the exam, I would really love to get in touch with you and really appreciate if you can share any kind of resources with me, I am planning on buying the Sarah Michelle course and I would love to share with you if you need it or whatever advice you can give me. I will try to get in touch with you on here, I don't know how to message you. But I will try to figure it out I am at this point studying everyday, my wife is pregnant and that is kind of making my test date unclear at this point as she is in her last month of pregnancy, and I have two sons and a full-time job, but I am not letting my guards down when it comes to studying, I'm still in it daily and.. I'm planning to buy the questions Bank of Sarah Michelle as well as the crash course. Any other advice or recommendation will be very appreciated... My number :[phone]. Hussein 

Hello,

I am happy to say that I passed! Looking back, I believe I was very close to passing the first time because I received a 461/500 and left nearly 20 questions unanswered. This means the test is not testing for "knowledge," it is testing for your ability to recall "key terms" that correctly match the "stem of the question." I also say this because how is it possible that on my first exam I got 461 and 3 months later, after intensive review for the S.M. and L.W. courses, I just went up to 469? This means that in my first attempt, I was mainly using recollection and association.

Some personal recommendations:

Stick to the Leik's testbook (BEST INVESTMENT).I know it's easier said than done, but the reality is that the more courses I took, the more extensive and broader the topics became, and it just seemed that by the time I finished dermatology, I had already forgotten about endocrinology! No, I didn't read the entire book "cover to cover" like most people claimed they had done. Instead, I read all of the notes, clinical pearls, and danger signals... If I felt like I needed more, I would review the specific chapter.

Buy the two (second-best investment) versions of the PSI exam from previous years! I had questions taken verbatim from there every single time. It also helps you remember the questions that will be asked of you on the exam.

This is from Leik's, and this was probably my biggest weakness: I didn't memorize all of the terminology or all of the "special names" or "key words" of the signs, assessments, landmarks, etc. The test will expect you to know all of them, and if you are getting them confused at home, you will get them wrong during the test: 

Are Two Names Better Than One? I. Discussion 

Some diseases and conditions are known by two different names that are used interchangeably in both the clinical area and the literature. Sometimes the alternate name is the one being used in the exam questions. This can fool the test taker who is familiar with the disease but only recognizes it under its other name. 

II. Examples 

·       Degenerative joint disease (DJD), or osteoarthritis 

·       Atopic dermatitis, or eczema 

·       Senile arcus, or arcus senilis 

·       Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 

·       Otitis media with effusion (OME), or middle ear effusion (MEE) 

·       Group A beta Streptococcus, or S. pyogenes …… and so on!!!

( T., Codina Leik Maria. Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review. Springer Publishing, 2021. )

Sarah Michelle's crash course is all you need from her (third best investment), and her comprehensive review is too comprehensive! Also, I noticed that S.M. leaves out all the "key words." She teaches you the concept but leaves out the key word that's going to really help you distinguish right from wrong. The SM test bank is cheap, but those questions really test knowledge and concepts; again, if you need to brush up on content, then go for it. But her questions are far from what you see on the exam.

I'm conflicted about Latrina Walden's reviews. Simply put, the "Buzzword review" is like reading the clinical pearls from Leik, and her comprehensive review again is over 800 PowerPoints of more information that will just overwhelm you.

If you are answering most of Leik's questions correctly, I would recommend taking an APEA practice exam, identifying your weak areas, and purchasing the Q-banks from APEA, which are harder but more structured and similar to the actual exam than S.M.

Brittani NP on YouTube has videos on the major topics, as well as Dump-sheets for each major section, and it's all free!

If I had to do it all over again, I would make sure to memorize all the "key terms" from Leik. Do all her questions until you get 90%, or at least you know most of the rationales. If you need a review course, I would have simply purchased S.M.'s crash course. and definitely the PSI exams from previous years. Stop making notes on the same stuff, hoping you will memorize it; instead, do questions and really understand why you got it right or wrong.

[londonflo]

uniqueguy34 said:

someone told me that Walden review are good,

If the Walden reviews are good, why don't they integrate the reviews into their programs?