How I Passed the AANP :D

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Specializes in FNP.

Hello Future NP's, 89e0c159-08c6-4004-80d9-ec58ebe88ee0

I would like to share how I passed the FNP AANP boards on 10/10/18.

Firstly, I started in May, listening to Barkley's (2015) CD's in my car to and from Clinical two days per week for an over 1hr drive one way, I took two clinicals in that last semester. So that equaled to roughly 5 hrs/wk.

While in that last semester, the school had us do APEA QBank questions weekly 25-50 per week (they have explanations). My school gave us an APEA pre-predictor in the 5th week. Then a few weeks later my school gave us a post-predictor APEA exam. Then they gave us a Diagnostic Readiness Test by BARKLEY & Associates 1 week before classes ended.

Secondly, once I graduated, I started Barkley's (2015) home study review book with the CD's (The same CD's from before) almost every day (reviewed the content twice, back to back). Then I took a 4 day Live webinar review course by Maria Leik (2018) 2 weeks before my exam was scheduled. I used Fitzerald's (2015) Certification Exam and Practice questions book but only used her STD & Hepatitis chart to study from. And read the psych chapter and a few paragraphs here and there to compare to Barkley's and Leik's information, also did some questions.

Thirdly, I used Picmonic (which I bought) because it is visual, which really helped me with headaches, peds immunizations, peds milestones, asthma, macular degeneration, Glaucoma, and others (after every topic there is a quiz). Also, any Quizlet (which I bought), Google FNP review then I would hit the "learn" section and went into options on the left bottom and removed "written questions in" and check "term" only. I would do both random and systems/topics. I also went to both AANC & AANP website and took the 25 free questions they give (no explanation though).

Fourthly, I did Maria Leik's questions in her book FNP's Certification Review 3rd edition and the app online (which are the same questions, just organized by systems and you can also review content), in the book they are random since 9/12/18. On the last week, I bought and took the 75 question PSI retired exams x2 from AANPCB, Fitzgerald's five-part exam (each 75 questions). All questions I did had explanations, which is the best way I knew what I could actually recall when I read the questions.

Lastly, the day of my exam. I scheduled it for 1p because Leik gave good advice to take the exam when you are most alert. And I am not a morning person. I woke up at 6a and went over what I had not reviewed in a week. And up until 12:30p I did practice exams and took my exam at 1p.

So I must admit that in every practice exam, pre/post-predictor, quiz, readiness test I took, I never got higher than 61%. However, I made sure I would keep exposing myself to questions, quizzes, and Quizlet flashcards daily. I probably did over 5,000 questions, no lie. And it paid off. I passed on the first try. Thank God, goodness, and all that is good! I remained nervous for days and in disbelief that I had passed this exam.

I share my experience so that others could be successful on the first try. I wish all of you guys good luck to those who are taking the exam soon and I congratulate all of you that have recently passed the FNP Exam. ?

Signed,

MSN, APRN, FNP-C

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Specializes in FNP.

Btw, I forgot to mention that I had scheduled my Board examination for 6 weeks right after graduation. So I studied like a mad woman for 6 weeks praying that was enough time.

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Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.

Congrats

1
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Specializes in FNP.

Thank you very much! It was a rough 6 weeks.

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Specializes in FNP.

Thank you!

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With all the questions you did, which test bank do you think most accurately reflected the difficulty level of the AANP exam? Thanks!

1
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Specializes in Corrections, Education, Med/Surg, AGNP-HIV.

Congrats! I passed AANP - AGNP exam today. I found (APEA) Ameile Hollier's live course (videos) beneficial and also AGNP Cert review 3rd ed, premium access, I did about two weeks intensive studying, finished exam 1 1/2 hours

1
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Congrats! Thanks for the tips ?

1
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Congrats!!!

I am scheduled to take AANP-FNP on April1.

I am very nervous and I do not feel like I am ready. I have been consistent with my studying for past 2 1/2 months, focusing on M. Leik Intensive review book (3rd ed.)

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

1
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Specializes in FNP.
On 1/18/2019 at 2:14 PM, lrn22 said:

With all the questions you did, which test bank do you think most accurately reflected the difficulty level of the AANP exam? Thanks!

I thought that APEA was the closest the the real exam. You're Welcome!

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Specializes in FNP.
On 3/19/2019 at 12:38 AM, Mimster said:

Congrats!!!

I am scheduled to take AANP-FNP on April1.

I am very nervous and I do not feel like I am ready. I have been consistent with my studying for past 2 1/2 months, focusing on M. Leik Intensive review book (3rd ed.)

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

I'm sorry, I don't have any notifications on the site... I just looked at the site and saw this email.

I hope you passed your exam?

If you didn't, email me again and I'll give you some tips.

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Specializes in FNP.
On 2/2/2019 at 9:54 PM, DesertRN2 said:

Congrats! I passed AANP - AGNP exam today. I found (APEA) Ameile Hollier's live course (videos) beneficial and also AGNP Cert review 3rd ed, premium access, I did about two weeks intensive studying, finished exam 1 1/2 hours

Wow! That's great...just two weeks. Congrats!

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