Updated: Published
Hello Future NP's,
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
Hi
I took my AANP-FNP Exam on 4/1 but sadly, I did not pass. I was crushed! (and cried a bit). But I am ready to tackle the books again.
I received a letter stating that I have to 15 hours of CEU and I was wondering how I should go about starting on my CEU. Is there a website that I can go to?
Any tip how to study for my second AANP Exam?
PS: Congratulation, DesertRN2!!!
Hello DesertRN2,
I am so sorry you did not pass. And I am happy and impressed that you are ready to go for it again.
I checked the AANP website and you could check out
Www.aanp.org/ce-opportunities
There you could sign up for CEU's. I read there are videos with quizzes and certificates once you pass the quiz.
And the key for me was questions, questions, and more questions, over 5,000, on my phone and tablet, daily.
Leik's fast facts is excellent to review pertinent to the point content. And also comes with over 700 questions in the back of the book that you could access online as well.
Try Picmonic(my favorite), APEA Qbank, Quizlet (my favorite), and FNP Mastery app was good also.
Good luck on your next try!! You can do it!
All the best.
Sincerely,
YayFnp2018
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'm so sorry. I thought I responded to your question.
I think that the APEA QBank was probably the closest to the real exam from AANP.
Sorry for the extremely late response.
Your Welcome!
Hi
Thank you so much for your prompt reply ( and please, you do not need to apologize. I am grateful for your blog :-)).
I have started on my CEU via AANP today and purchased Amelie Hollier Certification Question Book as you suggested.
Hopefully I will be able to finish my CEU and to start on the certification questions.
Thank you so much for your suggestions!
2 hours ago, Mimster said:Hi
I took my AANP-FNP Exam on 4/1 but sadly, I did not pass. I was crushed! (and cried a bit). But I am ready to tackle the books again.
I received a letter stating that I have to 15 hours of CEU and I was wondering how I should go about starting on my CEU. Is there a website that I can go to?
Any tip how to study for my second AANP Exam?
PS: Congratulation, DesertRN2!!!
I failed my first time too. I recently took it again and passed. Between the two exams, I did multiple (more than 10 tests) on Exam edge. I did one test on APEA, I did the PSI practice tests, and I did Leik questions. I think the Exam Edge questions are the most similar to the actual exam, I took the AANP, and I felt much more prepared the second time around. I think if I had done those the first time, I would have passed but the test was so different from Leik and Fitzgerald that it threw me off. I used Leik as a study guide and to look up things that I did not know. I also used the online app to do questions when I was out and about and had down time.
The other thing that I did the second time around was make post its with the answers and rationale to questions I got wrong. For example, Burney's point would get a post it, and I put it up on the wall of the area I was studying. I had it color coded by disease process, pharm tips, lab tips, a section that was just memorization like Burney's point, and test taking tips.
Good luck on your next attempt!
Hi Irn22
Thank you so much for the tips!!
I also did studied Leik and did all 726 questions and about 600 questions from on line ( I forgot the name) . And you are right. AANP-FNP Board Exam was nothing like Leik at all.
I am going to take all the tips I can get to pass the board exam #2.
Thank you, all!!
YayFNP2018, APRN
15 Posts
Thank you! It was my pleasure ?