Passed aanp first try

[1TraumaNurse]

Hey everyone, just wanted to share that I passed the AANP FNP exam on the first try and wanted to share my experience with you. If your anything like me I was searching around trying to get some wisdom from others about how they passed the exam. Just to give you a little tidbit of info on me, I took the exam a year and four months after graduating with honors from my program. So it can be done! Why did I wait? The financial department decided to mess with what they were awarding for financial aid and I ended up owing the school money when I graduated. It took me longer to pay because I was facing some personal issues at home and I had to cover the bills while my husband was unable to pay the bills. That said, I was extremely nervous waiting so long! Everyone kept saying take it right away so everything is fresh in your mind. I was almost certain I wouldn't pass, but I did, and here is what I did to prepare. I hope it will help some of you who still have to sit for the exam.

I will say I was overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. I started by listening to the Fitzgerald CD's. I was working as a travel nurse and had 3-4 hours of driving a day for work so it worked well for me. At home I started to read through the Leik book and make flash cards. I also downloaded the FNP Q&A on my phone (it was 20$ I think and well worth it). In my spare time I would start doing questions wherever I was on my phone. This was all helpful but the thing that helped the most was this: I got the most recent Fitzgerald review book and read/studied it cover to cover. Her book is very thorough and covers everything you need to know.

I purchased additional questions from Barkley and Fitzgerald. The Barkley questions just made me feel worse and I never had time to even do the Fitzgerald questions. I also purchased the APEA Hollier online review because that was what my school provided my last semester and I found it quite helpful. I only had time to view a few of the videos so I reviewed what I felt weakest on.

Bottom line.... don't waste a bunch of money on all these resources. It will overwhelm you and you will freak out because you run out of time trying to do it all. I would stick to two or three resources that you feel most comfortable with and stay with that. I studied the Fitzgerald book, reviewed my flash cards and watched a few videos the week before my exam. I just didn't have time to do all the other things I had planned in my head to do. The single most helpful thing for me was the Fitzgerald book along with the Hollier review videos.

We all learn in different ways so find what works best for you. I had to write things down in binders to help me convert it to memory. I practiced maneuvers on my family to help me as well if it wasn't something I did in clinical or wasn't exposed to. Keep your chin up, you can do it! I had a death in the family right before I took boards and went from my test to the viewing so my mind was in a crazy place anyway and when I got my scores I didn't barely pass, I passed with flying colors. Trust me, if I can do it during a terrible time and after waiting so long you can too. Good luck!