Passed AANP for FNP. Tips from my personal experience

annfaith, DNP, NP · Feb 26, 2012

I totally agree. I passed the AANP FNP exam using the APEA review course and materials + Fitzgerald review CD's and the Leik review book. Questions from either book will help you with your exam. I liked the APEA because it helped me identify my weak areas. Any combination of these materials can help you become successful taking the exam.

Tinabeanrn · Mar 6, 2012

This totally helps. Thanks guys

LHendon · Apr 28, 2012

This is just from my personal experience.
Materials:
1. Both APEA and Fitzgerald disks (a classmate and I exchange them when we were done with the disks).
Fitz-Excellent medication review for each system, but a lot of information; can be overwhelming. Inadequate review in the peds section.
APEA- Info is broken down into simplest form to understand; good review on peds and pregnant.
2. Fitzgerald review book (love this; very thorough with lots of questions)
3. Leik's review book-concise and easy to read
4. APEA's questions and answers book- did not use
My approach:
1. Listen to both sets of CDs once after school is done (I listened to some lectures during school already)
2. Read the entire Leik's review book.
3. Study each body system using the review books that accompanied the CDs
4. Read the Fitz review book and answer the questions
5. Make flashcards of weak areas.
Bare minimum, I would recommend APEA's review CD/course and Fitz's review book. I think the sample exam from Fitz's website is made up of the questions in her book and the sample exam from APEA is from the questions in her APEA's questions and answers book.
Make sure you make a of your studying goals. Good luck. I hope this helps

>>>>>I just wanted to thank you for your time and detail in your book. I take the aanp on 14th. I keep rescheduling due to my nerves! I have the Leik, Apea and fitz CD's and books.. Hopefully they will work for me as well as they did you...

TraceyMarino · Apr 30, 2012

I got the Leik version on my kindle. I must say, I have NEVER seen so many typos. Some so significant they give you the wrong information- see the section about first line agents for hypertension-accidentally states that ACE should not be used for diabetics or african americans, when it should be they should be first line. Multiple errors in this kindle version, I wonder if the print version is better?

Tinabeanrn · Apr 30, 2012

I found two errors in the print version.

LHendon · May 8, 2012

Okay well I take my exam this AM... Hope to be able to return with good news/advice!!

Tinabeanrn · May 8, 2012

How did it go??

LHendon · May 8, 2012

I PASSED the AANP exam today!! I am ELATED!!!

Tinabeanrn · May 9, 2012

WHOOP WHOOP! Congrats. Set off some fireworks honey! Or should I say BOARD CERTIFIED NURSE PRACTITIONER!!! :yeah:

LHendon · May 9, 2012

Tinabeanrn

Thanks so much.. Its still unbelievable!!! When are you taking yours???

LHendon · May 9, 2012

Okay so a long post. But I wanted to share my preparation with everyone as well, I know when I was preparing it just made me feel better!!

I found the exam straight forward, yet challenging as well. However, I truly put in TONS of effort at preparation. I probably flagged about 20-25 question s that I wanted to review at the end. I was able to narrow all my questions down to 2 answer choices which was a great feeling. You are also able to go back and forth to other questions if you want to. Take notes, some of the questions had material (lab values, assessment data) that I was able to apply to other questions

I just wanted to share with everyone how I prepared:

-APEA – I reviewed her book, plus I have her book of questions. I wound not recommend this on its own though.

-Fitzgerald – CD’s and Certification review questions (2010 version)

-Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive review fast facts and questions (2008, Maria Leik from Springer Publishing, $38.00) Highly recommend. I read this book in a weekend and then worked on the questions .. I think there are 500 in this book. And yes there are a few typos, but still worth it! If you get it from Springer publishing I think some of the typos have been fixed. I also read a new one will be coming out in 2012 sometime.

- Necessary NP, 1000 Questions by Kellerman ($80.00 and worth every penny) she gives great detail in the rationale. Really liked this one! Lots of things in there that I was not aware of before I began studying and I am pleased to say I believe a couple concepts that I knew were because of this book!!)

-I did the AANP practice exam 75 questions ($50.00) Does not tell you the right answer only if you are right or wrong. Have a pen and paper so you can write things down, they don’t let you review your questions. I paid for this exam a second time to see if I improved and if the questions changed. The questions did not change, but I must have learned the concepts because I went from a 77 to 93.

-I also purchased 5 tests from AANP-FNP online. I found this to be geared more toward ANCC but if you can get through those these were pretty good questions.

-I also did a second APEA test , the one like we did in class.. I was not pleased with how I scored and wanted to see if I could improve. Some of the questions I think were repeated from some of the questions I had on the class exam.

I cannot stress enough to start doing your questions if you haven’t started. The exam is not to trick you, remember it is to test your basic knowledge as a new nurse practitioner. I do not think I could have over studied and my energy, time, and maxing out my CC was worth it..

Remember assessment class…. THIS IS A BIG area of concentration on the exam!!

Good Luck to you all…..