Passed AANP 2020

Specialties NP

Published

Hello all! I wrote and passed my AANP and vowed to passed it forward as I stalked these forums while preparing for it!

Like what most of these forums suggest, Leik is a God send! Read it cover to cover (except for the professional role stuff). Highly recommend, even with the mistakes, just look up whatever you feel isn't correct. I had access to her review course booklet and there were a few topics not in the text but feel like they are common sense if you were a relatively "good student". Along with Leik I purchased PSI questions, just one set and did two APEA predictor exams which helps to identify your weak areas. I do agree that they're much harder than the actual exam itself. 

That's it! Yes, that's it. I had access to Fitzgerald but decided not to use it as I felt it was information overload and I had little time to study for it. 

My biggest tip (and I read this from someone's else suggestion on this blog) is to NOT read these forums close at least 1-2 weeks from your test date. It'll increase your anxiety for nothing. 

Good luck to all. You got this! Please pay it forward and support this community when you pass :). 

All the best!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thank you for the tips!

CONGRATULATIONS, @RN1320!!

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Congrats, @rn1320

I have just failed my exam, feeling like a lost soul. I have taken the Leik review twice, bought books from APEA AND BARKELY, to no avail another failing result. I am not sure where I go wrong, but it is taking a toil on me, but congrats again. Test anxiety is my middle, maybe if I conquer that I can pass. IDK anymore.

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hello when are you going to retake your exam?  you want to have a study buddy?  

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I'm not sure when, maybe sometime in March.

Sure why not.

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Specializes in Family NP/BSN undergraduate educator.

Hi everyone. If you are like me when I failed my Canadian NP exam, my mouth and heart dropped through the floor in both disbelief and utter embarrassment. Especially compiled with everyone's "you will pass, you're smart, etc" anecdotal comments prior to the exam. I fought to get over it and to write the AANP exam for initial licensure. So regardless of what happened, let it go and put your organization hat on and move forward. 

My advice...

1. Review your notes you used to previously study and fine tune them. Ensure you have covered all topics, esp the topics you have a deficit in. I wrote my notes from Fitzgerald. I used Leik's app to review. Do not get caught up on Leik's review questions. I found those the least helpful, but what I did find extrememly helpful from Leik's app was her review topics (pharm, individual systems, geriatrics, etc). I thoroughly went through those. 

2. Spend the extra money if you can to buy prep packages and practice exams. Hollier's audio and PPT review from APEA is fantastic. She drills in the important topics and passes by the extraneous, non-essentials. Her realism and humor to practice keeps you engaged and undoubtedly is the reason I passed my AANP. I hope she reads this blog! ;)

3. For practice exams I recommend:

-APEA 2 practice exams. They actually give you two extra free. One 50Q which I recommend starting with to gauge yourself and then the other free 100Q in a few weeks. When you are getting closer to your exam, do the last 2 about a week apart. Do the last test within a week of writing just to ensure you are on the right track. You should see your grades improving. On the AANP exam there are no insurance or Medicare questions so if you get those wrong, do not sweat it. As I did the exam questions, I wrote down all the questions and looked up the answers afterward. Since the 150Q exams do not let you individually review your questions-right or wrong. 

I could not buy an PSI practice exam as I live in Canada and the zip code for billing does not consider the Canadian postal codes. If anyone from PSI reads this, it would be in their best interest to rectify this as I was told by the CNO the AANP is written more than the CNPE. I would have bought one for sure. 

I did buy the Exam Edge exams- 5 pk. A cheap trick for you is to sign up for an account, put whatever bundle pack in your cart and leave it there for a few days. They will send you emails encouraging you to buy with an additional 20% on top of the 10% already applied. Exam Edge allows you to review your exam answers and take each exam 3x.

I also did whatever free questions were available on the internet. More practice-the better! The more comfortable you are with questions and test taking-the better! And DO NOT cheat on your practice tests by looking up answers as you do the exams. 

Lastly, I kept a scrap paper of values and info that I somewhat used on the exam but not overly- do not waste your time on specific lab value memorization. The AANP gives you norms. BUT you do need to know specific clinical differentials for presenting labs or clinical presentations. 

I hope this helps anyone reading this. And if you do not pass- do not give up. The exam does not define you! Sending positive vibes to all!

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Specializes in NP student.

@NorthernCanadagal2020 Thank you so much! This was a very thorough and helpful tip on exam questions and studying. 
A quick question- when you make your own notes, did you focus on concepts and/or questions you missed? I did a number of practice exams and printed them out or have them in paper copies but feel a little bit overwhelmed to put it all together. 
I also noticed I have tendency to understand but also memorize the answers of what I missed, which I heard is not always optimal.
Thanks again! 

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Specializes in Family NP/BSN undergraduate educator.

Hi Myec,

I made my own notes in both Jan (prior to my university comprehensive exam) and then again Sept when I took 3 weeks off to study intensely for my exam. My initial Canadian exam was in Oct as we were postponed from may due to Covid- which created a ton of stress and anxiety. Prior to that I was just reading and doing practice questions. I do not recommend that as I think I flooded my brain with too much prior too close to the exam. I was also coming off of a perm night position which further complicated my circadian rhythm and anxiety. 

I organized my notes the way Fitz had in her review book. I did it in systems and agreed groups- renal, cardiac, pediatrics, older adults, etc. I kept it to the point. I then would finish and go to reading Leik's app and then Hollier's ppt. I think I have a bit of ADHD coupled with anxiety so I would need to switch studying modes at times because I would feel my knowledge recal slipping. For instance, I read notes, then listen to Hollier's audio review, then do a diff practice exam randomly. I did this as I just read my notes from one source for the 1st exam along with practice questions and exam Q's from a single source and became to "comfortable" with the way they asked questions, of which does not set you up for exam success. 

I would also keep the exam questions handy from the practice exams and just review them in reading but not intensely. I can tell you I did NOT see questions on the AANP exam that replicated the practice exam Q's. The BEST shot you have of hints for the AANP exam is listening to Hollier when she says "and I think you are going to see a question or 2 on your exam about it".

I also became a pro at mnemonics and association. Ex: MR. *** vs MS. ARD for my systolic murmurs and keeping that straight as I always think 'he is an ***, girls never are and those radiate' (carotid and axilla). Ex: FML when I get my period (follicular, maturation of ovary means most fertile, and leutual phases) then menses. Those types of things. I would also write down what was in my head to prevent me from getting overwhelmed and obsessing over it. Once I wrote it- I have it! 

I hope this helps!

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On 11/20/2020 at 6:30 AM, RN4701 said:

Congrats, @rn1320

I have just failed my exam, feeling like a lost soul. I have taken the Leik review twice, bought books from APEA AND BARKELY, to no avail another failing result. I am not sure where I go wrong, but it is taking a toil on me, but congrats again. Test anxiety is my middle, maybe if I conquer that I can pass. IDK anymore.

Do you know the material?  Are you doing practice questions?  Take the Sarah Michelle Crash Course review from facebook.  She will bring it all together for you.  How long have you been a nurse?  Do you feel like your school prepared you well?  I graduated 12/12 and tested 12/16 and passed.  My program prepared us well the entire last semester and we did APEA predictor exams that were way harder than the exam.  Maybe try one and see where your weak areas are and work on those areas prior to your next attempt.  Do you have bad test anxiety?  Have you thought about getting a prescription for a beta blocker prior to testing?  Just some food for thought.

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Specializes in Family NP/BSN undergraduate educator.

RN4701- do not give up hope. It absolutely sucks. And the worst is seeing posts and texts from colleagues that did pass. Remember the exam does not define you or your competency! ;o)

Now may be a good time to allow some time to reflect and re-frame.  Take account of your study materials and objectively analyze what you have. It is very very easy to think you have good material because it got you through school and it is what you are familiar with- which can also be the worst! I was broke after writing my 1st time and spending so much money on my MN-NP degree while still trying to support a family. So buying extra resources and tests is not always in the cards. My advice is still to seek out good resources, but it does not have to be the most current. I used Hollier's audio and PPT that were 5 years old. Some things may have changed, but I did not notice it on the exam. Be frugal- seek out your friends who have passed and borrow their prep books. Maybe they will even allow you to use their practice tests. 

Since you have done this 2x already and are feeling so defeated, running back into studying again I think will be a disservice to you. Take some "real" time to refresh and relax before you jump in. It will be hard to let those test demons go, so you really need to get over that before you get into it again. Make a fresh game plan and start from scratch-- I did and it was the best plan I had.

Good luck and Happy New 2021 to all! 

 

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Thank you for your words of wisdom. Will take time to reflect, start over with setting up some study time. Next time I will pass.

Thank you

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Specializes in Family NP/BSN undergraduate educator.

Yes absolutely good plan. It is hard not to jump back in and want to get it done with and behind you asap. I felt like somehow that would lessen the feelings of inadequacy. But it would be even worse if it happened a 3rd time- you know what I mean. Relax. It will come!

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