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 :).
Hi everyone!
Similar to others, I promised myself I'd share my study plan if I passed my exam.
1. Leik was the most useful resource to me - read this book 2-3 times and do ALL of the practice questions provided
2. Don't waste your money on the PSI exams - at least I didn't feel like they were helpful
3. I purchased the Fitzgerald MP3 review and it came with a book. I did not like this program and didn't listen to the MP3. Too time-consuming, though I loved the review book and reviewed it a few times and compared common topics to Leik
4. I was required to take APEA exams for school - not sure how helpful they were, but if you're anxious like me and want as many practice questions as possible, I'd choose these over PSI
5. BoardVitals - my school gave us access to all of the BoardVitals questions. I did about 800 of these and also found them helpful.
All in all, I probably studied for a month at most, but really studied hard for 1 week out of that month. About 2-3 days before the exam, I reviewed Leik 1 more time and made a review sheet of important topics such as Cranial nerves, STI differences/treatment, CAP/ABRS/Bronchitis/Asthma treatment, Hepatitis serology, guidelines for screening, BP meds/contraindications, common pediatric illnesses, and a few other things. AANP isn't trying to trick you. Keep it simple and try not to over study the little things, focus on the big things. Just a reminder that you do not need to study the professional practice chapters in Leik. Most people wouldn't study a day or 2 before, but I actually felt more confident doing a basic review the night before and the morning of my exam and I felt confident during the exam. If you do one thing, read Leik.
I'm sorry I was not able to check the feed until today. I was studying and took my test yesterday and passed it. I know you can do it too. I have a struggle of understanding the questions because English is my second language. I think that I also tend to generalize and think too much out from the question too. It is important to build your confidence for I was the same, I failed the test 2x in AANP and 1 ANCC.
Here are tips that I can help you with passing your boards.
1. Understand the content, not necessarily memorizing. Understanding the disease process, interventions, treatment and outcome is the key.
2. Always eliminate two, while practicing test questions, take your time and pace. Eliminate two answers.
3. Read the question twice. There are keywords in the question that will make you look for the right answers. Questions like "except", "treatment", "the next thing to do", "what diagnostic test", "what is the diagnosis of this disease". Then ask your self, what is it asking for? Is it making me diagnose? assess? provide a treatment plan? or just plainly asking me if I know this disease?
4. Learn breathing techniques to calm you down.
5. Be confident with your answer. Do not change a lot of answers.
6. Read the Leik book at least 3-4x and answer the practice questions 3-4x until you understand what you are looking for in each question.
7. Remember, the test questions are the classic cases of each diseases.
8. Get a study buddy and ask questions, or study the content like you are about to make a presentation or teach in a class. Talking out loud helps a lot.
9. Do not take the exam if you feel like you still have a lot to study. That means you are not ready. Once you have covered your content, ask your self, do I need to study more about this topic? What topics you need to review again.
10. Answer a lot of questions, I subscribed in BoardVitals and RoshReview questions, it will help you understand what the question is looking for especially the rationale, read all of them. That way you will know which one to eliminate if you face the same question again.
Take your time in studying, do not rush yourself. It is not a competition. Your NP degree will be there and yours to keep. You are already a Nurse Practitioner. Do not get your hopes down. The board exam is just a formality.
coco_sunshine, MSN, APRN
1 Post
Hi everyone!
Similar to others, I promised myself I'd share my study plan if I passed my exam.
1. Leik was the most useful resource to me - read this book 2-3 times and do ALL of the practice questions provided
2. Don't waste your money on the PSI exams - at least I didn't feel like they were helpful
3. I purchased the Fitzgerald MP3 review and it came with a book. I did not like this program and didn't listen to the MP3. Too time-consuming, though I loved the review book and reviewed it a few times and compared common topics to Leik
4. I was required to take APEA exams for school - not sure how helpful they were, but if you're anxious like me and want as many practice questions as possible, I'd choose these over PSI
5. BoardVitals - my school gave us access to all of the BoardVitals questions. I did about 800 of these and also found them helpful.
All in all, I probably studied for a month at most, but really studied hard for 1 week out of that month. About 2-3 days before the exam, I reviewed Leik 1 more time and made a review sheet of important topics such as Cranial nerves, STI differences/treatment, CAP/ABRS/Bronchitis/Asthma treatment, Hepatitis serology, guidelines for screening, BP meds/contraindications, common pediatric illnesses, and a few other things. AANP isn't trying to trick you. Keep it simple and try not to over study the little things, focus on the big things. Just a reminder that you do not need to study the professional practice chapters in Leik. Most people wouldn't study a day or 2 before, but I actually felt more confident doing a basic review the night before and the morning of my exam and I felt confident during the exam. If you do one thing, read Leik.
Best of luck!