Passed AANP this week, my opinion and study regimen

Published Jun 8, 2018

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I have nervously trolled these boards looking for some relief while waiting to take my certification exam and I can now stop worrying and share my experience.

I graduated in May from an online MSN FNP program at Eastern Kentucky University. This program touts a 99% pass rate on the certification exam so I feel like that is an important aspect to consider. Some programs do not prepare their students enough. The last semester was strictly clinical rotation so I was 6 months out of learning material by the time I graduated. We did take a Barkley pre-test and post-test, which I did not like and I did horrible on (58%) above a 70% indicates success on the certification exam. I graduated with a 3.72, so I am studious. I am usually very type A personality and graduated with a 3.8 from my ADN and a 4.0 from my BNS program. I got a B in one of my first MSN classes that involved mass amounts of paper writing and aced the rest of the program except for a B in my last FNP didactic course ( my own fault, did not put as much effort in, was beyond burnt out at that point).

I am married with 2 teenagers and I have been an RN in a level 1 trauma center for 8 years. I work a full time weekend position which only requires me to work 2 days a week but I end up picking up an additional day or 2 for the extra money. I switched to this position 2 years ago while doing my pre-req's for the program. This change was extremely beneficial for me when I started doing clinical hours as my program required 750. Preceptors were hard to come by at first but after I found my first one I kind of trickled into the others. The school was helpful with finding preceptors if you were having a hard time securing one.

As I said, not really reviewing any content during the last semester kind of left me rusty for taking the certification exam. I had purchased the Leik review book several months before graduation and had been looking at that, though not religiously. I used the app when I had down time at work, it is great and portable. I really didn't start to buckle down until after graduation as I was still doing my clinical rotation and had assignments due for that. I signed up for the in person Hollier review and I am so glad I did. She did a fantastic review regarding all of the potential topics one would see on the certification exam. I also purchased a Fitzgerald review book online for $8, I tried to get into it but mostly skimmed the content and answered the questions, going back to look at the rationale. My school did not provide any kind of review or review material; we just took the Barkley exams. We were not even required to obtain a particular score; they just used it to identify areas of weakness.

I studied for 3 weeks after graduation. I did not look at material for hours on end, maybe 4 hours or so a day and that was mostly doing questions. I did review the book I got at the Hollier review. I only purchased ONE predictor exam, it was the APEA exam. I feel like that even with the Hollier review this exam was off the wall. Questions did not mimic the questions she included in the review. I took it the night before I took my certification exam and got an 81%. I figured if I didn't know the material by now I wasn't going to know it.

I had scheduled my exam for afternoon of June 6th, as I am not a morning person. I did not look at anything that day. I arrived early as I was not familiar with the area, it was an hour and 15 minute drive from where I live (I'm a little superstitious and scheduled my exam in Ohio as that is where I am from J). I ate a light breakfast, 1/2 a muffin, lol, and a drink with some caffeine ( I do not drink coffee). I did not want to have to go to the bathroom while taking the exam. I was nervous of course but felt like I was prepared enough. The questions I got were very to the point and they were not tricky at all, if they wanted to know "except" it was in all caps. Some were as easy as "What is the antibiotic used to treat this condition". I did have a crazy allele question that I was like, "I know I'm getting this one wrong". I marked 50 questions in all and those were a quick read through and if I didn't know the answer right away I marked and went on. It took me 2 hours total to take the exam. They have a little 10 question review of the PSI facility after you submit your answers, like really, I want to know if I passed the test. I finished the survey, walked out and even before I could shut the door behind me or say anything to the proctor she was giving me a high five and said "you passed". Quite possibly the biggest relief of my life. She seemed just as excited as I was :)

All in all I think the program you attend is just as important as how you review for the certification exam. During my Hollier review I remembered back to my program and listening to PowerPoints that those same certain topics were highlighted. Needless to say I am so glad to be done with this part of my life....good luck to all you future exam takers. Remember everyone is different and unique and what may be good for one person may not be the best thing for you.