Passed AANPCP

[olvr00]

Hi, just want to share my experience. I passed the certification exam this afternoon. I don't know if the exam was really difficult or it was just my nervousness. I started the first ten questions of the exam already marking 3 questions for review which was not a good sign. Then I came across easy questions and questions that you need to analyze (somewhat critical thinking). Midway through the exam, I felt like I was on autopilot which was not good but I was getting tired and drained so I tried to slow down and refocus. Finished the exam with 20 minutes left. Took a bathroom break then reviewed the questions I marked. I changed first 3 of the 19 that I marked but decided not to change the rest of them. For me, the exam was really difficult. It good thing I really studied hard and prayed hard. I also started incorporating the review books that I bought on my last semester which kinda helped too. I got the not so common diseases in my exam.

For my review, I did not attend any face to face reviews due to my tight budget. Besides, I was planning to use the money for the review to pay for the ANCC, in case I failed. I have Leik, Fitzgerald, and Hollier practice question books. The most helpful for the exam were the Leik and Hollier. The best advice I can give is to remain calm and relax (which was so difficult for me) and to study and pray hard. Good luck to everyone who are going to take the exam. It's doable.

[TammyG]

Olvr00, thank you for your helpful advice and congratulations on passing. I plan to take the test at the end of the year. I like your suggestion of praying -- I don't believe God will help those who are not prepared (after all, He only wants prepared NPs in the field), but it will help to center you and calm you before the test. Congratulations again! Do you have a job lined up?

[Teck97]

Congrats! I will be sitting in about 6 months!

[SandyRN1122]

Wow, congratulations! I'll be taking it very early 2015. My study plans are similar to what you described. Do you know where you're going to work?

Mike

[olvr00]

The office manager where I did my clinicals told me that my preceptor wanted to hire me when he opens his new community clinic but there was nothing definite that we talked about. I am also on the email list of one of our professors and he would send email about job openings. I tried applying to two of them, just to see if they will be interested, but, they require certification before they entertain an application. The good thing is that they told me to contact them after I get my certification. I am just staying positive and still praying hard :)

It is also good to start studying for the exam during the last semester of the program. I finished leik and hollier during my last semester. I highlighted those that I think I will need to read again later, basically new information and my weaknesses. This helped ease the pressure of studying after graduation. I was already familiar with the review materials and it somewhat made my studying easier. The practice questions helped a lot, too. Prayers, study hard, and study smart :)

[melly1]

Congrats on passing. I take mine in a few weeks. What kind of scores were you getting on the practice exams?

[olvr00]

I did practice exams during my last semester just to know where I was. I was getting scores on the range of 47-62%. I studied some materials during my last semester then reviewed Leik and Fitzgerald after graduation. My scores improved to 72-84%.