While I was preparing I was so nervous and some of the previous post regarding the ANCC FNP exam helped and some scared me to death. I made a promise to myself to post some of my experience so that It will be helpful for the NP students who are preparing for the test soon
First of all I want to tell you all the test was not bad at all. I graduated on May 15 and registered for exam at the same time. my school took 15 days to send my official transcript to ANCC, as soon as they received my transcript they send me the OK letter to schedule the test in 2 days. In between I contact them to verify the status and they were nice...
I took 2 week to study and these are the resources I used
Leik book-- Excellent book , only needed info. breakdown nicely.. and the 650 questions at the end ...very useful. The last 2-4 chapters go over at least couple times.. you will never regret ( some minor errors noted in Leiks book)
Fitzgerald review-- I have to travel to a different town and stay in a hotel 3 days for live review... I will choose the online review much more affordable and wise. the spiral binder they gave you in the review very helpful.
The Fitzgerald online tutorials about research and the Leik book research chapter will cover the research topics pretty much for you...
I borrowed Fitzgerald 3 rd edition and read all chapters and did the answer the test questions (1400)...
APEA online review (offered by school almost 3 months ago) -- Amelie is awesome and honestly the test did not look like what review questions...
Exam edge- FNP review- I bought 10 test bundles. End up studying 10-15 different theories (some of them I even heard before and very frustrating). I scored 360-399 on these tests. very poorly constructed questions with lot of grammatical errors --the test questions in real exam is much more professional ( and ended up withno theories in my real test at all...)
Here is my exam looked like (unable to provide exact details.. don't want to be in trouble):
22 multiple choice
Hypertensive meds (CCB, HTCZ ACEI)
5 drag
3 exhibit
10 pictures (derm and eye) pictures were good quality ...please make sure you review common eye conditions with pictures well
Billing and how choose CPT codes in primary care
ANA position statements and research methods (meta analysis, case study etc..)
At least 20 cultural questions (Leik book good resource but Google it for more info)
1 milestone peades, 1 obg question
Real test looked like Fitzgerald review test questions
I finished 200 questions in 3 hours and took 30 mts to review the marked items
Once you finish the test, the proctor outside testing room will print a results for you..
I know this post is bit longer... But if this will help my fellow NP students I am happy for it....
I had an old manual and took notes in it when I reviewed the CDs. This helped me remember more. In the actual review course, I did not take notes in the manual, I just listened but that was because I had plans to sell the CDs and the manual. Most people take notes and they can still the set, just for a little less.
you could also take large post it notes and take notes on them instead. Just a thought.
Nelda FNP thankyou sooooo much for this post as I have been worried about a study strategy so thanks again !!! I have not studied since my May 2nd 2015 graduation because I am recuperating from total knee surgery and am in some pain which takes a lot of my focus......I will start studying though here next week even though the doctor has to work on my knee again !!!!
I have a study plan that I can send you if you provide me with your email in a pm. I cannot send pms yet.
The study plan starts out easy (15 minutes a day at first) and intensifies after graduation to at least 10-12 hours a week for four weeks. The entire plan takes about 3-4 months so it could easily be started in your last semester. It is based on the study plan that I used. I just got my score back and received a 731/800 on the AANP exam.
I took aanp but failed second time. I use Barkley and Leik review book, I need your advice and teach me what good review plan is. My weakness are evaluation and diagnosis.
I have a study plan that I can send you if you provide me with your email in a pm. I cannot send pms yet.
The study plan starts out easy (15 minutes a day at first) and intensifies after graduation to at least 10-12 hours a week for four weeks. The entire plan takes about 3-4 months so it could easily be started in your last semester. It is based on the study plan that I used. I just got my score back and received a 731/800 on the AANP exam.
Nelda, would you mind sending to me as well? I plan on starting a post-masters FNP in January and it's only going to take me a little over a year, so I want to get a heads of up in studying. Thanks!
I'm currently in the process of studying for the ANCC FNP exam scheduled for the end of August. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of the information and I think have too many study resources... Have been reading through all the posts and trying to incorporate everyone's studying strategies into my own. So far it is going really slow and I need to pick up the pace to finish studying in 6 weeks.
Thankyou NeldaFNP, MSN for the information that you posted. I am currently studying from Barkley using both the manual and his CDs, as well as reading through Leik's certification book and doing the practice questions at the end of that one when I am done with Barkley's information..........I will be burning the midnight oil over the next few weeks until I get this material good and stuck in my head !!! Sigh.........
NeldaFNP
53 Posts
I had an old manual and took notes in it when I reviewed the CDs. This helped me remember more. In the actual review course, I did not take notes in the manual, I just listened but that was because I had plans to sell the CDs and the manual. Most people take notes and they can still the set, just for a little less.
you could also take large post it notes and take notes on them instead. Just a thought.