Guest575949

Thank you!!

THIS makes me so happy!!

I couldn't be more excited, and I honestly still have this sick feeling in my stomach, like they're going to call me back and say, OOPs! Assuming that doesn't happen, I can proudly say that I passed the AANP FNP Certification exam today!!! A few posts here really helped guide my study, so I figured I'd pay it forward and share what worked for me. My school only offered the Barkley predictor exam upon finishing (not the review- just the exam. how kind of them ). I did it and saw that I had much work to do. However, I was tired of paying for things, so I decided not to attend a review course. Here's what I did instead. Will try and keep it brief: 1. Hollier/APEA Review CDs: purchased on Ebay. Came with a review book, and this was SO good. I was able to listen in the car, and that really helped me. Pretty much every major topic she touched on was on my exam. 2. APEA Predictor Exam and practice questions I found on Quizlet: 2 of the Hollier questions were word for word on my exam. I remember which ones verbatim, but I think it's illegal for me to share, so I won't. 3. AANP's own predictor exam: I purchased this ridiculous-priced $50 practice exam, just to get a feel for how the questions were worded. Helpful for knowing what depth to study. (PS. you can also find many of these questions on Quizlet). 4. FNP Mastery iPad app: THIS was great!! I love this app, and it was one of my main sources. I think it would be more helpful for the ANCC exam though because it has a ton of non-clinical questions too. I had 1 question total on non-clinical topics on my AANP exam. 5. Leik's FNP app: Another super helpful app! I got a question word-for-word from this app as well, and a few really similar ones. The question style is similar to the exam, as is the depth which is really important. 4. Free sample questions from Board Vitals: Eh. I think these are a bit harder than the actual exam was. 5. Free sample questions from Exam Edge: Can't rate them because I barely remember them lol. 6. Someone gifted me a bundle of 5, 75-question practice exams from Fitzgerald: I did 3 of these, 2 days before my exam, and they had me feeling DOWN! I scored 67%, 76% and 78%! The second time around, I got 94-96% on all of them, but that's mainly because I remembered the answers. Rationales were AWESOME. Funny enough, I also got one question that was nearly word for word from one of my tests. In general though, her questions were super in depth, perhaps a bit more than the actual exam. Because I couldn't bear to read another textbook, my strategy mainly centered around doing practice questions and understanding rationales for the right and wrong answers. Hope this helps someone!

Nodding in agreement, especially to the bolded portion.

Thank you so much!

This is so true. From the lax admission standards (especially of those direct admit, no RN experience needed programs) and significant variation in clinical hours (my school required 650; a colleague's school required 500), to the terrible preceptor situation for many students, the NP programs could use some major improvement and standardization across the board in order to prevent a reduction in the perceived integrity of the profession.

I just completed my program and basically did the same as you- worked mainly weekends and was generally unhappy haha

I always love your insights! And, in fact, a comment you made years ago encouraged me to negotiate my pay in a previous RN position

Sounds like NPs where you are are grossly underpaid. I'm a new NP and was just offered a job making 6 figures- no call.

She didn't "antagonize" them. They have misplaced anger and that's their own fault.

EXACTLY THIS, OP.

I guess it's a good thing she doesn't need you to believe her? Lol. I've never experienced bullying/problems in nursing, but seeing how some people respond on here, I can see why some experience the whole "nurses eat their young" issue.

Sounds like we have a similar program! We had faculty-supervised labs AND that Shadow Health online assessment lab. I actually liked it though. "Tina Jones is here today for..." haha

I don't blame you at all! I am attending a hybrid program and completed a clinical last semester with an awesome preceptor. One day of clinical, she allowed another student to come with us because he arrived but the physician he was going to work with had an emergency and couldn't come in. The guy came from a program that required no RN experience prior to clinicals (my school allows you to complete some didactic classes with just your BSN, but requires 3 years of nursing experience before you can participate in clinicals). Although it was early on his in clinical, I was still shocked that he had no idea how to perform a full physical assessment! He said he had not yet started his physical assessment class. How does a school allow a student to participate in clinicals with no assessment experience??

I'm aware. That's why I said I was NOT referring to soldiers. The comment I was replying to basically paralleled Nina Pham's case with soldiers. The person said "you don't see soldiers suing..." I thought it was silly parallel to attempt and draw- not only because soldiers can't sue, but also because not fighting for yourself (if you are able to) isn't something deserving of any type of prize.

I'm never quite sure why people think they deserve a medal for not fighting back (I know in this case the soldiers couldn't sue, and I am not referring to them specifically with that comment)? Just because one group of people decides not to fight against being used as an expendable resource, doesn't mean everyone else should do the same. I'm hoping Nurse Pham wins, and that her case sets a legal precedent for all of ua nurses out there- we are people, not replaceable numbers. We deserve safe working conditions. Nina's win could possibly represent a win for the profession as a whole.

I had a patient start to get septic once. Now the seasoned nurses on my unit are awesome, but, due to my hospital engaging in some of the same things posted here, there aren't many of them. So, one night, when I'd first started, we were extremely short-staffed- it was me, another nurse from the unit with 7mos experience, a new grad orienting with her, and a charge nurse from another unit. We all had more than 5 patients a piece (which is a lot to run with given the acuity of the patients on my unit). My patient had a low grade fever all day (around 99.6) per report from day shift, but for me it had spiked yet was still below 101; he developed a mild headache and diaphoresis; and his foley didn't have nearly the output it had been trending at, even though he was consuming the same amount of fluids. When I let the CN know, she informed me that a temp below 101 was "nothing serious" and to just give him his PRN Tylenol and leave it be. Well, I was taught in school, that regardless of what anyone says, always cover your butt with documentation. So, I notified his physician, who spoke with the CN and then brushed off what I said because I was brand spanking new at the time; and then I documented and wrote a note about the situation. Well, the next day, he had to be transferred to the MSD... He'd developed "full on" sepsis but because it didn't get treated during the early signs, it progressed to a critical point. Luckily though, by my next shift, I heard he had recovered and was heading to a SNF. Troubling to think what could have happened.

Thats a scary thought! I'm a newer nurse, and I've said it before and will say it again, the tips and "tricks" the more seasoned nurses have taught me have been invaluable. And, in my experience, they've all only been something that time and experience can teach- not a classroom.

After reading through all the comments, I am so so happy to hear this! Congratulations! And, I hope you are enjoying your new job

I think about this too, and I'm still a student. I really don't like how so many online programs have absolutely no cut-off for admitting students- as long as you meet minimum requirements, you're in. What happened to being selective? And most of these schools can't even assist in meeting the preceptor clinical requirements for their students. I won't name my Uni, but my FNP program was/is a very selective hybrid program, and the school does assist in securing preceptors for students. You have to have been an RN prior to entry and you have to have so many hours of RN work, specifically in an acute care setting, prior to being eligible for clinicals. I don't understand why the ANA or BONs don't do something about is? Is it greed? Has over-saturation ever helped any profession out? I think we'd be respected so much more as a profession if standards were more stringent- like medical school, not just anyone goes to med school. You have to pass an entrance exam, go on interviews etc. I have a sister in PA school and another applying to med schools, and as rigorous as my admission process was, it was nothing like what they had to do. I think NPs are so wonderful, and as more and more states allow NPs to practice within their full scope, I truly know I made the right choice to further my education and career. I don't want to see it get like how nursing school currently is- A market hyper-saturated with programs, some of which aren't even adequately preparing students for practice. I live in a place that is very saturated with nursing programs. As many of my professors tell it, they watched the starting salary of RNs, in addition to the raises of experienced RNs, decrease because hospitals knew there would always be another job candidate willing to accept whatever pay/raise they offered, just to get their foot in the door. It's an ongoing joke with people where I live that whenever a adult can't find their path in life here, they just become a nurse. It makes me feel bad sometimes, because I worked hard to get through school, and I take pride in my work. I don't want to see this start happening with NPs. Right now, there aren't many NP programs here, and NPs get paid really well and are very respected.

As a current RN and FNP student, I found this thread to be extremely helpful. Thanks so much. My sister is in PA school, and she said she loved that you all discussed everything professionally and not in an attacking matter. Which she says, it what she often finds when PAs discuss NPs on their forums- competition, nastiness and condescending comments. Thanks again guys!

Sending hugs and positive vibes your way. I pray everything works out for you and baby.

This.

It's interesting that you conveniently left out the new nurses that also didn't have their's done. I'm not going to feel bad for being proud of myself. It was no diss or malintent toward anyone. You read it how you wanted and that's on you. I come to work with a positive attitude and treat my coworkers of ALL experience levels with respect. Hope you do the same. Have a nice night, I'm not interested in your negative energy and I'm sorry if you took my post as negative. Was far from it.