nickifnp

I know this is way after your initial post, but just wanted to add something in case you were still wondering. Think about your first nursing job......you didn't make a ton of money right away, you had to put in your time. Those NPs who say they made more as staff RNs were working for years to make what they made, plus many probably worked some weekends and/or nights if they were in acute care, so add in their shift differentials plus pay raises over so many years and of course they made the same as NPs starting out do. However, it's the same with NPs, no one makes $100,000 as a brand new NP in their first job, you have to put in your time. For example, with my job, I am not making $100,000, but my starting salary is $84,000 (I work in a CT stepdown/ICU), and with the yearly raise in my contract that they've promised, I will be making that much after five years, so if I can be patient and stick it out at this job, it will be worth it in no time. I think too many people think that by getting their NP they will make six figures off the bat, but you need the experience to get that type of salary, it's like that anywhere in any type of job. Swampcat is right, once you graduate, if you sign up for the National Health Service Corps (Home - NHSC) and agree to work two to four years in an area-of-need, the government will pay off most if not all of your student loans. It's not great pay in these areas, but just work for two years, pay off your loans, then get a higher paying job elsewhere. You will be able to negotiate a higher salary with two years experience, and will have no student loan payment to worry about. I can't do it because I have a toddler and husband with a job he can't leave, and there are no jobs of need in my area, but I know people who have done it and loved it. Hope this helps your decision!

The test was actually a lot easier the second time, in my opinion! I am not sure if it was all the extra study time I put in between exams or if I just felt more confident going in the second time. There were some repeat questions from the first exam that I recognized, not many, but some; there were also some very similar questions to the review questions in the back of the Leik book. The first time I took the test I rushed through it, couldn't really concentrate, was very anxious, and didn't review my answers. The second time I took my time, read each question and answer twice, utilized the scratch paper they gave me, and then at the end I reviewed ALL of the questions, not just my marked ones. In terms of studying, I reviewed Fitzgerald's book and CDs all the way through (the book I went through twice), and I reviewed Leik's intensive review book twice as well. I also relied a lot on acronyms. Like for heart murmurs, I used Fitzgerald's acronym of MR. PASS and MS. ARD, and also made up a few of my own for other areas. I will say, I got two or three questions on murmurs on both exams, and two or three questions on Tanner stages on both exams as well. If you have the Leik book, she gives exam tips and several of those ended up being on the exam as well. Also, if you are are ready to take the test again, don't wait for your letter. When did you send your stuff in? What I did was check the AANP certification site every day until I saw my app was approved (it only took a couple of days, I sent the info in Monday by overnight mail and by Thursday it was approved), then I waited a few days and then starting calling the testing corporation. They will give you the number over the phone once they have it (they have to wait for AANP to send them your information). However, I noticed that my testing number was the same for both exams, so you could also try just putting in your old number into the prometric site until it accepts it (which means that the testing center has your info). I actually didn't get my okay to test letter until AFTER I had taken the test the second time! If you are ready and just want to get it done, then try what I did. One more thing, and I know this sounds corny, but tell yourself repeatedly that you are going to pass. I told myself this so many times that I just knew I was going to pass going into the test. It's almost like my brain wasn't going to accept any other option but pass. It definitely helped my anxiety go down a few notches. Good luck and keep me updated on how you are doing!! P.S. I noticed your message and tried to respond, but the site wouldn't let me because I haven't posted enough yet. I am still pretty new to the site so I need to participate more before they will let me private message people, I guess. I tried to answer your questions in this post instead.

It seems you've gotten a lot of opinions and advice, and I just wanted to add that I graduated with my FNP in December, and I got job offers at both a small primary care practice and in an ICU at a major top five hospital; these jobs couldn't be more different from each other (I took the ICU job). In the ICU where I am now working, 95% of the providers are NPs too, by the way. Providers are providers to some places, they don't necessarily look at the FNP vs. PA, just that you are qualified to do the job at hand. And it's nice to know that if I decide to scale back I can always go to a primary care practice with my degree. NPs have just as many options, trust me. Employers hire qualified people, end of story, regardless of the PA or NP behind your name. Though I will say, at the interview for the primary care provider position, the MD said he prefers NPs, so you may come across a job here or there that would rather hire one over the other, but that's personal preference, it has nothing to do with qualifications, and should not be a reason to pick one program over the other. As some of the others before me have said, stick with what you know, which in this case would be nursing.

I too got a Not Pass, and went right home and called AANP to see what I should do next. I inquired about the rescoring, and the woman I was talking to said that in her experience only a couple of people have had it change to Pass due to rescoring, she said they rarely ever change the score, and it's not like you can go argue your case about why you think certain answers should be right, you have no say in the rescore. And then you will have spent that money on top of the money you will have to spend to retest. However, if you honestly think your score should have been Pass, give them a call and ask about it. I didn't pass my exam on Friday February 22nd. I just retook the exam yesterday, Thursday March 14th, and passed. I was able to retest less than three weeks after failing my initial exam (I could have taken it sooner in the week but wanted to give myself an extra couple days of study time). Everywhere I read said that the process took 5-6 weeks but I was very persistent, as I have a job waiting for me. Here is what I did if you are curious. I failed Friday. Saturday and Sunday I spent the days getting my 15 CEUs online (they say do it in your area of weakness, but I just went ahead and did 15 in various areas, as I didn't want to wait for my letter saying where my weakness was, and the AANP accepted them without a problem). I also printed out the AANP reexam application and filled it out. I sent all my info via overnight mail on Monday. Wednesday the AANP got my test results (they get them once per week from the testing center) and by Thursday I had been approved to retest. I then had to wait a week for the AANP to send my info to the professional testing corporation who sets up the testing number, and I called them every day that week until they had my number, which they gave to me over the phone. This was on Friday, a week after I was approved. I then immediately went onto prometric and scheduled my retest. During all this time I studied my butt off, every day. I took multiple practice tests and recorded my weak areas (GI, women's health, etc) and studied those areas more. I listened to the Fitzgerald CDs anytime I was in the car, even just to run to the store. When I retested, I felt SO much more prepared, I just knew I passed because I knew without a doubt that I was right on the majority of the answers. It also helped that my score the first time was a freaking 493, which means I only failed by a couple of questions, so I felt since I was so close last time, I would definitely pass this time. I would immediately get to preparing for your retest if you haven't already. Hopefully you have already started, but if not, do not wait for your letter from AANP, do your CEUs, send in your application overnight, and keep studying. Rescoring probably won't help and then you will have spent an extra $50, plus the process takes several weeks (you have to wait for your official letter before you can request a rescore, which takes about 2 weeks, then you have to wait about 4 weeks for the results). You could retest and pass by that time. If you don't mind waiting and think your score will honestly change, then go ahead, but I would recommend against it, just get started on taking the test again.