Recently failed ANCC n AANP

Nursing Students NP Students

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Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but needed some advice and encouragement. I took the AANP exam last month, and didn't pass. I felt the exam was going well until I started getting tons of dermatology questions, and several pediatric questions that I just couldn't bring to memory. I studied hard for 2 1/2 weeks before taking the ANCC and failed by 19 points. Again, I felt the test was going well until I started receiving tons of policy questions and terminology that I was not familiar with. There was also the multiple multiples, and several photos that were of poor quality. I was confident that I had passed the ANCC until the end. I have recently completed the 15 CEUs for AANP, registered for the exam, and waiting to hear back from AANP. I'm so stressed out, on top of that I constantly have coworkers asking me about when I'm testing. I attended the Fitzgerskd review, read Leiks book, and listened to Barkley CDs. I will admit that I didn't do many practice quizzes for AANP, which might have been my down fall. Does anyone have any suggestions??

Did you answer all the questions in the practice books until you got them right? I went through Liek thre times, was getting 97% of them right, then went through the ones I had missed again the 4th time. I posted how I studied on the student site, you can look for it.

i studied Liek, Holliers book, Ftiz book and CDs, and Barkley CDs and manual. I studied three hours a day for at least three days a week for 6 weeks. I am an "A" student but I wanted to have a solid knowledge foundation. I felt ready when I consistently got 95-98% on the Hollier and Liek questions. I signed up and took the AANP test, passed it and then went to the live Barkely review. The Barkley review was my Plan B in case I did not pass which helped decrease my anxiety about the test.

BTW I took the HESI test (required by my school as an exit exam) and got a 920, with 700 as passing. I was getting anywhere from the low 70 to the mid 80s on the practice questions the first time. Any questions that I missed two times (or guessed two time) was made into a flash card after I researched the answer. BTW Liek has at least 38 wrongs answers or rationales in her test book, if you pulled some similar questions on the board and relied on her, she may have been partly responsible for failure.

Flashcards did did help me, there is a free app for the iPad called Brainscape. You have to make up your own flash cards but when you answer them you can mark them as 1=I don't know it to 5=I have mastered this. The lower numbered questions get repeated more often until you get them right. I started using this later, wish I had used them from the beginning. It is a good way to reinforce your weak areas. Don't just ask questions, ask about the patio behind the question that stumped you. If the answer was "a left shift" ask, "what does a left shift in WBCs mean? What will you see?"

I also made made up mnemonics to help me with some things. What is lost in presbycusis? Hi-C, as in the Hawaiian punch drink, it means high tones and consonants. Silly but I remembered it. Come up with ones that help you remember what is hard for you. I used Mr Ass and MS Ard for my murmurs (had two of them, one systolic, one diastolic).

I also had a EKG, but I am pretty sure it was a practice question. It was also very difficult to see.

i took the AANP last Saturday so I don't have the total score but look where your di poor,y and focus on that. Get a study partner that will put you through the hoops, not just answering questions but asking you why the answer is correct so that you understand the why behind it. Good luck.

Hello I am using the leik book..can you by chance tell me what questions are wrong?

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Specializes in Midwifery and Family NP.

Sure, there are no questions quoted, just numbers and my thoughts so it is my info, should not violate any copyrights. I am typing this on an iPad, which is not the best for this site, it won't let me back space, I have to erase and rewrite. So please forgive any typos in advance.

Thirty eight questions are wrong in some way, either the answer of the rationale.

18. The answer is correct but the time period is 15-20 weeks, so an aFP would never be obtained at 28 weeks. Maybe a typo, could be 18 weeks.

19. Answer should be D

28. The better answer would be GFR, which is calculated from the creatinine.

38. A pap is not standard of care until 21 years.

57. A is correct but it could also be a result of the mother having already received RhoGam in pregnancy.

64. A is the most correct answer but it should actually be Tdap instead of Td.

75. A is the best answer of those provided but it is actually fetal tissue before the placenta is even formed. The placenta forms after implantation, after 4 weeks. hCG is already present at 3 weeks, almost immediately after conception.

112. A, presumptive signs, these are those felt by the women. She lists fetal movement as felt by the mother incorrectly as a probable sign, it is actually a presumptive sign. Fetal movement felt by the provider is a probable sign.

162. D.

173. A is the best provided answer but it should actually be Tdap instead of Td.

175. D. By her own documentation, the mechanism of breast milk jaundice is not known, which makes it true and therefore the answer.

191. There is no correct answer, C is the closest. But iron is not supplemented until 6 months.

198. Both A and B are correct. Both CXR and cultures are confirmatory tests for a positive PPD TST.

206. Rationale is incorrect.

214. According to UpToDate, niacin as little effect on triglycerides.

234. Rationale is not completely correct.

244. Wrong answer, should be B. The Board of Nursing enforces the laws and regulates but only the state legislature has the ability and authority to pass the laws. The BON does not make the laws, only enforces them.

251. C is the best available answer but "very sore " is not normal.

257. The rationale is incorrect. The question asks about diagnosis and management, the Answer talks about screening.

277. There is no correct answer, all choices are associated with EBV. See question 154.

293. The cultures should have been obtained instead of a pap.

313. B, second ICS, left stern all border, see page 147.

319. B, see page 36.

338. A 4 year old cannot ride a bike! See page 364, usually age 5 or 6.

348. See rationale for 338.

372. I could not find misoprostol in any treatment regimens, except for NSAID induce gastritis.

380. C is also false.

400. No correct answer because you have to treat for chlamydia as well, not just gonorrhea.

419. B is the correct answer. Her rationale supports this as well.

422. A single parent is not emancipated either.

465. There is no right answer. Per AAP and ACOG, the correct answer is 2-3 years, which is not a choice.

478. KOH is a better choice and usually available in primary care.

499. C is the right choice, see the text on p 199.

506. D should read Caucasians, not mediteranneans. You could argue that Spainards/Hisapincs are of mediteranneans descent, which would be incorrect. Just change it to Caucasians and it will be correct.

514. Very poorly written question, hard to see what she is asking for.

566. C is the correct answer, there are only first and second degree burns here, no full thickness (third degree).

606. You, the NP, are required to report, not "she" , the mother.

620. ATA says you only need the TSH. also her other questions, see #257.

Sent from my iPad

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I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't imagine the stress on your shoulders. Not only that but the frustration too. I took the AANP on June 3 and passed - Praise God! Thank you, Jesus :). I attended the Fitzgerald Review and studied out of her book and the Leik book. I studied mainly from the review book and the Leik book - using the Leik book as a supplement. I also purchased the Apea QBank which was a big help. However, I wasn't a fan on doing too many questions. I think the best advice is to think of this as a giant test. Not like the NCLEX but like a tough final. And with prayer and confidence in what you know already, you should do fine. You've already accomplished the hardest part. :)

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Specializes in I.C.U., PACU, Endoscopy, Med Surg, E.R..

Greetings,

First off, take a deep breath. It is going to be okay. I know the stress is probably through the roof but you have to relax somewhat in order to be successful on any test I believe. Anyway, I studied in the following way for the AANP. I did the online version of the Hollier review, studied tons of Fitzgerald questions and rationales, and my school offered a Comps review course. Now, one thing that cannot be overstated in my opinion is that you must study the rationales of the questions in review books and not simply learn the answers. If you can get the rationales then it doesn't matter how that content is presented on the AANP exam, you will know it. Just my two cents. Good luck on your next attempt.

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I agree with the posters who recommended answering practice questions from the Fitzgerald and Leik books. Do as many as you can over and over. I thought that prepared me better for the test than did the Fitzgerald tapes. I studied 8 hours per day for 10 days (not consecutive days).

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS! Make sure you look up why you miss them if you do. Also listen to your CD's several times. I listened to Hollier about 4 times through. There were some questions where I read a question and her voice popped in my head.

Leik was really good in giving me a brief background on lots of different issues that weren't touched on elsewhere so I'd review it again also.

Good luck with your next attempt!

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Just get a good review book...not several. It will only confuse you. I suggest Leik's book, but avoid her questions. There are test bank questions online you can purchase. I studied 2-3 chapters a day, in blocks. Then in the evening I did those test bank questions. But I started this process in my last year of school. I took my boards 2 weeks after graduation and passed. I didn't wait to start study for boards until after graduation like many do. I don't have a photographic memory, so I knew going in how I would have to study. It really helped getting the review book at the very beginning of my last year along with taking all the test questions. So take as many test questions as you can, cause it's all about knowing what the question is asking, and you'll get better the more tests you take.

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Hi Cocoalover! did you retake the aanp boards?? I am taking them soon.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Critical Care Nursing.
Hello I am using the leik book..can you by chance tell me what questions are wrong?

If you have a solid knowledge base, you will be able to pick out what questions are wrong. There are a few formatting errors throughout the text as well, but again...if you are reading and cross-referencing well, Leik is actually the BEST (IMO) study aid. If you go through that entire book, paying close attention in particular to the "exam tips", you will do fine. My backup go-to was the questions in the back of the Hollier book. Don't just memorize questions, but do like Nelda said and understand the why. Goodluck, relax, and you've got this!

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Hi,

Just took ANCC and didnt pass.I took Neccesary NP review class.I wonder if there is any review book that reflects the way the questions were formatted.I had pictures,multiple multiple choices, drag questions,research questions,many theories etc...I know there are questions but was not expecting a lot of drag,multiple choices.Any thoughts on this anyone???

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I took the AANP exam and failed. I was so upset and frustrated after the test. I listened to the Barkley CDs and read the review book twice. i also read and did questions out of the leik book and questions from examedge.com. i also did the barkely tests and the family aanp test. I had to take some time off from studying as i think i was/am mentally drained. Any tips for me? Also where can i get education hours in evaluation (this was my weakest area)? Any tips/advise is greatly appreciated as i am ready for all of this to be over with. My stress levels are way above the roof and it has been taking a toll on my body and my relationship with loved ones.

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