I no longer update this blog.  The tips are still valid for studying for the FNP exam.

Leik released a new book and although I do have the book (somewhere) I did not review it in great depth like I did version 3.  Hopefully she corrected her mistakes. For those who requested a list of the mistakes, I no longer have tit, I lost the file somewhere on my computer after the newer book came out.

Good luck to all those looking to test soon!  I hope the study tips in this blog is still helpful.

Your tips...

Do you have any additional tips that you would like to share?  Remember, you cannot share specific questions, but topics or subjects are appropriate.

I specifically remember that there were at least 2 questions on heart murmurs and where they are located from auscultation.  The mneumonic "MR. ASH, MS. ARD" was useful.

I remember a question with pneumoconiosis as a distracting incorrect answer.  It was one of those "all the following would be considered except".

Share your tips below.  Your fellow students and test takers thank you!

Your results...

I would love to hear back from you as to how this study plan worked.  I know the plan worked for me; with your feedback, students can also see how the study plan worked for others. 

Just comment below after you have taken the AANP Certification exam and let us know how you did.  You can comment anonymously if you like, or celebrate your success!  And both positive and negative comments are welcome.

Consider answering some or all of these questions:

1.  Did you use my plan?  If you used a hybrid plan (partly mine with your own changes), how did you change your study tactics? If you use your own plan, would you mind sharing? 

2.  How did you study, how long (approximate hours per days), for how many days before taking the certification test? 

3.  How were you scoring on the study questions?  Did you feel prepared? 

4.  What was your AANPCP score (above 500 to pass)?

5.  If you were to retake the exam, what changes, if any, would you make?

6.  Do you have any other tips to share for other students? (I have a separate page for tips)

Study plan, selling your books for more than you paid for them!!

After passing, you should plan to sell your review material on eBay or Amazon, and you should make back a considerable portion of the cost! 

Interested?  Just leave a comment below about whether or not you used this study plan, if it worked for you, and a request for re-sale information.  I will send it out as soon as I can!

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links and I get a small commission if you make a purchase. 

Copyrighted 2015, N. Sturgill, FNP 

Study plan, intensive study of the CDs.

13.  After graduation, dedicate 3-4 days to go through the CDs of the review course while taking notes in a notebook or in the manual.  The CDs are recorded from a 8 hour a day, 3 day seminar, so it will take you at least 3-4 days to complete them.  These days do not have to be consecutive, maybe 2 days one week and 2 days the next week, or one day a week for 4 weeks. 

 Pretend that you are going to the seminar, take notes, study straight through, and take breaks every 50 minutes or so. This is dedicated listening, not like the listening you have been doing all along. Put in your earbuds at the Starbucks (you can get free refills on coffee if you use their app) and focus on listening, on taking notes, getting a drink, peeing, and then starting over.  Study for at least a three hour session each time, but never more than 6 hours total.  Continue to review your flashcards at least 15 minutes a day. 

14.  You should have graduated by now.  You need to continue to review the flashcards every day for at least 15 minutes and in addition one day a week dedicated to answering the questions for the fourth time. Do 100 questions on those days until you have completed both books for the fourth time.  Look at your scores.  If you are in the mid to high 90% you are probably ready for boards.  Schedule your test and pass! 

If you are not ready, continue with the flashcards and retake the questions a fifth time, or a sixth time.  What ever it takes for you to get a mastery level of the information in the questions.  Remember you are not memorizing the answers, you are seeking to understand the rationale behind the question.  I did not have one single exam question on my boards that was like or almost like a practice question.  But I was prepared for the exam and passed the first time with this process. 

Next post, how to sell your material for more than what you paid for them! 

BTW, if you do decide to attend a live seminar, consider taking notes in a notebook or on large post-it-notes.  Why? You'll get more money for the manual if it is unmarked (I did make a correction or two) when you sell it. Also consider purchasing the CDs for the extra $100 or so - you can resell them with your manual for even more money.  The bundle will sell (current year) for anywhere from $200 to $300, depending on the time of the year.

Next step: selling your review materials.

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links and I get a small commission of you use them. 

Copyrighted 2015, N. Sturgill, FNP 

Study plan, reviewing your weaknesses

12. Honestly, this is probably the most crucial part of the plan, reviewing your progress and identifying areas of weakness.  

Ok, so you should have been through all questions at least two times (maybe three) before this step.  And you have probably graduated by now - congratulations!

You should have some free time now, no need for clinical studies, no need to study for school exams.  Now you will go back and review the questions, I did maybe 50 at a time and made flashcards of any that I had circled for 2 or 3 times (either a wrong answer or a guess).  

Include the Hollier practice exams in these flashcards.  Your study time may be longer now due to researching these questions.  I did this after graduation and I used the free Brainscape app on the iPad to make flashcards.  Make your own questions, and ask about what you need to learn based on what you got wrong.  If it is memorization just ask the question as in the book.  If it is theory, research the subject and make up a question that probes for an understanding of the subject.  Spend 15 minutes a day on flashcards.  Go through these flashcards every few days (you should have probably 30-70 per book, maybe more) to review until you feel that you have mastered them. 

Continue listening to the CDs, one for a week, and start over when you finish.  

Next step: intensive study of the CDs.

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links and I get a small commission of you use them. 

Copyrighted 2015, N. Sturgill, FNP 

Study plan...after completing both books once

9.  Start with the Liek book again, same process.  Then the Hollier book again. Take the second Hollier exam.  It takes some time to work through both books (maybe 2 months) which is why you want to start now.  You are going for a slow steady daily process that helps with slow steady persistent learning. 

10.  Compare your progress first time and second time.  You should see an improvement of maybe 5-10%.  It's cool, let it ride, you'll get even better the next time.

11. Third time, same thing, both books, all questions, including the third Hollier exam, and then compare progress. You should be getting better! 

Remember to continue to listen to one CD continuously each week and a new one every week, working you way through all of them.  

Next step: reviewing your weakness (the most important step).

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links and I get a small commission of you use them. 

Copyrighted 2015, N. Sturgill, FNP