Practice Makes Perfect!

I have ramped up my commitment to studying this past week. I went out of town for the 4rth and came back to reality, literally and figuratively. I had been coming to the realization that passing would be in jeopardy if I didn't ramp up my studying. I now set my alarm for 5 am and actually up with a book and coffee in hand by 5:30.

My (new!) coworker recently lent me her very gently used copy of Adult and Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination: Review Questions and Strategies by Jill Winland-Brown & Lynne  Dunphy. It has SO many practice questions divided into topics, with 112 questions per section. These questions are not the nursey types seen on the NCLEX nor the often straightforward types offered by Fitzgerald or Leik (those I can do!). Several of the questions are fact based, and simply facts that I didn't know when answering the questions (I do now!!). On one level, I feel discouraged that I'm not scoring high on these questions, but I am happy that I was lent this book and have the chance to practice! SO, my strategy has changed from do all I can to survival mode. I feel like many of my days are challenges to learn as much as I can for the boards and for my new role as NP. I learn so much every day at my new job but part of me is missing the not-so-long-ago days where I had all day to study for the boards. What a luxury! But I have always been the type of person to fill my plate of life full. That being said, I was feeling like I loaded on more than I could handle by working late hours, and my boss has been understanding of my leaving the clinic at a reasonable hour in order to study in the evenings. I do feel motivated to study- it's no longer if I'll study but when, which is sometimes in between seeing patients.

When I was working as a nurse and in grad school, I would look forward to the days when I would work a 9-5 job and come home and enjoy a relaxing evening with my husband. I feel like I'm still looking forward to those days (sigh!) but for now I am keeping focused on my goal of passing the boards!!!

I have a Date!!

I finally got my authorization to test from the ANCC last week and selected a date (in early August)! I feel like now I have a target to shoot for and the heat is on! I feel like before I didn't mind staying later at work (6:30, 7 pm) because I was in school/clinical mode at work. Now I feel like I need to get into pass the boards mode and study after I get home from work. In general it is fair to say that I've felt (and still do to some degree) wiped out after work and more in the mood of watching episodes of Weeds on Netflix and relaxing than spending time with my Fitzgerald books. BUT, now that I have a date I have something to keep motivated on.

I have to get a new Drivers License because my married name (what the ANCC knows me by) and my maiden name on my license don't match. My social security card is up to date but that's about it as far as government issued IDs. And I certainly don't need or want any problems with with this. I attempted to go to the DMV after leaving work early only to find myself driving around the town of Braintree, MA and exceeding the 5 pm closing time. I shall try again another day!

Status Post Starting New Job

I've started my new job, and as expected have fallen off the studying wagon. I'm back to studying 15 minutes (at least) each day, but at this rate I'm going to be ready by the winter. My next strategy would be to hone in on studying from the Fitzgerald workbook from the course and the Leik book and doing practice questions. I've already read the published Fitzgerald book, and while re-reading it would be helpful, but unless something changes soon I don't think I have the time for it. Slowly but surely I am trucking along and even though I am tired after a long day today I am going to study.

I (unofficially) passed

Today I took a practice test. I completed 150 questions in 1 hour and 31 minutes and scored a 74%. This is nothing to brag about, but within the passing range (70%). I am happy because I am still early in the studying process. I expect that I will see improvement in the next practice tests and of course with more studying. I found the questions pretty straight forward and several of them I knew right off the bat. There were 3 questions that I had not the foggiest clue and guessed. I was kind of surprised how many questions on pregnancy, and several repeat questions on the positive and probable signs of pregnancy. I expect that these questions (from the Leik book) were representative of the break down of questions on the actual boards, but who knows. I accomplished my goal of taking a full-length test and seeing where I am at- which is with a lot of work ahead of me. I also noticed that when I would miss questions, I tended to miss the next question, and sometimes a string of questions. This shows me that I need to work on staying calm and utilizing good test taking techniques. I will say that around question 75 I was starting to get antsy and feeling the painfulness of the test taking process. Not really what I would have liked to spend my day off doing, but it had to be done to get me out of my lull. In retrospect I feel like I could have done much better. But I feel like I will do better and definitely feel more grounded in the fact that I need to buckle down and study more than I have been. I also need to work on staying calm during the test and thinking critically through each question and not second guessing myself. The boards are more straight forward than the NCLEX which is good. I have a lot of confidence that I will pass, but at 74% today, I need to do better. Thank goodness I won't have to prove this tomorrow, but in the near future! 

My Lull

My progress so far has consisted of cram sessions then lulls. The past 2 days have been lulls. I have been working for the past few days and then not studying when I get home. This has me concerned about how my studying will progress after starting work full time in a few days. I feel pretty comfortable in my role as an RN, so I am wondering how I will fare in a new role with the additional challenge of studying on my days off.

I have covered 95% of cardiac so far and will most likely finish that tomorrow. In order to get me back on track, I was thinking of taking a practice test and seeing how I do. That would give me some actual data on what I need to focus on, because at this point I don't have a clear next move. I could continue in the body systems, but not sure which one is next on my hit list. They are all equal as far as my comfort level at this point.

One of my co-workers, Rose also recommended purchasing the ANCC book but as you can see it is quite expensive and I feel that having too many study materials might become overwhelming. My co-worker did say that it was helpful and that she wished that she had it earlier in her studying process. That being said, I have adopted a handful of Rose's books and have found her advice very helpful so far. I think I'll mull on this some more and perhaps look for some used copies (it is from 2009).

Tomorrow I will take a practice test and see where I am. I also need to get in touch with the ANCC and see where my application is at. For tonight, I am continuing my trend of taking the night off then picking my studying back up tomorrow.

Pulmonary!

I'm chipping away at the pulmonary system, including the antibiotics. So far I've been reading in my A&P book (which is the most time consuming part), my Fitzgerald workbook, the review book by Fitzgerald and then Leik book and finally looking at practice questions from Hollier & Wirfs. In the review class they recommended looking at a good A&P book and my preceptor advised reading an A&P book cover to cover. I am finding that this whole process is taking a while, at least longer than I originally thought it would. But, I am feeling that this is the best way to study that I have found so far.

Early on in my final semester, we had graduates from the previous class come and talk about their experiences after graduating. One of the grads said that she strictly stuck to studying her Fitzgerald workbook and not looking at other references. That's definitely one way of focusing studying and needless to say she passed. Right now I don't feel extremely pressured for time. I expect that will change once I have a test date and once I start working full-time.

I also want to be thorough. I feel that the time spent reviewing A&P is worthwhile because 1. it's a big part of the boards and 2. I want to know normal and abnormal A&P cold and this will only serve me, and my patients for the good. If I do get crunched for time, this is something I can skim but most likely won't eliminate. Also, I feel that most of this is a review. And, I am targeting the more difficult sections first, so, once I come closer to test time the bulk of the work will be out of the way. Or so I hope.

Next section will be cardio. 

Trying to Shake Vacation Mode

I recently came back home after some traveling and have a little over a week before starting my new job. The weather has also been very beautiful in Cambridge, and after a long cold winter I am soaking in the beautiful weather. All of this has contributed to my still feeling like I am in vacation mode. Admittedly, I am not in study mode and it's been a painful process trying to get back on track. It's been hard to stick to the 'at least 15 mins of studying a day' rule. But I know I'll have to stay on track with this because once my job starts my time will be limited to evenings and weekends and I want to get some of the harder, bigger sections out of the way first.
So, today I am on the tail-end of studying maternity. I spent part of a transcontinental plane ride reading the Leik book and Fitzgerald prep book. Today I read a chapter on maternity in my physical examination & health assessment book by Jarvis, looked at some practice questions in Hollier & Wirf's Certification Prep exams book. Next, I plan on reading what Fitzerald has to say on the topic and calling it a wrap.
I think after this I will move on to the body systems (HEENT, cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, etc) or to review antibiotics, as this is something that I will need to memorize and know. It's difficult to get into the swig of things, but I've already had a relaxing vacation and now it's time to get back to work (easier said than done) but keeping focused on my goal to pass the boards with flying colors!!!

On Track

Since my last entry I've been trying to stick to the typical advice of studying every day, if only for 15 minutes, just to stay on track. On many levels, I feel like I needed a break after completing a difficult and demanding program. This should be a breeze, right? I have just one more test to take. Studying for the boards is a lot different than studying for a final. I feel like I am trying to do less memorizing and more taking in and recalling as much information as I can so that I can answer 125 questions and pass. Also I don't have a fixed deadline. I get to choose my test date, which I don't even have official approval for. I have a time frame in mind, and once I start working I would like to be board certified as soon as possible so that I can start seeing patients. 

This all being said, I feel like I am still in vacation mode. I am actually on vacation visiting my college friend and feeling like I want to give myself a good solid break before working full time (who knows when my next vacation will be!). BUT, I am sticking to studying every day, and that is keeping me motivated and connected to my goal of passing the boards.

I have been sticking to the Fitzgerald review books (the published guide and the workbook from the prep class I took). So far so good. I am on the tail end of reviewing peds which does require some memorizing. This part is challenging for me because I need to keep the milestones in my head (when kids can sit up with support, on their own, crawl, walk, etc). I am pretty sure there will be at least 1 question on this and I want to get this right. Also peds has not been my forte and an area where I have not had a strong clinical placement (mine was at a CVS minute clinic where I saw kids with ear infections) so I didn't get a strong well-child experience. My goal for this (to be honest) is to know this stuff for the boards and move on. I don't plan on, don't feel trained or comfortable taking care of small children. So, I am tackling my weakest subject first, then moving on.

I think maternity will be my next topic, probably starting tomorrow. 

The Beginning

This blog is my way of staying motivated in studying for and ultimately passing the ANCC boards to become licenced as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) in the state of Massachusetts. It is a sequel to my other blog, Hopes and Fears in Tackling the NCLEX. I very recently graduated with an MSN and was recently hired for my very first job as an FNP. So, I really need to pass this thing in the most efficient way possible. Part of that is staying motivated, which can be difficult when time is unstructured. If you are reading this, maybe you are in the same situation. I am open to hearing your thoughts on how you stay motivated.

I have taken and passed/done well on several major exams in my life (the SAT, GRE, PCAT, and NCLEX) and know the stresses of test taking. When I was studying for the NCLEX blogging about it helped keep me on track. I also had a lot of good review materials. This time, I went on allnurses.com and read about some review books, most specifically the Leik book and Margaret Fitzgerald's prep book. I also was fortunate enough to take the Fitzerald review class over a weekend which was excellent. I also was lucky enough to hear a lot about passing the boards from several co-workers who I work with as a nurse, the NPs I work with as well as my preceptors and faculty. Many of them said it was easy and that I will be fine. I am confident but have a healthy dose of humility. And if you are in health care, you know that it doesn't take a lot to remind you of how much there is to know out there. That being said, this is a blog about the preparation for the board exam, and not a review of all that a new NP needs to know. I completed a very rigorous program at Simmons College and have accepted a position working for a very intelligent and great teacher. So, my goal in the next few weeks is to learn what I need to know and to pass the boards with flying colors! Welcome to my journey!!