Developing a Study Plan for the NP Certification
Examination
by Margaret A. Fitzgerald, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, FAANP, CSP, FAAN, DCC
As a newly-prepared nurse practitioner (NP), you are to be
congratulated on your success to date. After completing a rigorous
graduate program, your days of study are not yet over but continue
with a new focus. You need to continue to develop, expand and
refine your NP knowledge base to assure success with certification.
But how do you do this? Here is advice I provide in response to
commonly asked questions about preparing for certification.
In preparing for the NP certification exam, where should I start?
Start with reviewing the information on the exam content. Make a
list of the areas where you feel your knowledge base is secure and
where just reviewing material to refresh your memory will likely
suffice. Also, make a second list where you identify areas of
weakness and topics where you need to concentrate your review. If
you have taken an NP review course, you are likely aware that the
content of certain parts of the program were truly review, where
other sections help to point out areas where you need to expand on
your knowledge base. Knowing what areas you need to focus on
helps you decide how to allocate your study time.
As you study, please keep in mind that the NP certification
examination tests your ability to know the following:
· Why a patient is at risk for a problem.
· How a clinical problem has developed.
· What is the most likely clinical presentation of the condition?
· Why a given intervention is effective.
· How that intervention works.
· What is the most likely clinical outcome?
· Why this clinical problem is of significance to the overall healthcare system.
Therefore, a poor approach to preparing for the exam and practice
is to memorize information so you know what to do but not why
you are doing it, in both the exam room and as part of the larger
healthcare system. A better approach to preparing for the exam
and practice is to understand concepts and apply knowledge so you
know what to do and why you are doing it. The Fitzgerald Health NP
Certification Examination Review and Advanced Practice Update prepares
you in the why, how and what of NP practice, while helping to
prepare you for success on the NP boards.
How much time should I allow to prepare for my examination?
This issue of time needed for certification preparation is unique to
each exam candidate. That said, one of the major pitfalls in study is
the failure to put aside the time to prepare. Map out the demands
on your time in the first months after completing your NP program,
including work hours, family, personal and professional
commitments, as well as time you have perhaps set aside for a
well-deserved vacation. After doing this, set up a schedule of study
time, allot a greater amount of time to areas of knowledge deficit
and less to areas of where you only need to refresh your
knowledge base. Make sure you cover all areas listed as possible
exam content. Plan your date for certification only after a period of
well-planned, systematic certification- focused study.
© MMXVI FHEA, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited. Prior permission required for 1
, Developing a Study Plan for the NP Certification
Examination
How should I organize my study time?
You are off to a great start by choosing a Fitzgerald Health NP
review course. The Fitzgerald Method of NP review starts with a
summary of the vast body of knowledge needed for evidence-based
NP practice and to successfully pass the NP boards. This summary
is followed by sample practice questions to help you hone your
clinical decision-making and test-taking skills. We are proud to offer
the most comprehensive NP review courses on the market.
Allow a minimum of 4–6 weeks of planned study post review course
to maximize your likelihood of success on this important high-
stakes exam. Sit down with your calender and develop a study
schedule, 2–3 hours at a time, 5–6 days per week, giving yourself
one day off a week so you do not feel trapped or overwhelmed.
Then analyze what you have already reviewed, noting your stronger
and weaker points. For example, if you really understand all the
cardiac information and that section NP review course was truly
review, then you are set in this portion of your study. If you are still
struggling with thyroid issues, then you know you need additional
study in that area.
While this seems obvious, often people who are studying for a high-
stakes exam gravitate back to the familiar as it is comforting to
review what you know. Mark your areas of review to the schedule,
i.e. Monday night, 7–9 p.m., I will study thyroid disease using the
Fitzgerald book and FHEA review materials; Tuesday, 4–7 p.m., I will
review health promotion using my class notes from my NP program as
well as the Fitzgerald resources. If you plan out that well, you will
have a great handle on the test and, as importantly, your new
practice.
In addition to putting aside the time, setting up a system of study
can further enhance the success of a review session. One method
is the SQ4R system, where the study information is surveyed to
established goals.
· Questions about the information are formulated. What do you
need to learn about this topic so that you have a firm grasp on the
concepts? Are you able to consider the pathophysiology of a
condition, how this manifests in the clinical presentation, and how
a given intervention modifies or corrects the disease process?
· Read to answer these questions. Study background information
so you can correctly answer the questions above.
· Recite the responses to the original questions. Consider writing
up a short summary of what you have learned from your study.
· Review to see if the original goals were met.
At this point, a series of practice exam questions is a great way to wrap
up your study on a topic and demonstrate your mastery of the
information. Post study, you should be scoring in the 85–100% range
on practice questions. Use practice questions to wrap up, not start,
your NP certification review. If you are not scoring well on practice
questions, you need additional study of the content area associated
with those questions.
What about forming a study group?
Study groups can be helpful and are a terrific vehicle for sharing
information and resources. Alternatively, study groups can yield a
© MMXVI FHEA, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited. Prior permission required for 2
Examination
by Margaret A. Fitzgerald, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, FAANP, CSP, FAAN, DCC
As a newly-prepared nurse practitioner (NP), you are to be
congratulated on your success to date. After completing a rigorous
graduate program, your days of study are not yet over but continue
with a new focus. You need to continue to develop, expand and
refine your NP knowledge base to assure success with certification.
But how do you do this? Here is advice I provide in response to
commonly asked questions about preparing for certification.
In preparing for the NP certification exam, where should I start?
Start with reviewing the information on the exam content. Make a
list of the areas where you feel your knowledge base is secure and
where just reviewing material to refresh your memory will likely
suffice. Also, make a second list where you identify areas of
weakness and topics where you need to concentrate your review. If
you have taken an NP review course, you are likely aware that the
content of certain parts of the program were truly review, where
other sections help to point out areas where you need to expand on
your knowledge base. Knowing what areas you need to focus on
helps you decide how to allocate your study time.
As you study, please keep in mind that the NP certification
examination tests your ability to know the following:
· Why a patient is at risk for a problem.
· How a clinical problem has developed.
· What is the most likely clinical presentation of the condition?
· Why a given intervention is effective.
· How that intervention works.
· What is the most likely clinical outcome?
· Why this clinical problem is of significance to the overall healthcare system.
Therefore, a poor approach to preparing for the exam and practice
is to memorize information so you know what to do but not why
you are doing it, in both the exam room and as part of the larger
healthcare system. A better approach to preparing for the exam
and practice is to understand concepts and apply knowledge so you
know what to do and why you are doing it. The Fitzgerald Health NP
Certification Examination Review and Advanced Practice Update prepares
you in the why, how and what of NP practice, while helping to
prepare you for success on the NP boards.
How much time should I allow to prepare for my examination?
This issue of time needed for certification preparation is unique to
each exam candidate. That said, one of the major pitfalls in study is
the failure to put aside the time to prepare. Map out the demands
on your time in the first months after completing your NP program,
including work hours, family, personal and professional
commitments, as well as time you have perhaps set aside for a
well-deserved vacation. After doing this, set up a schedule of study
time, allot a greater amount of time to areas of knowledge deficit
and less to areas of where you only need to refresh your
knowledge base. Make sure you cover all areas listed as possible
exam content. Plan your date for certification only after a period of
well-planned, systematic certification- focused study.
© MMXVI FHEA, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited. Prior permission required for 1
, Developing a Study Plan for the NP Certification
Examination
How should I organize my study time?
You are off to a great start by choosing a Fitzgerald Health NP
review course. The Fitzgerald Method of NP review starts with a
summary of the vast body of knowledge needed for evidence-based
NP practice and to successfully pass the NP boards. This summary
is followed by sample practice questions to help you hone your
clinical decision-making and test-taking skills. We are proud to offer
the most comprehensive NP review courses on the market.
Allow a minimum of 4–6 weeks of planned study post review course
to maximize your likelihood of success on this important high-
stakes exam. Sit down with your calender and develop a study
schedule, 2–3 hours at a time, 5–6 days per week, giving yourself
one day off a week so you do not feel trapped or overwhelmed.
Then analyze what you have already reviewed, noting your stronger
and weaker points. For example, if you really understand all the
cardiac information and that section NP review course was truly
review, then you are set in this portion of your study. If you are still
struggling with thyroid issues, then you know you need additional
study in that area.
While this seems obvious, often people who are studying for a high-
stakes exam gravitate back to the familiar as it is comforting to
review what you know. Mark your areas of review to the schedule,
i.e. Monday night, 7–9 p.m., I will study thyroid disease using the
Fitzgerald book and FHEA review materials; Tuesday, 4–7 p.m., I will
review health promotion using my class notes from my NP program as
well as the Fitzgerald resources. If you plan out that well, you will
have a great handle on the test and, as importantly, your new
practice.
In addition to putting aside the time, setting up a system of study
can further enhance the success of a review session. One method
is the SQ4R system, where the study information is surveyed to
established goals.
· Questions about the information are formulated. What do you
need to learn about this topic so that you have a firm grasp on the
concepts? Are you able to consider the pathophysiology of a
condition, how this manifests in the clinical presentation, and how
a given intervention modifies or corrects the disease process?
· Read to answer these questions. Study background information
so you can correctly answer the questions above.
· Recite the responses to the original questions. Consider writing
up a short summary of what you have learned from your study.
· Review to see if the original goals were met.
At this point, a series of practice exam questions is a great way to wrap
up your study on a topic and demonstrate your mastery of the
information. Post study, you should be scoring in the 85–100% range
on practice questions. Use practice questions to wrap up, not start,
your NP certification review. If you are not scoring well on practice
questions, you need additional study of the content area associated
with those questions.
What about forming a study group?
Study groups can be helpful and are a terrific vehicle for sharing
information and resources. Alternatively, study groups can yield a
© MMXVI FHEA, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited. Prior permission required for 2
