Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam

Begin to develop a plan to pass the Certification Exam. Compare your home state’s laws in regards to Advanced Practice Nursing Practice to an alternate state with a less or more restrictive practice environment.

To prepare:

· Consider the differences in certification exams options for your specialty

· Reflect on how to approach relocating licensure from one state to another

Write a 3-4 page paper which summarizes the following:

·

Identify the certification exam you selected and explain why (AANP)

· Outline your plan for passing the appropriate National Certification Exam

· Describe the NP Practice environment for your home state (West Virginia) highlighting restrictions or limitations for practice

· Describe 3 strengths identified from the FHEA Exit Exam

· Describe 3 areas of weakness identified by the FHEA Exit Exam and develop a study plan for addressing these areas of weakness

Please use APA format and headings. Minimum of 4 references within the last 5 years

Running head: DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR NURSING 1

DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR NURSING 6

Name

Professor

Institution

Date

Development Plan for Nursing (practitioner)

Nursing (NP) is defined as an integral part of health care system which ensures the promotion of health, prevention of illness, both physically and mentally challenged and disabled people of all ages. The unique function of nurse in caring for individuals, sick or well is to assess their response to their health status and to assist them in the performance of those activities contributing to health. Students inspiring to become nurses have a vision of one day becoming graduates and get certificates (Doona, 2014).

In United States examinations are administered by different bodies depending on the type of nursing one is taking. In my paper I will discuss Family Nurse Practitioner ** AGNP*** certification exam. Family Nurse Practitioner ** AGNP** examination is an entry level competency based exams that tests clinical knowledge in family or an individual across the life span. Family nurse practitioner (FNP) prepares registered nurses to fulfil the role of competence. They are clinical experts that implement approach which emphasizes both care and cure. They provided both academic knowledge and clinical skills necessary for health promotion, prevention of diseases, and management of common acute and chronic illness among others(Anionwu, 2005). Only graduates are eligible to sit for Family Nurse Practitioner offered by American Nurses Credentialing Centre (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) will be eligible for sitting. After graduation students are allowed to sit for certification and licensure examinations though must meet state requirements for them to obtain licensure.

In US Nurse Practitioners (NP) are given option of either taking the America Nurses Credentialing Centre (ANCC) or America Academy of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) to earn certification in their filed as Adult or family though both are recognized by licensing committees. AANP has advantages mainly because its exams are developed by AANP itself together with Professional Examinations Service (PES) the questionnaire is formulated by practicing NPs and content experts, and is highly based on the role delineation studies undertaken by the certification program and PES as objective measurers of the knowledge and skills required of competent nurse practitioners. It includes three specialities: adult, family nursing and gerontology. Contains 150 multiple choices and is computer based. 15 questions are pretest questions which are counted towards the final score. Examination administrators vary from batch to another and examinee is given about three hours to complete the test. Students receive results through email 1 to 2 weeks after examination. ***You get results at the end of the test***

Nurse Practitioner attach the initials ‘’NP-C’’ to their name, indicating certification status, whereby their certification will gain the NP added credentials in perusing a licence, continuing the practice or seeking higher education or position relevant to the field of nursing. The good thing about AANP is that certification exam is available to any NP regardless of sex, color, race, religion, sex, nationality, marital status among others (DH, 2003). **This is true for both exams** Physically challenged persons are given special consideration based on their specific need.

Plan for Passing National Certification Exam

Most nursing Boards exams are notoriously difficult mainly because the National Council of State Boards demands that nurses demonstrate competency in the ever- developing field of health care. Due to this there are possible study habits to enable pass examinations and obtain licensure. The first thing is to take a review course. This will provide you with an organized and strategic plan for preparing. Most National Council of State Boards of Nursing offers an online review course that offers more than 2,000 pages of content which are accessed for 24 hrs.

Kaplan offers in class review course which consists of 21 hours of in – class instruction, more than 3,000 practice questions and many other resources. Another procedure on how to plan national certification exam is to study all content areas. Students taking one of NCLEX tests have no option of omitting any content from the studies in hopes it won’t be covered on the exam. The continuous easement tests gives you questions based on estimation of one’s ability. Subject areas are fully combined into the test under the heading of client needs regardless of the test (UKCC, 2014). ***These reviews are for RNs not NPs. NP reviews are Fitzgerald review or Leik review. They offer live reviews, online reviews, as well as study materials. ***

Making a study schedule is the next process. Make a strict plan for the studying you plan to do on your own. The exam is direct preparation for your career as a nurse so it should be treated with the same level of professionalism as the career itself. Ensure that you reschedule for each material to ensure you cover it all. Look for a partner who will keep you motivated and on task. Finally take care of your body. Keep your body in a good working condition. This implies eating well and finding time for exercise which improves and maintains healthy circulation and oxygenation to your brain. Make sure you have a maximum sleep during the week leading up to exam.

NP Practice environment for West Virginia

West Virginia law allow for licensing of dental hygienist, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Dentists must provide dental services under the direct supervision of licensed dentists . **Not relevant ** NP may both provide direct and indirect care to patients without the collaboration or suspension of physician except for the prescribing of medication. In order to prescribe drugs, an NP must establish a collaborative relationship with a qualified physician pursuant to a written collaborative agreement.

Strengths identified from the FHEA Exit Exam and development of study plan

Ensure the quality of doctor. Doctors can ass in mbbs by studying for the exam on night before. In this regard exit exam ensures that you remember what you have studies for 5 and ½ years and due to this you have good doctors who actually know what they are doing. Exit exam also ensures that every student in a school or school district takes the same test under the same circumstances which may provide a more objective evaluation of what a Student has learned. Since grades are partially subjective and may be based as much on a student’s ability to work as they are on the actual knowledge. Test- based teaching more schools require standardized tests, may teachers tailor their lesson plans to the tests rather than to the textbook. This encourages teachers to teach useful skills.

Inclusion there has been proposed for medical students at the MBBS level a move that health experts say is essential. A draft prepared by the health ministry of US Medical Council (Amendment) Bill 2016 recommends an exit exam at the MBBS level, combined counselling at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and reservations of up to 50% of the seats of the postgraduate courses for medical officers. ***Not sure why we are discussing MBBS as it is not relevant to Nurse Practitioner. FHEA is the Fitzgerald Health Education Associates exit exam for nurse practitioners. I took the exit exam and it didn’t give a list of strengths and weaknesses. Just make up 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses ****

References

Doona M.E. (2014) Linda Richards and Nursing in Japan, Nursing History Review 4, 99–128

Anionwu, E.N. (2005) A Short History of Mary Seacole: a resource for nurses and students Royal College of Nursing, London.

Collin, R. (2012) Sarah Gamp: My favourite Charles Dickens character. Daily Telegraph14 February 2012.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/charles-dickens/9044813/Sarah-Gamp-My-favourite-Charles-Dickens-

character.html

DH (2013) The Cavendish Review: an Independent Review into Healthcare and Support Workers in the NHS and Social Care Settings. TSO, London.

The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (2013) Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry\. TSO, London.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre (2012) Statistics on Smoking: England, 2012. TSO, London

UKCC (2014) Project 2000 – A New Preparation for Practice. United Kingdom Central Council, London.