Looking for a way to help you master Family Nurse Practitioner School? Want to pass your FNP Boards the first time? (Yes, and YES!) Well – rejoice! Here is the Best Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide (for School and Boards) broken down in a step by step manner on how to use it, what makes it the best and (SUPRISE) it is under $100!
Read on for more on this invaluable resource.
FNP School is Hard. It Should Be.
The purpose is to help move you from a RN to a APRN that is knowledgeable, skilled and confident in being able to assess, diagnose and manage a diverse set of presenting illnesses – acute and chronic.
- If you have applied to FNP school – Congratulations!
- If you are on the fence in deciding if furthering your nursing education is right for you, this article may help you as you navigate this critical decision.
- And check this one out for a review on how RN school prepared you for FNP school.
- If you are already in FNP school and looking for a way to help you focus and refine, this article can help you assess your wellness during the process
- If you are at the end of your FNP student journey, you have all come to the right place!
The Best Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide (for School and Boards)
The great news is that no matter where you are in your FNP path – beginning student to senior student to graduating and prepping for FNP Boards – this amazing resource is a wealth of concise information, questions and answers with rationales that help you begin the process of THINKING like a FNP.
Fortunately, this resource helps make FNP School a little bit easier by helping break down difficult concepts into bite size chunks to help you better unpack, understand, and most of all – become confident in using the information to help your future patients!
And really, that is the whole point of going back to FNP school in the fist place.
More great news! No matter which FNP certification test you take – AANP or ANCC – this resource will help you start connecting the dots on all the things you have studied and begin the transition of thinking like a FNP.
Get it NOW and START USING IT NOW. Don’t wait.
So what is this amazing resource?
The Leik Book
Officially titled “Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review: Fast Facts and Practice Questions“, this amazing resource is authored by Maria T. Codina Leik through Springer Publishing Company.
My version is blue, dog eared and thoroughly highlighted.
It is the second edition and I STILL reference it today in my practice.
Last Amazon check revealed a fourth edition available. I am a paper book kind of girl. I learn better with a tangible study guide. But for those of you who prefer an electronic version, a Kindle option is available as well.
What makes this book so special?
How to use the Best Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide
There are 7 sections in the Leik book that cover different body systems, exam information, pharmacology review, pediatrics, adolescents and geriatric practice, professional issues and then practice questions and answers with rationale. (I love a good rationale!)
This book was well loved by me and my study group in FNP school. Study groups are an excellent way to help drive home concepts and develop your knowledge on topics. More info on how to get the best out of a study group can be found by clicking here.
Section I: Certification Exam Information
Do you do better at something when you understand the process? Or at least feel more confident when you know in advance the steps required to accomplish a task? This section is for you!
- Overview of the two different types of certifications available for the FNP – AANC and the AANP
- Similarities and differences of the two exams
- Exam format
- Total questions and time limits of each
- How to apply to test
- Discounts available
- Fees, transcript requirements, documentation, scheduling
- What happens if I miss my test date or my authorization to test expires
- Basically a great overview of the minute details of how to apply, what to do, what to submit, and what to expect after applying
- I cannot tell you the amount of anxiety this one section alleviated for me (and hopefully for you too!)
- Where to test – Hint: Prometric Computer Testing Centers
- What the process looks like
- Phone number for contact
- How to get a letter / authorization to test
- How to test if you are an international military member (THANK YOU!)
- Certification Renewal
- Summary and Fast Facts
- TIMELINE FOR STUDYING for Boards and what to take with you to the exam
- What you should do the days leading up to the exams
- Test Anxiety and BREATHING TECHNIQUES to help you do the very best on your Family Nurse Practitioner Boards
- Example questions, what to look for, directions for guiding your study time
As you can tell – each section is packed with super amazing and helpful information!
Section II: Systems Review
One word: GOLD MINE
From health screening and promotion, head to toe assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan, your big, “main things” are all right here. Don’t miss these diagnosis and treatment / prescription opportunities when they present.
Assess properly so you can diagnose correctly so you can treat in the best manner possible.
This section is long. But it is worth every page.
This section, and all the rest of them in this book, are written in an easy-to-read format that makes the material easy to digest and navigate.
It should be noted that at the time of this writing, I am not an affiliate of anything. I don’t get any remuneration for recommending resources. I am simply recommending what I use, love, and know will bring value to your Family Nurse Practitioner journey!
BUY THIS BOOK. USE THIS BOOK. This is the BEST Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide to use NOW as a Student and for Board Prep. You may find you even reference this book in your practice as a FNP.
Section III: Reproductive Review in the Best Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide
Men’s Health and Women’s Health are broken down into the most presenting topics in an easy to digest manner.
This review section is also great if you are going on and furthering your Nurse Practitioner options with a Post Graduate Degree.
Even in my Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Boards I had lab and sexually transmitted infection questions.
This review books helped refresh me on those topics and prepare me for success on those boards as well!
Section IV: Pediatrics and Adolescents Review
Genetic disorders, immunizations, laboratory tests, exam tips, normal findings and development, this is a great, great guide!
Using Leik is not a replacement for your courses or textbooks used in school. It is, however, an excellent addendum and a great summary of that knowledge.
Section V: Geriatrics Review
Family Nurse Practitioners serve a wide array of patients – from the very newest, tiny babies, to those individuals at the opposite end of the age spectrum.
Just like you will be asked about developmental stages you will also be asked about pharmacodynamics in relation to the aging process.
And again, understanding this section lends itself SUPER HELPFUL when working with psychiatric medications in the geriatric population, for example. Geriatric populations have their own elements to look for when assessing:
- Body Systems
- Renal Function
- Sex Hormones
- Immune Systems
- Hematology
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
There are exam tips through each section, including this one. Common disorders are always discussed including Warning Signs, Clinical Tips, First Line Medication and Treatment Plan.
Section VI: Professional Issues Review
Nursing concepts and professional issues are an important piece of what allows nurses the privilege of being viewed as one of the most trusted professions.
Nursing ethics are central to developing a sense of that trust and leading the mindset of practicing nurses. These include:
- Beneficence
- Nonmaleficence
- Utilitarianism
- Justice
- Dignity
- Fidelity
- Confidentiality
- Paternalism
- Autonomy
- Accountability
- Veracity
You need to understand these concepts, their definitions and examples. Not just for the board exam – but for a foundation for your practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Fortunately, a review is found in this book.
There are other important concepts, including some legal issues, understanding Advanced Directives and Power of Attorneys that you will also need for your board and practice.
All these, along with an overview of HIPAA, malpractice insurance, health insurance, cultural competency, research review (and level of hierarchy of research!) and the Nurse Practitioner Role is included in the BEST FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER STUDY GUIDE.
Section VII: Practice Questions and Answers
Could you skip straight to this section and ignore the others: Yes
Would you get as much out of this guide vs reading it from front to back: Maybe
Each individual’s needs and journey are different. And each section may not apply to you in a chronological format as presented in the book.
Choose where you start, where you go next, and what you review.
That is one of the great beauties of this guide. The sections help break down the topics and each can stand alone.
The Best Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide – for NOW & Board Prep
My Leik book has 642 sample questions in Section VII alone. That means there are 642 sets of answers and rationales.
The other sections of the book guides the FNP student / graduate in narrowing down the focus and scope of their learning, as well as helping to apply all.the.things you have been exposed to and crammed into your brain during the course of school.
The Best Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide
If you are using this book in school to help you study and pass course tests – this is an excellent guide!
If you are using this book to help prep for board exams – this is an excellent guide!
Each section is thoughtful, detailed, and focused. The author is intent of giving you the clinical practice pearls you need along the way in a concise manner that helps you remember the key elements you need to be successful.
Using the Best Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide
One of the best things about using the Leik book (aka The Best Family Nurse Practitioner Study Guide) is that this powerful tool is perfect when you are in school, studying for boards and even when you are practicing.
You learn a lot in school.
You are expected to be the expert in the room when you are with patients presenting to your clinic for assistance.
Sometimes, you will be able to know that you “should” know about something but you need to look it up to provide the best care — and you know what — that is ok.
Know your resources. Develop a library of resources you can access.
Include this book as part of your library of resources to help you as you develop into the Family Nurse Practitioner you were designed to be!
Read more on:
How Nursing School Helped Prepare you for Nurse Practitioner School
How to Navigate Nurse Practitioner School (Without Losing Your Mind)
9 Essential Questions to Ask Before Going Back to Nurse Practitioner School
How to Use Essential Oils to Help YOU Study and Test
