[NPInfo] Re: ANCC, FNP cert exam

[Margaret Allen]

I'm not "The Peg" in question below, but I often wonder how many NP programs ignore the interdisciplinary clinical knowledge needed to function at the entry level, or expect NP students to pick this up from their clinical learning' perhaps not all that great  On the nursing education list, there is the sentiment that only nurses can teach nursing, something my MS dietitian colleague ran into when we were both non-nursing faculty in a Diploma program - the BSN program replacing us thought nursing faculty could teach all the nutrition needed, and did not use librarian to teach literature searching.

Studies we've done on nursing literature note that there is reliance on the biomedical literature as well as nursing; this was even more true for nurse practitioners as a nursing specialty.  See Presentations and publications link at http://nahrs.mlanet.org/activity/mapping/nursing/index.html .  The NP study:
Shams, Marie-Lise Antoun. (2006). Mapping the literature of nurse practitioners. J Med Libr Assoc. 94(2 Suppl),  E114–E121.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1463043&blobtype=pdf .  Go through the ANCC reading list and see how many books go beyond nursing.

When I broke my ankle well over a year ago, I asked the orthopedic NP who manged my care what journals she read.  Most were foot and ankle journals, plus NEJM.  She also mentioned one of the NP journals, after the ones for her specialty.  FYI, I only saw the surgeon once before and in surgery; others covered over weekend and she did my discharge.  Very knowledgeable and helpful, with referrals for home nursing and rehab.   Our primary physician is a peds/general medicine internist who says he was trained by his wife, a pediatric nurse practitioner (that's where they met).  I think that's why he takes a more holistic approach than most physicians I've known.  I'd also like to compliment the nurses and respiratory therapists who run the pulmonary rehab program I'll complete Tuesday (it's working!); they use physician, dietitian, pharmacist, and OTs to help with the classroom teaching that goes with the monitored exercise.  Observing this program and
 cardiac rehab part of the residency training for our physician - likewise for NPs?

Finally, how many RN staff get experience in outpatient areas?  Most NPs are based in clinics and other outpatient facilities - inpatient care does not care compare.

Hope this helps - Peg

Margaret (Peg) Allen, MLS-AHIP 
P.O. Box 2, Stratford, WI, 54484
715-687-4976  Mobile 715-212-3635
Peg Allen, Library Consultant


----- Original Message ----
From: Lisa Meyer <meyerlm at chartermi.net>
To: peg at fhea.com; NP Info <npinfo at nurse.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 5, 2008 5:44:10 PM
Subject: Re: [NPInfo] Re: ANCC, FNP cert exam

Peg,

In your opinion, why are so many of my colleagues struggling to pass the 
cert exam?  What is the pass rate?  Is it lack of admissions standards on 
the behalf of NP programs?  Is it the often-waived requirement of RN 
practice prior to entrance?  Is it the quality of NP programs or lack of 
good clinical placements?  What IS the issue?

I fear that some of the critcisms that are sent flying our way by our 
medical colleagues have a shred of validity (note, I said SHRED) regarding 
our educational preparation and lack of ability to "hit the ground running" 
when we are done.  This concerns me for the future of the profession.

Lisa

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Margaret A. Fitzgerald, DNP, NP-C, FNP-BC, FAANP, CSP" 
<pegf at hotmail.com>
To: "NP Info" <npinfo at nurse.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: [NPInfo] Re: ANCC, FNP cert exam


You wrote: Just my humble opinion here. I don't think I'm God's gift to NP 
practice, > but I did think that my FNP board exam was ridiculously easy. 
Many major > areas weren't even tested. I was done in under an hour. I 
really haven't > heard what other's have thought of the ANCC exam...

Reply- I with my company's associates have helped more than 45,000 NPs 
acheive certification. I have also spoken to hundreds if not thousands of 
NPs who have failed certification over the years. You comment about it being 
very easy speaks to your clinical knowledge. That is the comment of a well 
prepared entry level NP. Congratulations! But remember that some of your 
colleagues struggle tremendously to pass the exam. Dr. Margaret A. 
Fitzgerald, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, FAANP, CSP President, Fitzgerald Health 
Education Associates, Inc. 85 Flagship Drive North Andover, MA 01845-6154 
978.794.8366 FHEA website www.fhea.com FHEA on line store www.fhea.biz 
peg at fhea.com
FNP, Adjunct Faculty, Family Practice Residency Greater Lawrence (MA) Family 
Health Center, Inc.