Welcome back to the Doctor Rich channel. In our last video, we had a lot of comments around nurse practitioner training and the nurse practitioner exam. So I brought in nurse practitioner training expert Veronica Hernandez to discuss this with us today!
Veronica:
Thank you for having me.
Doctor Rich:
Thanks for coming on! When we had your friend Iliana do a “reacts” video, there were a great number of comments about nurse practitioners, what it takes to be a nurse practitioner — and specifically the AANP and ANCC exams. So stick around until the end to find out how hard the exam is to become a nurse practitioner!
Don’t have time to read this post? Watch the video here instead!
Doctor Rich:
So Veronica, tell us — what is a nurse practitioner?
Veronica:
I’m an advanced practice registered nurse.
Doctor Rich:
What superpower do you wish you had?
Veronica:
To have the answer with the snap of a finger.
Doctor Rich:
That’s it?! Not like laser eye beams? Nothing?
Veronica
No, not at this point.
Doctor Rich:
Wow. [to cameraman offscreen] Okay, Jonathan — what would you do?
Jonathan:
Fly.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah, flying’s pretty good.
Jonathan [to Doctor Rich]:
What about you?
Doctor Rich:
I think that’d be super strength, right? Being able to lift up cars? That’d be cool. Alright. But having the answer — that’d be pretty good.
Veronica:
Yup.
Ruben [offscreen, giving his answer to the superpower question]:
Invisibility.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah… [laughing] That sounds kind of pervy — which is why I didn’t go with that one! There’s that one show on Amazon prime — The Boys… there’s that guy that’s invisible, and he is a super perv!
[moving on to another question]
I think I know the answer… but what was your favorite rotation so far?
Veronica:
Women’s. I’ve been doing Women’s for a long time.
Doctor Rich [jokingly fishing for affirmation]:
And did you… uh… have the opportunity to rotate with a world-famous urogynecologist?
Veronica [pointing to Doctor Rich]:
This guy right here!
Doctor Rich:
How was that? What was your favorite part?
Veronica:
Oh… getting to do the exams.
Doctor Rich:
Okay.
Veronica:
You letting me be a part of the whole thing and letting me be independent.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah, I feel like I gave you a lot of autonomy during the rotations — was that helpful? Do you think that will help you in your career?
Veronica:
Yes, definitely! Because I need to learn — I’m getting closer to that point where I need to be independent.
Doctor Rich:
It’s right around the corner!
[moving to the next question]
Introvert or extrovert?
Veronica
Extrovert.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah?
Veronica:
Yes. I like the outdoors, I like to try new things…
Doctor Rich:
You’re not afraid of talking in front of the camera? Or meeting new people?
Veronica:
I mean, sometimes — but it’s just a matter of getting it out.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah… I saw a video one time by Simon Sine — and he talks about introverts and extroverts. Classically it’s thought of as extroverts having all the friends, and they’re always running around… and introverts don’t have friends, and they’re always by themselves. He described it in a different way. He said extroverts (in any social interaction) gain energy — like it actually builds them up and they’re fired up at the end of the interaction. Whereas introverts — it takes energy from them to be able to go out and meet people and perform. So you’d find it hard to believe… I’m a total introvert!
Veronica [shocked]:
I would!
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
But when you use it in that definition — in that sense — it kind of makes a lot of sense to me. Because you know, I like to make videos, I like to talk to people, I like to perform — but I think at the end of that exchange, I do feel like, “Oh, that took a lot of energy!” I enjoy doing it, but it takes energy from me.
[moving to the next question]
How do you manage stress?
Veronica:
I haven’t done it lately, but going for a run — a walk in the morning. I live close to the mountain, so just getting that view.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah.
Veronica:
Surprisingly, cleaning and listening to music.
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
Wow! You’re going to fit right into my office.
What inspires you?
Veronica
Um, my family…
[Doctor Rich jokingly points at himself and mouths the words “This guy.”]
[laughing] I want to show them that I can do this. I wanna do this for them. And knowing that this profession’s going to give me the opportunity to provide care for the community.
Doctor Rich:
What did you think you were going to do when you were growing up?
Veronica:
I think definitely something in the healthcare field. Maybe not a doctor — I don’t envy you!
Doctor Rich:
Yeah…
Veronica:
But I remember playing with my brother — checking his ears and that kind of stuff.
Doctor Rich:
What do you think your biggest strength is?
Veronica:
Perseverance for sure.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah, I think I saw that even in a month-long rotation. I was like, “Go see another patient!” “Yes, sir!”
Veronica:
You gotta keep going!
Doctor Rich:
On the other hand, what’s your biggest weakness?
Veronica:
An overthinker. Sometimes I tend to think too much, and I just need to center myself.
Doctor Rich:
Describe nurse practitioner in three words.
Veronica:
Advocate, provider, and… hmm… third one’s a hard one… caring,
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
That’s better than I would’ve done! Describe yourself in three words.
Veronica:
Determined, humble, and caring.
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
I think we have an alignment of personality and career! Favorite color?
Veronica:
Mint blue.
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
That’s oddly specific. Mint blue?
Veronica:
Yes.
Doctor Rich:
Wow. Okay. I don’t even know what that is!
Veronica [pointing at something offscreen]:
Right there!
Doctor Rich:
I don’t think guys can see that color!
[Doctor Rich and Jonathan (offscreen) look for the example of the color that Veronica pointed at]
Veronica:
The cup.
Jonathan [offscreen]:
The cup?
Doctor Rich [Jonathan hands the mint blue cup to him]:
Oh, you see? You asked two guys… and Jonathan’s handing me something green!
So is this mint blue?
Veronica:
Mm-hmm.
Doctor Rich:
Alright. Now, you know! Silver, gold, or Bitcoin?
Veronica:
Bitcoin!
Doctor Rich [surprised]:
Really?
Veronica:
Yeah, I’m interested.
Doctor Rich:
It’s the future… perhaps!
Veronica:
Yeah.
Doctor Rich:
You heard it here first! What’s your favorite vegetable?
Veronica:
Broccoli.
Doctor Rich:
Oh, man! I’ve never met somebody that, like, really likes broccoli — like as their FAVORITE vegetable. I mean, it’s one of mine too.
Veronica:
But dip it in ranch.
Doctor Rich:
Oh, well, okay… put anything in ranch! Favorite junk food?
Veronica:
Chocolate cake.
Doctor Rich:
Oh. That’s the Achilles’ heel?
Veronica:
It’s got the caffeine, too!
Doctor Rich:
Oh, that’s true! DC or Marvel?
Veronica [without hesitation]:
Marvel.
Doctor Rich:
Hands down?
Veronica:
A hundred percent.
Doctor Rich:
Right? I mean, Supes is cool and all — but you know… And maybe it’s because I’m wearing the mask, but like, I’ve had fifty people say I look like Dr. Strange!
[A side-by-side picture of Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange and Doctor Rich dressed as Dr. Strange appears set to Dr. Strange’s theme music]
Veronica [recognizing a resemblance]:
That’s true! Yeah, I can see it!
Doctor Rich:
All right — celebrity crush?
Veronica:
Channing Tatum.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah, that’s not a bad one. Favorite song?
Veronica:
Calma by Farruko and Pedro — it’s a beach song!
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
I’ll take your word for it! Call or text?
Veronica:
Same. Depends on the message.
Doctor Rich:
Okay. Really?
Veronica:
Yeah.
Doctor Rich:
I’m, like, “Team Text.” What’s your guilty pleasure?
Veronica:
Chocolate.
Doctor Rich [laughing]
Definitely a chocolate theme going on here. What makes you laugh?
Veronica:
My kids. They say the silliest things!
Doctor Rich:
Yeah. You should keep a journal. So I started keeping a journal — because you’ll forget the things they said. Like my little one — she was maybe five or six, and they were all, like, saying something about “Who are you going to marry when you grow up?” And she’s like, “Well, Daddy!” And I was like, “No, no, no. Mommy’s married to Daddy!” And she was like, “I know… when I’m older!” Like that makes a difference!
Veronica [laughing]:
Like she’s gonna kick her out?
Doctor Rich:
Right?! No, no, no. You’re already thinking about that?! Favorite vacation place?
Veronica
California. I mean it’s the furthest I’ve been, so…
Doctor Rich:
NoCal or SoCal?
Veronica:
South. South. South California.
Doctor Rich:
LA? San Diego?
Veronica:
Yes. Yeah.
Doctor Rich:
What’s your favorite season?
Veronica:
Winter.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah, there’s really only one season in El Paso — hot… and a little bit less hot!
Veronica:
So when you get the cold, you appreciate it!
Doctor Rich:
Yeah — like the rain! So other than study materials, what have you been reading lately?
Veronica:
Uh, I don’t know if I can say the word, but it’s You’re a Bad@**.
Doctor Rich:
Oh, oh, yeah — Jen Sincero?
Veronica:
Yes.
Doctor Rich:
Bungee jumping or skydiving?
Veronica:
Skydiving. If you’re gonna do it, just go for it!
Doctor Rich:
Go all the way?
Veronica:
Mm-hmm.
Doctor Rich:
You know, that’s interesting. Have you been?
Veronica:
No.
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
Yeah. I went skydiving, and I think I’m more afraid of bungee jumping. But I think that’s the practical thing — like what if the cord snaps or whatever? And I think a lot more intense scrutiny goes into the packaging of the parachute than — you know — some “bro” hooking up your bungee cord. I don’t know… maybe it’s just me.
If you could have dinner with anybody in history (not Jay-Z) who would it be?
Veronica:
I’d say Martin Luther King — just to know what gave him the passion to do what he did. And to face all the opposition he did.
Doctor Rich:
Courage.
Veronica:
Yeah.
Doctor Rich:
What’s one thing you had to learn the hard way?
Veronica:
Um… you’ve got to read. There’s no short path to that. You have to read.
Doctor Rich:
What about audiobooks?
Veronica:
It’s not the same. I need to visualize it.
Doctor Rich:
Yeah. Yeah. I’m a visual person too. So what’s some of the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Veronica:
Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities.
Doctor Rich:
You never lose — you win or you learn!
Veronica:
Yep.
Doctor Rich:
What’s the most challenging part of being an NP (in your mind)?
Veronica:
Getting people to trust you — the patients, the doctors you work with… Making sure that if you don’t know something, you’ve got to look it up so that you inspire them with the confidence to trust you with their care.
Doctor Rich:
“Fake it till you make it!”
Veronica:
Yup — it is true!
Doctor Rich:
What is your proudest moment?
Veronica:
Actually, it happened in your office!
Doctor Rich:
Oh, wow, see?
Veronica:
I was talking with a patient, and she looked a little apprehensive at first talking to me. Afterwards, she said, “Why do I feel so comfortable talking with you?”
Doctor Rich:
That’s when you won her over! So with all this “work, work, work,” you must have a hobby. What’s your hobby?
Veronica:
Playing with my kids. They just bring me down to earth.
Doctor Rich:
So that moment you’ve all been waiting for! So the nurse practitioner exam — there’s two exams. So tell me about what those two exams are about, how you study for it, and how hard is it to pass those exams?
Veronica:
So the two exams — we have the ANCC and AANP. You get the option of doing one, both, or you choose. But from what I’ve read, one has 150 questions, and the other one has 175 questions.
Doctor Rich:
Okay.
Veronica:
And they concentrated on different things. So you just kind of have to read up on it and see which one is the best fit for you.
Doctor Rich
And from your friends, people who’ve taken this exam (you’re about to start preparing for it) — how hard is it to pass?
Veronica:
The passing rate (right now) seems to be like in the eighties. So 85, 87 percent. One actually has a higher passing rate than the other — so I think that’s where the “which one might be easier” comes along.
Doctor Rich:
So what is gonna be your strategy? Like what are you going to do to study for the exam? How are you going to make time?
Veronica:
Well, thankfully I’ve got some really helpful classmates and a friend who already graduated. Our school’s also going to provide a review — so we’re going to get to do that.
Doctor Rich:
So how great is it going to be when you get that letter that says you passed your exam?
Veronica:
I’m going to celebrate.
Doctor Rich:
Go to a beach and eat some chocolate?
Veronica [emphatically]:
YES! That’s the best way to celebrate!
Doctor Rich:
Well, that’s our 73 questions! I really want to thank you, Veronica, for coming in and sharing a little bit of your story and a little bit of yourself. I know a lot of people were interested — and I think they’ll find this very helpful.
Veronica:
Well, thank you once again for having me. It was a pleasure.
Doctor Rich:
So please — if you find this helpful, share! And don’t forget to turn on your notifications. We’ll see you next time!
