When are you ready for boards?

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

I recently graduated as PMHNP. I took off a week and have been studying for the last 3 weeks. I purchased the ANCC questions and took them until I scored over 95% on each test set. I took the ANCC review in June, completed the ANCC workbook and read all the ANCC psych book. I am currently listening and taking notes on Barclays review. Not only am I sick of studying, I am just ready to get it over with but I also don't want to risk failing it and having to wait two months. It's a risk regardless, right? How did you know when you were ready for boards?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I was ready as soon as I got the ok to test. In my experience it was way easier than I anticipated with plenty of the annoying nursing fluff that has nothing to do with prescribing psychiatric medications. If you are sick of studying you are probably more than ready. :)

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Thank you, Jules. I feel like I can study until the end of the year and still not feel 100% confident. I received my eligibility letter on Tuesday. Unfortunately,I am in a state that requires certification. Many of my peers are in a state that doesn't, so as a result, they were able to start work immediately.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I haven't taken NP boards so I can't speak to that specific experience...but when it came to the NCLEX, I knew that I would never feel 100% ready--I needed to have a target date set. I chose a date 8 weeks from graduation and studied with the aim of testing (not rescheduling) on that day. When that day came, I still didn't feel 100% ready, but I did feel a little relieved that the day of the test was finally here. And of course, the weekend of waiting for the results was the worst weekend in my life :)

Best of luck with your test!

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Hello

With the PMHNP there is no DNP? Sorry for the silly question . thank you!

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Hello, Not a silly question at all. There was a big push for the NP program to be switched to a DNP, with 2015 as the deadline. However, if I am not mistaken, this may have deterred some people from enrolling, so I think many backed off. Nonetheless, many institutions did make the transition. I happened to get into the last MSN class at my university. You can still find Master's NP programs, although I do not think they are as prevalent.

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I passed boards this week!! So glad it's finally behind me and I can now look forward to starting work :)

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Thank you!

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