PMHNP- ANCC Exam 2019

KMuniz, APRN · Oct 20, 2020

Hi!

Great advice here from the fellow successful people, THANK YOU!

I passed today, I am very happy just like you, the ones who passed!! Let me tell you my opinion and what I did.

First, I need to say that I am an immigrant (came to North America about 18 years ago), have 0 experience in Psych, only the psych course in school more than 15-16 years ago...just to give you an idea where I am coming from...worked as a wound care specialist, then school nurse...and decided to change my career for something that I have always been attracted to-psychiatry.

I need to tell you, THIS BOARD EXAM IS HARD! Don't want to scare anyone, if I passed you will to!!

But, don't take it lightly, study hard, do your best every day you are in school and when you prepare. It's no joke, it's serious, and you need to use a lot of knowledge to pass it.

I took 2 months to prepare after I was done with my program and I did the purple book (the questions at the back 2,3 x until I got almost 100%), Fitzgerald review about 2x (listening in the car as well); Questions from Study pocket prep (800 questions-good one, worth the money) and the ANA PMHNP certification practice IQ course. Did these questions prepare me?? Probably...but they were totally different...case scenarios, clinical judgement + a lot of clear cut knowledge that you must have (Erickson stages, CIWA, COWS, PHQ-9, SBIRT, yes, know the scores, lab values, meds, delirium, dementia, therapies, stuff like that, thyroid problems, clear knowledge). I did study probably 2-4 hrs/a day the most on some days, and some days I was not studying at all. Work full time job M-F, have two kids, you get the picture...If I look back, yes, I wish I would have studied harder and take it more seriously. I was scoring initially 60-70% the most on those practice questions, look at the rationale, an retake them for a 90-100% the 2 nd time. Not sure how much these really prepared me, but it's all about studying all the time, and knowing that this board exam is challenging!! I was very confident before the test, but as I was taking it I was doubting my answers (except a few that were straightforward, about 10 maybe) and by the end of it I was mentally prepared that I might need to retake it in 3 months... Not a nice thought...So, to spare yourself from going thru this, study hard from the beginning, every day, start early BEFORE you finish the program with practicing questions (I have learned from some colleagues that they started 6-10 mths prior, I wish I knew that...), and know that it is challenging and all those practice questions that we are doing are most likely not going to be on the real exam, but they do make you get an idea on what to focus and what the real ones look like.

I wish everyone GOOD LUCK!! You will do fine with the right preparation!!

Mabel · Mar 24, 2021

Last minute advice from me to anyone taking the ANCC PMHNP board exam.

What I used to study was the ANCC IQ question bank which resembled the pmhnp exam, pocket prep was a little off but great for content. Don’t waste your money on lantern review, I thought it was outdated to me, Fitzgerald was no good. I also used purple book and a review course by Yvonne PMHNP-BC. She is absolutely amazing. Her review was spot on and the truth. Her policy and Ethical review saved my life on the exam because my weakest area. She has all 5 domains plus a comprehensive PMHNP review. I did all her domains and the comprehensive review and I was fine. If you are struggling to pass definitely take her review. She also has a study plan she gives to all her students. Absolutely worth the money compared to lantern review and firtzgerd. I wasted my money on those and still failed first time but then I found Yvonne’s PMHNP review and I thank God I did. Try her out and also sign up real quick for it because the class gets full very fast. Her website is: www.pmhnpexamprepreview.com

Sariette Ngandjo · Aug 8, 2021

Congrats all.

Is anyone selling their fitzgerald's book and or audio review course? Please email me at [email protected] if you do. I'm getting ready to take the board.

Thanks ?

Sariette Ngandjo · Aug 8, 2021

On 10/20/2020 at 1:15 AM, aturcu said:

Hi!

Great advice here from the fellow successful people, THANK YOU!

I passed today, I am very happy just like you, the ones who passed!! Let me tell you my opinion and what I did.

First, I need to say that I am an immigrant (came to North America about 18 years ago), have 0 experience in Psych, only the psych course in school more than 15-16 years ago...just to give you an idea where I am coming from...worked as a wound care specialist, then school nurse...and decided to change my career for something that I have always been attracted to-psychiatry.

I need to tell you, THIS BOARD EXAM IS HARD! Don't want to scare anyone, if I passed you will to!!

But, don't take it lightly, study hard, do your best every day you are in school and when you prepare. It's no joke, it's serious, and you need to use a lot of knowledge to pass it.

I took 2 months to prepare after I was done with my program and I did the purple book (the questions at the back 2,3 x until I got almost 100%), Fitzgerald review about 2x (listening in the car as well); Questions from Study pocket prep (800 questions-good one, worth the money) and the ANA PMHNP certification practice IQ course. Did these questions prepare me?? Probably...but they were totally different...case scenarios, clinical judgement + a lot of clear cut knowledge that you must have (Erickson stages, CIWA, COWS, PHQ-9, SBIRT, yes, know the scores, lab values, meds, delirium, dementia, therapies, stuff like that, thyroid problems, clear knowledge). I did study probably 2-4 hrs/a day the most on some days, and some days I was not studying at all. Work full time job M-F, have two kids, you get the picture...If I look back, yes, I wish I would have studied harder and take it more seriously. I was scoring initially 60-70% the most on those practice questions, look at the rationale, an retake them for a 90-100% the 2 nd time. Not sure how much these really prepared me, but it's all about studying all the time, and knowing that this board exam is challenging!! I was very confident before the test, but as I was taking it I was doubting my answers (except a few that were straightforward, about 10 maybe) and by the end of it I was mentally prepared that I might need to retake it in 3 months... Not a nice thought...So, to spare yourself from going thru this, study hard from the beginning, every day, start early BEFORE you finish the program with practicing questions (I have learned from some colleagues that they started 6-10 mths prior, I wish I knew that...), and know that it is challenging and all those practice questions that we are doing are most likely not going to be on the real exam, but they do make you get an idea on what to focus and what the real ones look like.

I wish everyone GOOD LUCK!! You will do fine with the right preparation!!

Hi, congratulations. Are you recycling, selling your fitzgerald audio? I'm interested. Thanks

Sariette Ngandjo · Aug 8, 2021

On 1/23/2020 at 11:05 PM, Nrs_Ash said:

Hello all! I took the new exam (Post Dec. 16) today and passed! To be honest, it was difficult exam, I took the full 3.5 hours, and I was not confident when clicking the submit button. However, I think everyone should consider that we know how to critically think by now if we have come this far, and that’s what this exam is about. I’ll share what sources I used:

1. purple book from ancc ( read once and did practice questions)

2. Fitzgerald live review ( a must in my opinion... it’s expensive but to me, it helped the most)

3. The pmhnp practice IQ course on ancc website (worth it)

4. Pocket prep (inexpensive is perfect for the on the go)

that’s all I used! Best of luck to you all!

Sincerely,

...A new PMHNP-BC!

Hi, congrats. Are you selling your fitzgerald book and audio? I'm interested.

?

Fareeha Sipra, DNP, RN, APRN · Aug 26, 2021

anyone heard about PMHNP exam study guide similar to Frances study guide for AGCNP. Please upload if anyone has it .

Maury Hefele · Dec 1, 2021

The best review book is personally written by a fellow PMHNP and not a large publisher that has not been through a PMHNP program. An expert that has been through an actual PMHNP program followed by completing testing. I would recommend High Yield Psychiatric nurses review, which is available on amazon current an ebook but will be in print soon.