Phoenix2010

I did Barkley and the one through ANCC; neither did a lot for me. Ionly know one person who passed the adult or family psych exam the first time and she is married to a psychiatrist! I used those two 75 question practice exams through ANCC; I think they were like 99.00 for three months access. Good luck!

Thank you for your reply. You have made a lot of good points, and I agree with most all of them. The problems which you talked about in your post are the same ones I experienced in my online graduate degree. I have also taught via webCT in a psychiatric master's level course, the only face to face contact I had with any of my students was during orientation. Unfortunately I think this is the wave of the future which we cannot stop. Thanks again, Phoenix2010

I teach a generic BSN nursing program in an upper level college. We are slowly although much sooner than we all prefer converting to online teaching. Does anyone have an opinion on which avenue of teaching is more efficient, especially for NPs? Phoenix2010

Have you been practicing as a FPMHNP for 2 and 1/2 years? What is your time regarding experience in nursing before your graduate degree? I graduated in May of 2007 and worked on my temporary license for 6 months, but then I had some fairly complicated "back problems" and could not work for a while. I have been teaching since then, because it is physically possible for me to perform in a teaching role. I still want to work as a FPMHNP, but I am having some difficult passing the certification exam. It seems that I am not the only one in this area with that difficulty (NE Texas and SW Arkansas). Has anyone taken the new exam , which began on March 1st of this year. One of my classmates did FNP and then went on to finish her FPMHNP. She passed her FNP certification, but was not successful with the psychiatric one. We need some advice or help! I have studied everything that is available, except for the new online practice test. Has anyone accessed that yet? Just need some friendly advice from someone who has been successful with this exam. I like teaching, but it just was not I worked so hard in graduate school to accomplish.Please help!!! Phoenix 2010

I looked up the PNCB website and it is for Pediatric nurse practitioners. I am needing the Family psychiatric mental health NP certifying organization. To my knowledge, ANCC is the only one that certifies this specialty. Thank you for your input. Phoenix2010

I live and work in the southern part of the US and have been out of bedside nursing for about 3 years. In this part of the country "nurses continue to eat their young." As an educator I have even had problems with the nursing staff treating my students badly.

I went to an ANCC review in August 2009 in Arlington, TX which is only 3 hours from my home and found it not to be very helpful. The kowledge that was presented was nothing new. I did some research and found where the pass rate for the Family mental health exam is historically much lower than it is for FNP. That tends to be true for most specialties but not quite as low as the family psychiatric exam. I have never studied so much, for so long and still continue to be unsuccessful. Have you looked at the new sample test on the ANCC website? I found it to be more nurse oriented, and the questions were not as vague. I bought the new book, will read that and also take it one more time. Good luck to you as well! Phoenix2010

I worked 12 hour shifts as a critical care bedside nurse for 22 years. They were great when my children were small, and I was a single mother, but 22 years and several back surgeries later were enough for me. Keep in mind that was working as a staff RN. I now teach in a BSN program and basically the schedule is M-F. I have the option to work at home when needed if I do not have student activity such as clinicals going on. I am off today for President's Day, one month for Christmas, one week for spring break, all of the state holidays and almost three months in the summer. Keep in mind also that this is a 9 month contract, but I make as much as I did working all year in a hospital. I still want to practice in my NP family psychiatric field, but for now this is good experience and there is no physical strain other than maybe driving a good distance on occassion to get to clinicals.Hopefully this transition will allow me to forgoe another surgery, and eventually move into hospital-based or private practice. I am also however at home working on tests, calenders, etc. on my day off. I guess every position in nursing has its percs!:)

Sounds like a good plan. I know that study groups usually always work well. I am constantly encouraging my 19 y/o to find a study group in college. My only problem is that there are not too many psychiatric NPs in my area, but thanks for the thought. Phoenix2010

Most graduate schools prefer that you not work at all,but that is normally not reasonable for most of us. I worked three 12 hour shifts weekly in ICU and the team I worked with was real good about changing days around for me, or simply picking up one of my shifts. The last semester I went to a PRN status while doing my practicum and worked very little. I used student loan money, savings and credit cards. I was broke when I graduated which made my back injury even worse. I work for UAMS in a satellite BSN program. You do not have to be an NP to teach, although they prefer it but you have to have a masters degree in something to teach BSN students in our program. What you have to be while in school is very creative and resilient if you work.You can teach in an ADN or LPN program if you have a BSN. Good Luck! Phoenix 2010

I have been an RN for over 25 years; 22 of those years were spent working bedside care in the ICUs mostly, but also ED or any other place they needed me. I graduated with an associate degree in 1985, and then went back for my completion BSN in 2001. I had already had one back surgery, and was determined to get out of the environment before my physical health was completely ruined. I lost a child in 1996 and became interested in Family Psychiatric NP. I graduated from that program in May of 2007, went to work for a psychiatric hospital making 80,000 per year as opposed to 50-60. I was loving it until L4 and L5 decided to leave me at the same time. I could not walk or get out of the bed, lost 40 lbs and as a single mother almost lost everything I owned because I was in a new job without sick leave or insurance and had only been there a short time. I had more surgey in October of 2007, but continued to have severe pain in my right leg and had to quit my job. By the grace of God somehow the same graduate school that I had graduated from called me to teach in there BSN program. The money is average, but the hours are great and there is no physical labor involved. I still want my certification some day, and yes if you can find a job as a psychiatric NP you can make great money because there are so few of that particular specialty. Phoenix 2010

You wouldn't happen to be from Texas would you? All of our managers, directors, etc. in the critical care areas had associate degrees and treated the staff who were aspiring for higher edcation like "crap."

My only problem with that is that Fitzgerald does not offer psychiatric nurse practitioner reviews for some reason, but I have also heard ver good things about their review.

I am having the same problem with the Family Psychiatric certification. I have studied everything there is to study, and made good grades in school. I am also a psychiatric coordinator for the BSN program at the university from which I graduated. ANCC told me that nurses who have been in paractice for many years tend to over analyze on the test. I tried not to do that this last time, and made the worst score ever. It seems I continously make in the 340s. I also took a review course and two home study courses. If you find out out the secret please let me know. Phoenix2010

Good Luck! I am at my "wits" end with the same problem.