bobcambren

I have been scratched, had my finger almost broken by a patient that I thought wanted to hold my hand while going to sleep and pulled my back several times from lifting patients who truly could move better than me but the worst part of the abuse was from physicians. I have worked with some of the most foul mouthed physicians who were so verbally abusive. I have been called in to a case and the doctor say, "where is my nurse?" I worked with one girl that for some reason the doctor hated and everytime we would do a case, he would call administration and say, "get me some competent help in here." Different doctors of course, but the same personality. I have also been rubbed up against numerous times, but that was perhaps from just having to work closely with physicians while doing procedures. I say that because that was mostly with a very polite physician who only was rude to me one time. Funny thing is that one of the most hateful, rude and insulting doctors that I worked with has his patients completely fooled. I signed one in once and she said, "I just love him, he is such a good man. He prayed with me before surgery." I was speechless. I couldn't say a word because he was a monster to work with. Just reminiscing....ah, the old days.

Hello again, I have certainly appreciated all the input I have gotten from all the experienced NPs who have responded. I have returned to school and gotten my Post Masters in Mental Health Nursing. I found a WONDERFUL school in New York, Sage. It is not an online program but they accepted many of my credits from the FNP program. I got my required hours of clinical in pediatric and adult. The staff there was so professional and knowledgeable. I felt that I learned so much. You have to maintain a B to stay in and I made some. The other students and teachers had so much experience that I loved to hear what would be discussed in class. It was truly a blessing to find the school. The best part was I didn't have to wait years to get in. Some programs that I found-one in particular- took applications and let you in and then when it was almost time to start said they didn't have enough people for the program. They did that for 3 semesters. I had friends that waited and they didn't start until the semester that I graduated. I was so glad I didn't wait. Thank you, Bob (now waiting to take certification exam-which I have heard is murder.) If anyone out there wants to give me some advice on what study guides or reviews to use, I could certainly use it. I want to clear up one thing. People have asked me if I saw a greater demand for the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. That is not why I returned to school. I did it because I was working in Mental Health and needed the education for the specific job (that I got because I was an FNP and could do physicals.) However, I have heard that there are not very many NP's out there with Mental Health and Family NP certification. Around where I live there are not as many jobs in the Mental Health field for NPs as the FNP. Lots of offices use FNP's and train them for whatever specialty they have.

you asked what I do as a FNP working in mental health. An FNP can do medical assessments and write up history & physicals. I can also write prescriptions for medical management on an outpatient basis. I don't do that anymore because it has become hospital policy to have certified mental health nurse practitioners or physicians do that. I am glad about that. You may feel comfortable about that but I didn't like changing meds and things like that. I had a supervising physician but I hated bothering him all the time when the medication the patient had been on wasn't working. That is why I want to go to school and get certified. I feel that I need to know more about psychpharmacology working with this type of patient. I guess the answer to a lot of questions is that FNP's can legally do it but I want more education to make me more comfortable with the type of patient we deal with. I think it is a good idea to learn how mental health patients' medications can interact with medical needs and the medications they are already receiving. I hope this makes sense. Thank you all for your comments. I have learned a lot since I first posted.

Thank you. I guess I had better get going since this semester has already started. I hope I get in by summer semester.

Thank you so much. I will go online and try to find one and then before I register I guess I need to check to see if they meet ANCC requirements. I would imagine that they are all just as long. I would like to find the quickest one if anyone knows of one that will allow anything to help me get out faster. Thanks again

I have certainly benefited from all the advice you all have provided. The question I am seeing most is why do I want to do it. Well, to explain my situation a little--I went to school to get FNP and then took a job at mental health facility. They need someone to see patients in the outpatient setting and I need something that insurance companies will recognize in order for reimbursement. Someone mentioned a DNP. I have heard that soon all NP's will have to have DNP. Is there one some kind of mental health DNP that I could get that would qualify me for taking the certification exam. I could get the DNP in the same length of time it would take me to get the Mental Health NP. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you

Does anyone know of a way for a family nurse practitioner who has years of experience in mental health nursing to obtain some sort of psychiatric/mental health certification without having to complete a mental health nurse practitioner program? I looked at the ANCC requirements and I have all the classes they require but it says I must have graduated from an approved mental health nurse practitioner program. Please advise if you know anything about this. Thank you

I wondered if you have already taken the exam if you could help answer some of the same questions you had for me. How long does it take to find out if you have passed or failed? I am guessing they just let you know if you pass or fail no other scores, right? I found the study guide but I don't really have time to do all that. I had planned to take an online course. But I find out it is only offered in January and April. Please tell me anything you can that you think would help. I know cramming is not the best way, but I have taken a week off work right before the exam and have been reading over information for quite some time but since I don't know what to study I have been reading everything from Swan's to sterilization. Help--please. Bob