Chaoticdreams33

Has anyone ever heard of a Tier 2 NP being awarded?

very true and very important. I should have been more clear that I was referring to my specific experience and in my state of CT. However I Am not aware of any state in the US where an imminent risk to self or others is not grounds for some type of involuntary commitment or hold. In my state a person can be held for up to 72 hours for a psychiatric evaluation on a police examination request or a LCSW paper. A physician emergency certificate is signed by a licensed physician after the psychiatric evaluation is complete and if the person meets criteria for an involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, and this paper is good for up to 15 days. (Of course patients can request a probate court hearing if they disagree with this decision, or they can sign In voluntarily if they change their mind). I am not sure how up to date this is, but I did find it interesting as a side by side quick comparison. http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/documents/State_Standards_Charts_for_Assisted_Treatment_-_Civil_Commitment_Criteria_and_Initiation_Procedures.pdf

I work in an ED and we do all of the psychiatric consults to determine level of care, and like others have mentioned, the presence of suicidal ideation does not always require an inpatient hospitalization. There are a lot of factors that go into this decision, and then also commiting a person if need be. But basically if the person is having suicidal ideation with a plan and intent then they are at imminent risk and can be involuntarily hospitalized.

I have not had this happen with a patient. But on a somewhat related note, there is a psychiatrist at a local mental health agency who doesn't believe in treating psychosis/hallucinations with medications. instead he runs a group teaching patients how to best use this "gift." I end up seeing a lot of his patients in the ED, just saying. í ½í¸

SO I keep meaning to update and I keep forgetting! I passed the exam on 5/23/13 and got my license on 6/10/13. This is what I wrote to my professor when she asked me about the exam- I feel like I was well prepared, I used the ANCC book, ANCC practice questions, and the the Fitzgerald book and CDs. I also used two apps on my phone with psychiatry practice questions and case studies. They were great, I felt like I had a good handle on the diagnosing and prescribing and neuro because of them, but then I felt like I didn't get "enough" of those questions! I also made CDs of myself going over the ANCC book so I could listen in my car (my commute is 45min so don't want to waste that time). I definitely felt like I had no idea about some questions, but others were very easy. I will paste what I just sent to a friend- I finished the exam with 1.5hrs to spare, then spent 0.5hrs reviewing the questions I marked (there were a lot that I wasn't 100% on). I only changed 2 answers and there were still a good number (maybe 25-30?) that I wasn't 100% sure on or even 90% sure on. I didn't feel like I had TONS of questions on any one subject, I did feel adequately prepared, but still as I hit "end exam" I wasn't feeling like it was a slam dunk and I was very nervous. Some of the questions were confusing, but lots of them seemed very "easy" and straightforward to me. Many of them were easy to figure out the answer from the question even if I didn't fully know the content. I definitely felt like I wanted way more clinical questions, I don't believe I had a single question on actual diagnostic criteria. I had 5 questions on Zyprexa (easy), probably about 10 on neuro, at least 5 on quality improvement, and at least 5-6 on research. Plenty of easy ones on communication, medications, and a few straight medical assessment questions too. A good amount on child/adol but I think I only had two question on geri and they were both about Erikson's stages. At least 5-6, maybe more on Erikson's stages. One question on theory (answer was Orem which I was stunned to remember lol). A few on collaboration, one on coding, one on the code of ethics, one or two on the standards of practice. I am trying to remember everything I wrote down! The only notes I took were about things I wanted to remember to tell people haha. It felt like a LONG time to stay focused for, but I did it straight through and it was ok.

Thank you MeganK! I will definitely post again here with my test experience! This year the ANCC is allowing you to take the test with just your grades in, but they won't send you your cert until they get the degree conferred transcript, but yes the paperwork process does take time and I think a lot depends on your school too. My nurse registrar at the ANCC has been awesome about communicating with me about what sh has received etc. My graduation is this Sunday. I did just speak with a friend/colleague/preceptor about the exam and she is assuring me that it is easier than I am anticipating... Lets hope so!

Interesting thread! I personally chose psych NP because I love psych but I do not love working nights and weekends and holidays. I also liked the idea of working with clients all over the spectrum of mental illness, not just the sickest of the sick who are inpatient. I loved seeing all of the variety in outpatient during my internship. And around here we have 15-20min f/u appts generally but can make 30-40 min occasionally for very complex and acute patients. Community mental health, as I am sure community primary care, can be brutal though! People can be very sick and have a lot of trouble with compliance. I haven't started working as a NP yet but I do believe that I made the right choice for myself and my family.

Ellen NP, thanks for your reply. I feel semi-confident that my program and my experience have prepared me well enough. But then I get worried that I am too confident and that I will fail! Haha. I hope to take the exam the first week of June, if my school sends the forms on time!

Thanks Mookiebsnrn! I took the first one last night and there were some things on there that I honestly never heard of! I copy and pasted everything I got wrong so I can study it more. Now I know where to focus so that's good. Megank5183 no problem, Ask whatever you'd like! I think the job market widely fluctuates depending on where you're looking/living. I have applied to jobs in CT and MA. I applied for 4 jobs so far and got called back and have interviewed or have set up interviews with 3. One offered me a job and I declined because the supervision was not enough for my comfort. The Salary around here is about 85-100k for full time new grad psych NPs. And there are several other job postings on my list that I want to apply for, but I am waiting until after I pass my boards :) hope that helps!

I agree, even the ancc book and fitzgeralds have essentially the same info in them, just organized a little differently. I did do the ancc questions on their site a few months ago before I really even started to study and I didn't feel that they were too difficult. I printed them all out and I plan to do them all next weekend and see where I am at now after all my studying. Have you tried them? I am the only psych NP student graduating next week, all the rest are done in Aug so I don't have anyone to talk to that is studying right now, so thank you!

Hi MookieBSNRN! Congrats on your graduation. I have been waiting for the Barkley DRT practice tests for months! I hope they come out soon, I feel like I am ready to take a practice test and see how I am doing and where to focus the rest of my studying on. How are you liking the Barkley review? I think Fitzgeralds is ok so far, but the CDs are not as detailed in some areas as I would like, and too detailed in areas that I don't need!

Now I am scared!! My friends who have recently taken it have said that it was vague and very general, but they all passed. It seems that the new test that comes out this summer is more clinically focused and almost makes me want to wait until then to take it after reading these comments!

I am using the ANCC book, the ANCC practice questions, and the Fitzgeralds book and audio CDs. I am so nervous!! But I am glad to see that the ANCC study materials helped people to pass. Any new tips from anyone?

HI there! I just finished up my course work and will be graduating in a couple of weeks. I have started studying for the board exam and I am using the ANCC book and I also bought the Fitzgerald's program including the book and the CDs. I am listening to the CDs in my car and also studying with the books 2-3 hours a day and plan to take the exam ASAP. What are you using to study? And how prepared/un-prepared do you feel to take the board exam? What is your study plan? Also, have you started interviewing for jobs?

Hi there. I don't have first hand experience of either program but I have heard good things about Columbia. Sometimes if you interview at a school they have former or current students that are available to talk with you about what it is really like to be in the program. Good luck on your choice! I am almost done with my PMHNP MSN program and I love it.