Passed PMHNP ANCC

xenogenetic · Jul 1, 2016

Congratulations! Tell us about your great new job.

gelli.25 · Jul 1, 2016

That's so awesome! Congratulations!

Barnstormin' PMHNP · Jul 1, 2016

Xeno, I am working inpatient acute unit, doing consult liason and carrying a caseload. My collaborating psychiatrist is awesome and loves to teach. For my salary I was lowballed by HR (typical for them) and fought long and hard with the backing of my director and psychiatrist to get a 30k increase. I'm very happy with that.

I worked per diem on this unit as an RN so it is familiar ground, and I do love acute psych. I am also very pleased with having a psychiatrist with decades of experience who is just amazing

Queensheebah · Jul 6, 2016

Hi. Congratulations. Would you suggest a nurse to gain experience before becoming a nurse practitioner or to go straight for it?

matthdrn · Jul 6, 2016

Congrats! It must feel amazing!

I have a job waiting for me as well. My ANCC PMHNP exam is scheduled this Friday!!!!

Barnstormin' PMHNP · Jul 6, 2016

Nia, I would definitely recommend working as an RN before and during grad school, the experience is invaluable. That's my opinion, but that being said, I know there are many that go strgiht through without working as a nurse. You do what is right for you.

Matt, Good Luck on the exam, I studied the ANCC book and it gave me most of what I needed. It's a tough exam but if you studied you will have the tools to think through the questions. It's definitely a lot of critical thinking.

Let me know how it goes!

What type of work are you doing?

matthdrn · Jul 6, 2016

I have an offer at an outpatient mental health center that works mainly with clients without insurance. Some have medicaid, some have a private third payer.

I have been studying a lot. Used barkley (req. from my school), ANCC book, ANCC practice tests, board vitals for a month, and some exams from ANCC prep.

The ancc prep question seem super easy compared to some of board vitals and the ANCC practice test. I got around 68% on both practice exams from ANCC. It was a bit discouraging.

Barnstormin' PMHNP · Jul 7, 2016

I took the online ANCC tests early on and did pretty poorly, but I wanted to see where I was weak. Those online tests are the closest to the exam. The ones in the ANCC book are much easier than the exam. Are you using the 3rd or 4th edition of the ANCC Manual?

Barnstormin' PMHNP · Jul 7, 2016

I also would pay close attention to the test taking strategies they outline in the beginning of the book. Know what the question is REALLY asking. Do not do an intervention when they are looking for an assessment, that type of thing.

Fitzgerald review said that the hardest questions are in the beginning and they were right. Around question 35 I started to feel like I was finally seeing info I had learned before.

bkshoeMSN,FNP-BC · Jul 8, 2016

Congrats to you!!! I passed on 6/23--FANTASTIC FEELING!!! And I agree no more degrees for me!

Woks · Jul 8, 2016

Barnstormin' PMHNP: Congratulations!! am excited for you on your new job too. Please can you break down how you studied and what exactly you used that was most helpful to you. I am just done with PMHNP school and preparing to start studying for the board exam. I am all nervous with all the horrific stories about how hard the exam could be.