It's time to heave a big sigh of relief that you are almost done with your Nurse Practitioner program! You should be very proud that you have completed (or almost completed) this challenging degree. Even though you have that demanding goal completed, you need to think about the certification exam. Once that's behind you, you really will feel like you can take a deep breath. But - first things first.
Nurse Practitioner Certification
In order for you to practice in your chosen field as a Nurse Practitioner, you must take the certification examination that is in conjunction with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. The Nurse Practitioner exams are based on objectives that allow the Academy to measure the skills and knowledge that is
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They are useful tools for you to prepare for the nurse practitioner certification exam. By using practice exams, you will be able to become familiar with the format of the test questions on the certification exam. Each practice test can be used only once, but additional practice exams are available for purchase multiple times.
What the exam will look like
The Nurse Practitioner certification exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions. This includes 15 questions that are actually 'pretest' questions that do not count in your certification exam score.
At the time you finish your test, you will notice a 'preliminary pass or not pass' on your computer screen. If you have successfully passed the test, you will receive a letter containing your exam score - as well as your certificate within three weeks of taking the test. If you do not pass the exam you are able to sit for the exam twice during a calendar year.
Once the nurse practitioner certification exam is behind you, you will be able to begin your new advanced career. Successful completion of the Nurse Practitioner certification exam shows that all of your hard work has paid off and you are on your way to a rewarding and enjoyable new
Transitioning from Registered Nurse (RN) to Nurse Practitioner (NP) can bring many challenges. This transition begins when a person starts graduate education and doesn’t end until a few years after gaining the position of NP. Having a proper support system, a job that is interesting, and a keen sense of self-awareness are all important factors to a successful transition. Using appropriate coping mechanisms can make this transition much easier. Knowing the possible obstacles and understanding how to overcome them will also ease the change.
Both Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Practitioner-students work closely with patients to monitor their health and provide care for acute and chronic illnesses. However, in the academic-clinical setting, the NP-student may only perform this function at the discretion of the supervising NP. Although work environments and responsibilities bestowed upon these distinctive nurses can be quite different, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and students is bound to the same laws and regulations governed by all states and territories that have enacted a nurse practice act (NPA). The NPA itself is insufficient to provide the necessary guidance for the nursing profession, therefore each NPA establishes a state board of nursing (BON) that has the authority to develop administrative rules or regulations to clarify or make the governing practice law(s) more specific (NCSBN
Ja Young, thank you for breaking down what the difference are between diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments that demonstrates mastery of nurse practitioner competencies. After reading your post, I also felt it is important to examine the mastery of “policy” through courses such as health policy, which we will be taking in our program. It is important for nurse practitioners to not only understand the changing policies regarding scope of practice, but also how to advocate and contribute to the development of health policies (Dzubur, 2015). As nurse practitioner students, we can increase our exposure to political changes to practice by joining organizations such as California Association of Nurse Practitioners (CANP) and attending events such as Lobby day.
The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) describes essential guidelines required for all Advance Practice Nurses (ANPs) to enter practice, regardless of their specialty (2010). The nine core competencies outline the best practice in providing quality educational programs and developing policies and curriculum at the national level. The purpose of this paper is to summarize an interview done with an APN leader in my community to understand the application of the NONPF NP core competencies in the role of Clinical Nurse Practitioner (CNP). Engaging in this interview process allowed me to collaborate with a practicing CNP through communication in person and on the telephone to facilitate professional
However, to become a nurse practitioner, it takes more than fascination and curiosity; hard work and effort must be put in if there is any hope of succeeding in this field. First I need to become an “RN” or registered nurse before pursuing a career as an “APRN” or advanced practice registered nurse.
This certification will strengthen as well as show potential employers an intiative towards personal growth as well as professional achievement. To be specialized in a particular area of this field, one must amass knowledge by going through continuing education programs, formal coursework, self-study, and clinical experience. Then, you must successful pass a certification exam, which will then show their recognition of expertise. There are two programs, The National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Service (or NAPNES) and National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (or NFLPN), that offer certification courses in such areas as: infection control, nursing administration long term care, hospice and palliative, managed care, among
Define Nursing Nursing is a knowledge-based profession within the health care sector that focuses on the overall care of individuals. According to The American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), “defines nurse practitioners as registered nurses who have received graduate-level nursing education and clinical training, which enables them to provide a wide range of preventative and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. They deliver high-quality, cost effective care, often performing physical examinations, ordering tests, making diagnoses, and prescribing and managing medication and therapies”. Nurse Practitioners are able to specialize in a particular area, such as family and adult practice, pediatrics, and women’s health; and refer patients to other specialists when necessary. Some nurse practitioners work under the supervision of a physician while others run their own practices.
National Council for the State Boards of Nursing, APRN background, (2012). Report of the nursing policy and legislative efforts. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/428.htm#Nurse_Practitioner_Certification
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston as Health Science Center at Houston
To obtain a license, the graduate will have to pass the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX) to become a licensed nurse. The NCLEX, which is a computerized test, is only offered on a computer. The test requires you to answer at least, 75 questions and a maximum of 265 questions. The testers only have six hours to finish the test, which in my opinion is more than enough time. However, in order to pass this test, the computer must be 95 percent certain that the test taker is above the passing standard. Certifications for nurses recognize their knowledge and skills within a specific area. In fact, nurses with certifications in special areas earn more than those who aren’t certified. In order to earn certifications, the nurse will have to successfully pass an exam. This exam is offered through nursing associations that offer certification test. Nevertheless, there are other ways besides taking an exam to gain
After going through a lot of trial and error in my career, I have decided that I want to pursue being a Registered Nurse. Many things have led me to this career choice, including personal and financial gain. I have tried many other occupations and educational programs and none of them have fulfilled me like I believe nursing will. It has taken me a long time to get to this point and I often joke that I finally know what I want to be when I grow up. I will tell you about my journey and what I hope to gain in my future.
The first key message that is discussed is that nurses should practice to the fullest extent of their education and training. Most of the nurses that are in practice are registered nurses. Advanced nurse practitioners are nurses that hold a master’s or doctoral degree and include nurse midwifes, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, and nurse anesthetists and consist of about two hundred and fifty thousand of the nurses currently working today. Advanced practice nurses are limited to what
A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with a graduate degree in nursing, who is licensed and certified to diagnose and treat patients with acute and chronic illnesses and minor injuries across life span ("Role & Scope," n.d.). Many FNPs started their nursing careers as bedside nurses in acute hospital settings, and they are not ready for the possible monotony of working for a private practice. The ever-revolving door of an emergency department (ED) and other acute care settings, along with the wide variety of patients, allows an FNP to perform to their full potential, and possibly increase work satisfaction if they are not ready to transition to an office setting. In the most acute settings, such
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Nurses are always in demand and there are different types of nurses. A licensed practical nurse is also one who cares for sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled people. LPN work under the direction of registered nurses or under physicians and provide more basic nursing care directly to a patient. LPN are responsible for the care and comfort of the patient.
NIH certification process was very long to me because you actual had to read it in order for you to take the quiz at each section. However I never knew that you need some