Study Plan for Walden University PMHNP Students

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Study Plan for Walden University PMHNP Students
How to Write a Study Plan for Walden University PMHNP Students (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1: Review Your Practice Exam Results
Step 2: Reflect on Test-Taking Performance
Step 3: Summarize Strengths
Step 4: Identify Opportunities for Improvement
Step 5: Create 3–4 SMART Goals
Step 6: Write SMART Goals With Tasks
Step 7: Create a Timetable
Step 8: Describe Study Resources
Step 9: Explain Progress Tracking
Step 10: Conclude With Reflection
Pro Tips for Higher Grades
Need Help Creating a Strong Study Plan?
Learning Resources

Study Plan for Walden University PMHNP Students

Based on your practice exam question results from Week 2, identify strengths and areas of opportunity and create a tailored study plan to use throughout this course to help you prepare for the national certification exam. This will serve as an action plan to help you track your goals, tasks, and progress. You will revisit and update your study plan in NRNP 6675, and you may continue to refine and use it until you take the exam.

To Prepare: Study Plan

Reflect on your practice exam question results from Week 2. Identify content-area strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Also reflect on your overall test taking. Was the length of time allotted comfortable, or did you run out of time? Did a particular question format prove difficult?

The Assignment – Study Plan

Based on your practice test question results, and considering the national certification exam, summarize your strengths and opportunities for improvement. Note: Your grade for this Assignment will not be derived from your test results but from your self-reflection and study plan.
Create a study plan for this quarter to prepare for the certification exam, including three or four SMART goals and the tasks you need to complete to accomplish each goal. Include a timetable for accomplishing them and a description of how you will measure your progress.
Describe resources you would use to accomplish your goals and tasks, such as ways to participate in a study group or review course, mnemonics and other mental strategies, and print or online resources you could use to study.

How to Write a Study Plan for Walden University PMHNP Students (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 1: Review Your Practice Exam Results

Open your Week 2 practice exam report.
Identify highest-scoring content areas.
Identify lowest-scoring content areas.
Note repeated weak topics.
Categorize by domains (diagnosis, pharmacology, therapy, lifespan, etc.).

Step 2: Reflect on Test-Taking Performance

Evaluate time management.
Determine if you ran out of time.
Identify difficult question formats (select-all, case-based, prioritization).
Assess anxiety or focus issues.
Identify guessing patterns.

Step 3: Summarize Strengths

List 3–5 strong content areas.
Mention consistent high performance topics.
Note effective test-taking strategies used.
Keep summary concise and objective.

Step 4: Identify Opportunities for Improvement

List weak content areas.
Identify knowledge gaps.
Identify clinical reasoning weaknesses.
Identify time-management issues.
Prioritize top 3–4 improvement areas.

Step 5: Create 3–4 SMART Goals

Each goal must be:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound

Step 6: Write SMART Goals With Tasks

Example Structure:

Goal 1: Improve pharmacology knowledge by end of quarter.

Task: Study 3 medication classes per week.
Task: Complete 50 pharmacology questions weekly.
Task: Review rationales and document errors.
Measurement: Achieve 80% or higher on weekly quizzes.

Goal 2: Improve diagnostic reasoning skills.

Task: Complete 75 mixed-topic questions weekly.
Task: Review DSM-5 criteria weekly.
Task: Practice differential diagnosis mapping.
Measurement: Increase practice test score by 10%.

Goal 3: Improve time management.

Task: Complete 100-question exam in timed conditions biweekly.
Task: Practice eliminating distractors.
Measurement: Finish practice exams within allotted time.

Step 7: Create a Timetable

Create a Timetable

Divide quarter into weekly study blocks.
Assign topics per week.
Schedule practice exams every 2–3 weeks.
Include review days.
Include rest days to prevent burnout.

Step 8: Describe Study Resources

Include:

Certification review books.
Online Q-bank platforms.
DSM-5-TR reference.
Clinical guidelines.
Study group participation.
Review courses or webinars.
Mnemonics and flashcards.
Apps for spaced repetition.

Step 9: Explain Progress Tracking

Track weekly scores.
Maintain error log.
Monitor improvement trends.
Adjust study plan monthly.
Reassess weak domains mid-quarter.

Step 10: Conclude With Reflection

Explain how plan supports certification readiness.
State commitment to consistent study habits.
Mention plan will be revisited in NRNP 6675.

Pro Tips for Higher Grades

Focus on reflection, not test score.
Be honest about weaknesses.
Make goals measurable.
Show accountability.
Use professional academic tone.

Need Help Creating a Strong Study Plan?

If you need assistance with:

Writing SMART goals
Structuring your timetable
Developing measurable objectives
Strengthening academic reflection
Aligning your plan with certification competencies

We provide professional online nursing assignment support tailored to PMHNP students preparing for national certification.

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NRNP_6665_Week3_Assignment2_Rubric

NRNP_6665_Week3_Assignment2_Rubric
Criteria	Ratings	Pts
Based on your practice test question results and considering the national certification exam, summarize your strengths and opportunities for improvement.	25 to >22.0 ptsExcellentThe response provides an accurate, clear, and complete summary of both the strengths and opportunities for improvement. 22 to >19.0 ptsGoodThe response provides an accurate summary of both the strengths and opportunities for improvement. 19 to >17.0 ptsFairThe response provides a somewhat vague and/or inaccurate summary of both the strengths and opportunities for improvement. 17 to >0 ptsPoorA summary of both the strengths and opportunities for improvement are incomplete or missing.	25 pts
Create a study plan, including three or four SMART goals and the tasks you need to complete to accomplish each goal. Include a timetable for accomplishing them and a description of how you will measure your progress.	30 to >26.0 ptsExcellentThe response provides three or four clear and appropriate SMART goals for the study plan, including tasks to complete to accomplish each goal. A clear timeline is provided for the study plan as well as a description of how progress toward goal completion will be measured. 26 to >23.0 ptsGoodThe response provides three or four appropriate SMART goals and objectives for the practicum experience. Appropriate tasks, timeline, and description of how progress will be measured are provided. 23 to >20.0 ptsFairThe response provides three or four somewhat vague or general goals for the study plan. Tasks, timeline, and description of how progress toward goals will be measured are vague or somewhat inappropriate. 20 to >0 ptsPoorThe response provides three or four unclear or inappropriate goals for the study plan, or goals are missing. Tasks, timeline, and a description for how progress will be measured are incomplete or missing.	30 pts
Describe resources you would use to accomplish your goals and tasks, such as ways to participate in a study group or review course, mnemonics and other mental strategies, and print or online resources you could use to study.	30 to >26.0 ptsExcellentThe response provides a clear description of appropriate resources to support the study plan that are tailored to individual need. 26 to >23.0 ptsGoodThe response provides a description of appropriate resources to support the study plan that are somewhat tailored to individual need. 23 to >20.0 ptsFairThe response provides a description of general resources that are not tailored to individual need. 20 to >0 ptsPoorThe response provides a description of inappropriate resources to support the study plan, or the description of resources is vague or missing.	30 pts
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization: Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused—neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction are provided that delineate all required criteria.	5 to >4.0 ptsExcellentParagraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion are provided that delineate all required criteria. 4 to >3.5 ptsGoodParagraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are stated, yet are brief and not descriptive. 3.5 to >3.0 ptsFairParagraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%–79% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are vague or off topic. 3 to >0 ptsPoorParagraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity <60% of the time. Purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion were not provided.	5 pts
Written Expression and Formatting – English Writing Standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation	5 to >4.0 ptsExcellentUses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors 4 to >3.5 ptsGoodContains one or two grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors 3.5 to >3.0 ptsFairContains several (three or four) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors 3 to >0 ptsPoorContains many (five or more) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding	5 pts
Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/narrative in-text citations, and reference list.	5 to >4.0 ptsExcellentUses correct APA format with no errors 4 to >3.5 ptsGoodContains one or two APA format errors 3.5 to >3.0 ptsFairContains several (three or four) APA format errors 3 to >0 ptsPoorContains many (five or more) APA format errors	5 pts

Total Points: 100

Learning Resources

Hilt, R. J., & Nussbaum, A. M. (2025). DSM-5-TR pocket guide for child and adolescent mental health . American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
- Chapter 7, “Reaching a DSM-5-TR Pediatric Diagnosis When You Have 45 Minutes or More” (pp. 185 – 186)
- Chapter 10, “Organizing a Comprehensive Pediatric Mental Status Examination With a Psychiatric Glossary” (pp. 213 – 217)
- Chapter 11, “Using DSM-5-TR Assessment Measures to Aid Diagnosis” (pp. 221 – 248)
- Chapter 15, “Initiating Psychosocial Interventions” (pp. 285 – 294)
- Chapter 16, “Starting Psychotherapy” (pp. 295 – 302)
- Chapter 17, “Initiating Medications and Monitoring for Adverse Effects” (pp. 303 – 330)
Thapar, A., Pine, D. S., Leckman, J. F., Scott, S., Snowling, M. J., & Taylor, E. A. (2015). Rutter’s child and adolescent psychiatry (6th ed.). Wiley Blackwell.
- Chapter 43, “Pharmacological, Medically-Led and Related Treatments”
Walden University. (n.d.). Developing SMART goals Links to an external site.. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ld.php?content_id=51901492Links to an external site.
Zakhari, R. (2020). The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification review manual . Springer.
- Chapter 5, “Psychopharmacology”