TEST CONTENTS AND PREPARATION

The level 1 exam has questions concerning basic areas of nursing, medical terminology and mental illness. It addresses issues that would normally be encountered by entry-level employees, such as mental health workers or nurses aides. It does not include difficult questions that require advanced training and education.

In preparing for the test, it is recommended that you brush up on whatever coursework you have completed. Other valuable study sources are textbooks on basic nursing, psychiatric nursing or introductory counseling. 

Following is a list of books that can be helpful. They should be available from Amazon.com and/or Barnes and Noble. As you will see, the subjects addressed by some of the books are more advanced than the level of duties performed by most Psychiatric Technicians. However, we have found that many Psychiatric Technicians find them quite useful.

BOOKS RELATING TO PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS

• Medical Terminology with Human Anatomy
  Author: Jane Rice
  Publisher: Prentice Hall
   
• Mosby’s Textbook for Nursing Assistants
  Publisher: Mosby Inc.
   
• Mosby’s Workbook for Nursing Assistants
  Publisher: Mosby Inc.
   
• Nurse Assistant - Test Preparation
  Author: Wanda Smith
  Publisher: Prentice Hall
   
• Nursing Assistant Review for Competency Evaluation
  Authors: Sheila A. Sorrentino and Mary H. Heath
  Publisher: Mosby Inc.
   
• Being a Nursing Assistant
  Author: Francie Wolgin
  Publisher: Prentice Hall
   
• Nursing Assistant / Nurse Aid Exam
  Publisher: Learning Express
   
• Competency Exam Prep and Review for Nursing Assistants
  Author: Barbara M. Kast
  Publisher: Delmar Publishers
   
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
  Authors: Katherine M. Fortinash and Patricia A. Holoday-Worret
  Publisher: Mosby Inc.
   
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
  Publisher: Delmar Publishers
   
• Psychiatric Nursing Care Plans
  Authors: Katherine M. Fortinash and Patricia A. Holoday-Worret
  Publisher: Mosby Inc.
   
• Lippincott’s Manual of Psychiatric Nursing Care Plans
  Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
   
• Nursing Diagnoses in Psychiatric Nursing: Care Plans and Psychotropic Medications
  Author: Mary C. Townsend
  Publisher: F.A. Davis Co.
   
• Foundation of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach
  Author: Elizabeth M. Varcaroli
  Publisher: W. B. Saunders Co.

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