You deserve to know who's behind your exam prep materials
At my high school reunion this past weekend, I had a conversation with a smart, tech-y friend of mine about how AI is pirating materials from recognized authorities and making money off them as their own. This got me thinking: How do we know whether the person selling us educational materials actually knows the subject?
This conversation was especially timely because just the day before the reunion, a psych nurse prepping for ANCC's exam reached out to me in a bit of a panic, confused and overwhelmed by the myriad of materials now available, much of which was AI dreck (and dangerous to use.) It took a while for us to sort through it all!
So, I thought it was time to address this head on.
Yes, AI can now produce very convincing explanations and professional-looking study materials, with thousands of so-called "practice questions."
But convincing language and eye-catching graphics alone don’t tell you whether the information is accurate—or whether a qualified professional has even vetted it, much less written it.
When you’re investing your money, study time, and trust in educational materials, you need to know whether the author is an actual authority on the subject.
Here are three questions worth asking:
1. Can you identify the actual author/s or instructor/s by name and credentials? If yes, have you checked their LinkedIn page? Googled them? Verified their existence at all? Don't take “created by experts” on faith. Verify.
2. Does their experience match what they’re teaching? For psychiatric nursing preparation, look for relevant clinical and teaching experience. A long list of books for sale doesn’t, by itself, establish expertise in this subject.
3. Is anyone on the authors list reachable for follow-up questions? Or is it a "what you see is what you get" situation with no support if you get stuck? (Another sign it may be AI generated and not vetted properly.)
Here's the difference between those mass produced "exam prep" materials and mine.
--> I earned my BSN from Eastern Michigan University (Sigma Theta Tau). --> Ten years later, I went back to school and earned my MSN in Adult Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Illinois-Chicago...and graduated first in my class. --> I took my first job as a psychiatric nurse educator in 1994 and continued teaching part-time for 25+ years --> In 2004, with an established expertise in PTSD, I joined the Army Nurse Corps as an officer and served three years, providing debriefings for those returning from combat and mental resilience training for those deploying. --> In 2008 I was recruited by Fort Carson (US Army) to serve as their Psychiatric Nursing Consultant, working to address their active duty suicides (2008-2009). --> HCA hired me in 2017 as their first-ever Division Director of Behavioral Health Education for 16 hospitals in Western Florida, where I began an educational program to help experienced psychiatric nurses prep for, and pass, ANCC's PMH-BC exam. (In that first year, 71 of my psych RNs passed the exam.) --> My first PMH-BC workbook was published in 2019, and my online Exam Prep Master Course went live during Nurses Week in 2020--the first of its kind.
--> And most importantly, I'm a real person who is reachable by phone, text, and email. Questions about a test subject. Questions about which materials to use. Questions about how to cope with test anxiety. Happens all the time, and I always respond.
But, with more than four decades in nursing, my work in mental health education extends well beyond certification preparation. If you’d like to explore some of that work, here are three examples from earlier in my career, published under my maiden name, Alison Lighthall:
Rules of Engagement: A Civilian Therapist’s Guide to the Military Mindset — Psychotherapy Networker, 2010. My article on understanding and engaging military clients.
Caffeine Consumption and Combat Stress Amongst Military Personnel — Journal of Caffeine Research, 2011. An interview with me about observations from my work with service members.
Ten Things You Should Know About Today’s Student Veteran -- Thought & Action, 28, 80–90 (which won their annual award for best writing.)
These older publications offer a small window into my development as a psychiatric nurse educator. For a look at what I teach today, you can explore PMHRN’s Exam Prep Master Course.
Whether you study with me or choose another resource, you deserve accurate information, clear explanations, and an expert educator who takes responsibility for what they teach.
As always, good luck on your exam! And feel free to reach out if you get stuck on a topic. Always happy to help.
Alison Miller, MSN, PMH-BC Psychiatric Nurse Educator and Founder, PMHRN 727-366-5040 PMHRN.com
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