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How does a typical work day look like for a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner?
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Memoona’s Answer
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners are qualified to work in many settings and with a variety of patient populations. For example, PMHNPs can work with youth suffering from mental disorders, elderly patients grappling with lessening functions, or people in rehab programs struggling with substance abuse.
PMHNPs tend to work full-time, with 40-hour weeks and varying shifts, depending on where they work. Those in hospital settings may commit to on-call and some overnight shifts, but have several days off at a time. Those in private practices may work Monday through Friday, during office hours. No matter where they work, PMHNPs enjoy high earning potential. In May 2020, the median salary for Nurse Practitioners was $117,670. Job prospects are also bright, projected to grow an incredible 45 percent from 2019 to 2029 – eleven times the rate of all other occupations! This means now is an amazing time to get into this field, as job openings are vast.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners enjoy an exciting career, as every day can bring new patients, cases, and treatments to explore. For example, one day you may be counseling someone struggling with depression. The next day you might be running tests and trying to diagnose a deep-seated stress disorder. All the while, you will be making a difference by helping those with mental health issues. Patients with mental health disorders feel stigma and shame for their struggles, but your everyday commitment to their recovery is an incredible undertaking.
Here are some of the typical, daily tasks of a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner:
•Diagnosing patients for mental disorders, as well as being able to differentiate if a patient is experiencing a psychological or physical-based disorder
•Documenting a patient’s past history and evaluating how that may have led to a mental disorder, such as family genetic history or past trauma
•Laying out a mental health treatment plan for recovery, including taking medication and attending counseling
•Prescribing medication and making sure a patient keeps up with their daily medication schedule
•Monitoring the effectiveness of a patient’s treatment plan
•Collaborating with a patient’s health team to potentially modify their care plan
•Educating families and patients on how to provide care at home.
PMHNPs tend to work full-time, with 40-hour weeks and varying shifts, depending on where they work. Those in hospital settings may commit to on-call and some overnight shifts, but have several days off at a time. Those in private practices may work Monday through Friday, during office hours. No matter where they work, PMHNPs enjoy high earning potential. In May 2020, the median salary for Nurse Practitioners was $117,670. Job prospects are also bright, projected to grow an incredible 45 percent from 2019 to 2029 – eleven times the rate of all other occupations! This means now is an amazing time to get into this field, as job openings are vast.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners enjoy an exciting career, as every day can bring new patients, cases, and treatments to explore. For example, one day you may be counseling someone struggling with depression. The next day you might be running tests and trying to diagnose a deep-seated stress disorder. All the while, you will be making a difference by helping those with mental health issues. Patients with mental health disorders feel stigma and shame for their struggles, but your everyday commitment to their recovery is an incredible undertaking.
Here are some of the typical, daily tasks of a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner:
•Diagnosing patients for mental disorders, as well as being able to differentiate if a patient is experiencing a psychological or physical-based disorder
•Documenting a patient’s past history and evaluating how that may have led to a mental disorder, such as family genetic history or past trauma
•Laying out a mental health treatment plan for recovery, including taking medication and attending counseling
•Prescribing medication and making sure a patient keeps up with their daily medication schedule
•Monitoring the effectiveness of a patient’s treatment plan
•Collaborating with a patient’s health team to potentially modify their care plan
•Educating families and patients on how to provide care at home.
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
Hello Clarissa: I'm sorry it has taken so long for anyone to look at your question, which is excellent. I am a registered nurse, not an NP, but here is some very helpful information!
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP Oct. 2016), 5.4 percent of the more than 220,000 licensed NPs across the country work in the psychiatric mental health subfield. They take on a wealth of cross-disciplinary responsibilities including making medical and psychiatric diagnoses; conducting various physical and mental health assessments; designing holistic treatment plans; prescribing psychopharmaceuticals and other medications; offering counseling or psychotherapy; consulting with other healthcare professionals; and educating patients, legislators, and communities on optimal practices to promote psychological health and well-being. psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) may be involved in shaping public policy and often specialize in working with specific populations such as children or the elderly. Others may focus on particular areas of need such as substance abuse treatment, forensics, family counseling, or specific psychiatric disorders. Above all, PMHNPs offer integrative care paying thought to the mind-body connection.
This piece offers a detailed overview of what PMHNPs do, including a discussion of their typical skills, education, and credentialing for the profession.
What does a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Do?
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)—one of the most vibrant professional associations in this field—states that psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) assess the mental health needs of communities, individuals, families, and groups. They formulate healthcare plans, implement treatment, and evaluate the effectiveness of short- and long-term progress. In further detail, advanced practice mental health nurses may also:
Offer outpatient or home-based care to address sudden changes in a patient’s mental status or chronic conditions
Serve as consultants for community groups, corporations, healthcare agencies, legislative advocacy groups, and other organizations
Perform various patient assessments (e.g., physicals, family risk analyses, diagnostic exams, mental health tests)
Develop holistic, cross-disciplinary treatment plans
Prescribe medications in compliance with state scope of practice laws
Collaborate with doctors and make appropriate patient referrals
Maintain detailed patient records
Conduct original research and present findings through conferences or scholarly journal articles
Analyze effectiveness of treatments
Educate patients, families, and others on challenges in mental health
There are various professional associations which assist PMHNPs in their professional role. The aforementioned American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) has an abundance of resources for advanced practice nurses in the psychiatric field (APRN-PMH) such as evidence-based position papers for advocacy, wage statistics, opportunities for continuing education, conference notifications, networking opportunities, scholarships, information about specific conditions (e.g., tobacco addiction, suicide prevention), and other useful tools for the profession. The International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN) has similar resources for members in addition to global leadership development in the PMHNP community, broad-based legislative efforts, and recognition of outstanding professionals in this field worldwide. Additionally, there are various regional organizations, including the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (AAPPN) of Washington state.
It’s important to distinguish between PMHNPs and other psychiatric healthcare specialists such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors. All of these professionals generally offer some form of psychotherapy for patients, but there are some key differences. The most obvious distinction is that PMHNPs hold advanced nursing degrees. Also, while PMHNPs and psychiatrists can prescribe medications*, social workers and psychologists cannot. Lastly, PMHNPs are qualified to perform advanced physical assessments and diagnostic exams, while the other mental health professionals tend to focus squarely on the mind.
*Please note that this may vary according to a PMHNPs state of practice.
Skills & Personality Traits of Successful Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
According to the APNA (2017), psychiatric-mental health NPs require excellent communication skills and relationship-building abilities in order to practice effectively. These competencies are especially important since providing the right kind of treatment can depend on the NP’s ability to assess and understand a patient’s underlying issues, as well as to liaise with other healthcare providers and advocate for improvements to policies and regulations. Other desired traits and proficiencies among PMHNPs include:
High-level understanding of the impact of mental health issues on society
Ability to exercise compassion, empathy, and sensitivity to the gamut of human problems and conditions
Competence with medical equipment (e.g., EKGs, defibrillators, etc.)
Experience with medical software and coding systems for diagnoses
In sum, psychiatric nurses work across the medical and psychological disciplines to therapeutically engage with patients. They bring various skills to the table, tapping the disparate realms of behavioral intervention strategies, neurobiological knowledge, psychotherapeutic understanding, and an ability to assess the physical condition of the body.
Education & Experience Requirements for a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Like other nurse practitioners, PMHNPs must have at least a master of science in nursing (MSN) or a post-master’s certificate prior to practice. There are various PMHNP programs available, including many which can be completed online. It’s important to note that while an MSN is currently the minimum academic credential in this field, there’s a growing trend toward the doctor of nursing practice (DNP), the terminal degree for NPs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN 2017) notes that this practice-centered doctorate helps NPs meet “the changing demands of this nation’s complex healthcare environment” and represents “the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes.”
Before enrolling in any graduate program in nursing, prospective PMHNPs are strongly encouraged to verify their school and program accreditation status. There are two main entities which offer accreditation to graduate NP programs: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. To learn about how programs are approved, please visit the individual websites or the ‘accreditation’ section of the online NP programs page.
https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/what-is-a-psychiatric-np/
The above link contains additional information.
Best
Sue
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP Oct. 2016), 5.4 percent of the more than 220,000 licensed NPs across the country work in the psychiatric mental health subfield. They take on a wealth of cross-disciplinary responsibilities including making medical and psychiatric diagnoses; conducting various physical and mental health assessments; designing holistic treatment plans; prescribing psychopharmaceuticals and other medications; offering counseling or psychotherapy; consulting with other healthcare professionals; and educating patients, legislators, and communities on optimal practices to promote psychological health and well-being. psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) may be involved in shaping public policy and often specialize in working with specific populations such as children or the elderly. Others may focus on particular areas of need such as substance abuse treatment, forensics, family counseling, or specific psychiatric disorders. Above all, PMHNPs offer integrative care paying thought to the mind-body connection.
This piece offers a detailed overview of what PMHNPs do, including a discussion of their typical skills, education, and credentialing for the profession.
What does a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Do?
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)—one of the most vibrant professional associations in this field—states that psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) assess the mental health needs of communities, individuals, families, and groups. They formulate healthcare plans, implement treatment, and evaluate the effectiveness of short- and long-term progress. In further detail, advanced practice mental health nurses may also:
Offer outpatient or home-based care to address sudden changes in a patient’s mental status or chronic conditions
Serve as consultants for community groups, corporations, healthcare agencies, legislative advocacy groups, and other organizations
Perform various patient assessments (e.g., physicals, family risk analyses, diagnostic exams, mental health tests)
Develop holistic, cross-disciplinary treatment plans
Prescribe medications in compliance with state scope of practice laws
Collaborate with doctors and make appropriate patient referrals
Maintain detailed patient records
Conduct original research and present findings through conferences or scholarly journal articles
Analyze effectiveness of treatments
Educate patients, families, and others on challenges in mental health
There are various professional associations which assist PMHNPs in their professional role. The aforementioned American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) has an abundance of resources for advanced practice nurses in the psychiatric field (APRN-PMH) such as evidence-based position papers for advocacy, wage statistics, opportunities for continuing education, conference notifications, networking opportunities, scholarships, information about specific conditions (e.g., tobacco addiction, suicide prevention), and other useful tools for the profession. The International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN) has similar resources for members in addition to global leadership development in the PMHNP community, broad-based legislative efforts, and recognition of outstanding professionals in this field worldwide. Additionally, there are various regional organizations, including the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (AAPPN) of Washington state.
It’s important to distinguish between PMHNPs and other psychiatric healthcare specialists such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors. All of these professionals generally offer some form of psychotherapy for patients, but there are some key differences. The most obvious distinction is that PMHNPs hold advanced nursing degrees. Also, while PMHNPs and psychiatrists can prescribe medications*, social workers and psychologists cannot. Lastly, PMHNPs are qualified to perform advanced physical assessments and diagnostic exams, while the other mental health professionals tend to focus squarely on the mind.
*Please note that this may vary according to a PMHNPs state of practice.
Skills & Personality Traits of Successful Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
According to the APNA (2017), psychiatric-mental health NPs require excellent communication skills and relationship-building abilities in order to practice effectively. These competencies are especially important since providing the right kind of treatment can depend on the NP’s ability to assess and understand a patient’s underlying issues, as well as to liaise with other healthcare providers and advocate for improvements to policies and regulations. Other desired traits and proficiencies among PMHNPs include:
High-level understanding of the impact of mental health issues on society
Ability to exercise compassion, empathy, and sensitivity to the gamut of human problems and conditions
Competence with medical equipment (e.g., EKGs, defibrillators, etc.)
Experience with medical software and coding systems for diagnoses
In sum, psychiatric nurses work across the medical and psychological disciplines to therapeutically engage with patients. They bring various skills to the table, tapping the disparate realms of behavioral intervention strategies, neurobiological knowledge, psychotherapeutic understanding, and an ability to assess the physical condition of the body.
Education & Experience Requirements for a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Like other nurse practitioners, PMHNPs must have at least a master of science in nursing (MSN) or a post-master’s certificate prior to practice. There are various PMHNP programs available, including many which can be completed online. It’s important to note that while an MSN is currently the minimum academic credential in this field, there’s a growing trend toward the doctor of nursing practice (DNP), the terminal degree for NPs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN 2017) notes that this practice-centered doctorate helps NPs meet “the changing demands of this nation’s complex healthcare environment” and represents “the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes.”
Before enrolling in any graduate program in nursing, prospective PMHNPs are strongly encouraged to verify their school and program accreditation status. There are two main entities which offer accreditation to graduate NP programs: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. To learn about how programs are approved, please visit the individual websites or the ‘accreditation’ section of the online NP programs page.
https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/what-is-a-psychiatric-np/
The above link contains additional information.
Best
Sue