Handan
I am looking for help picking a speciality as a NP. What should I expect in a career in the Psych NP role?
As a acute care nurse, I work with thousands of patients a year. I float all over the hospital in my new role as a float nurse. I am currently pursuing my FNP degree and need some guidance about how to pick my area of interest. I originally wanted to purse psych but working with other populations is just as thrilling. Any advice? At what point should I know? I am half way through my program. #nurse-practitioner
1 answer
Robert Smithing, MSN, APRN, FAANP
Robert’s Answer
Let me give you the advice that the department chairs of my FNP program and the Psych NP program gave me many years ago. You will get a lot of patients with mental health concerns in family practice. That has turned out to be very true. Start as an FNP. If you find you really like the Psych issues you can go to a post-Masters or post-DNP program for the additional certification. I enjoy the variety of providing primary care including care for common mental health concerns. Best of luck!