What to Know About Seeing a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

You are thinking about seeing a mental health professional — great! Then you are likely to come across a psychiatric nurse practitioner (NP) in your search.

Psychiatric NPs are fully trained to care for your mental health needs. Their scope of practice and work setting is similar to a psychiatrist. Psychiatric NPs counsel, assist with crisis management, create treatment plans, and prescribe medication when necessary.

This guide explains the role of a psychiatric NP, their education, and training. We will discuss the work setting, scope of practice, and when to seek a psychiatric NP. This guide will also cover the different types of mental health professionals, the current mental health provider shortage, and how psych NPs are filling the gap.

Psychiatric NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). APRN is the umbrella term for board-certified nurses who have a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. APRNs specializing in psychiatric nursing are also called psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs).

PMHNPs’ main goal is to assess, diagnose, and treat patients with mental health disorders while maintaining a safe and confidential environment for their patients. PMHNPs can provide counseling and psychotherapy as well. With a national shortage of mental health professionals, PMHNPs are in a position to fill this gap and increase access to patients.

PMHNPs’ scope of practice can vary among states. They can have full practice, reduced practice, or restricted practice. The type of practice dictates their level of prescriptive authority. Some PMHNPs can work autonomously after working under a collaborating physician for a certain amount of time, depending on the state. PMHNPs can also prescribe medication based on state regulations.

There are several steps to becoming a PMHNP. A two-year associate degree or four-year bachelor of science in nursing program must be completed at an accredited nursing program. Nurses must pass a board certification exam called the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) to practice as a licensed registered nurse in the United States.

Nurses typically work for several years before earning their master’s degree or doctorate in psychiatric nursing. After completion, they must pass the national Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification exam offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to practice as PMHNPs. PMHNPs’ license and practicing privileges depend on the state they live in.

PMHNPs work in a variety of settings. They can work in the private or public sector providing mental healthcare to the most vulnerable populations. PMHNPs work in:

PMHNPs choose their work setting, some working in more than one. Roles and responsibilities may vary depending on the setting. PMHNPs working in hospitals or public health settings have a diverse group of patients. They work directly with interdisciplinary healthcare teams that include doctors, nurses, and social workers.

PMHNPs manage their own patients, and some states allow PMHNPs to have their own private practice. In certain states, it is required to work with a collaborating physician or psychiatrist. They may work under a collaborating physician or psychiatrist for the entire course of their career or a certain amount of years until they can work independently. This is based on state laws and regulations.

PMHNPs might provide telepsychotherapy to patients either from home or in a private office. They provide this service through secure video conferencing or telephone. Telepsychotherapy is another way to increase access to mental healthcare.

PMHNPs are highly skilled to offer psychiatric care and treatment. They see their patients regularly just as a psychiatrist or other mental health professionals would. In all 50 states, PMHNPs have some level of prescribing privileges. Twenty-eight states, including California, allow PMHNPs to practice to their full capacity without a collaborating physician.

PMHNPs’ services include:

PMHNPs also work with specific populations. They include:

PMHNPs have been trained to treat mental health patients with a variety of psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral health conditions. These conditions include:

PMHNPs and psychiatrists have similar roles and responsibilities. The main difference is their educational path. PMHNPs complete four years of nursing school, while psychiatrists complete four years of medical school.

Now that you know a little bit about PMHNPs, when should you seek one out? If it is your first time, do some research. You want to make sure they are the right fit.

If you have a specific condition, your psychiatrist is out, or you need a medication refill, a PMHNP can provide these services for you. In some cases, seeing a PMHNP may be faster than seeing a psychiatrist because their schedules may vary. Lastly, nurses have been labeled the most trusted professionals. A PMHNP may add that extra emotional connection you are looking for.

There is a severe shortage of mental health providers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports there will be 250,000 fewer mental health providers by the year 2025. Factors contributing to this shortage include:

To meet the demand, PMHNPs are perfectly positioned to fill the need. Due to the shortage, treatment is often delayed and vulnerable communities lack adequate access to mental health services. PMHNPs can improve access to care.

The National Academy of Medicine and the ANCC recognize that in order to improve access to mental health services, PMHNPs should practice to the fullest extent. This means lifting all barriers PMHNPs face when caring for mental health patients.

Yes, a psych NP can prescribe medication in 21 states and the District of Columbia without a collaborating physician. Fifty states allow some level of prescription privileges. Laws on prescription privileges are reviewed yearly.

To become a psychiatric nurse practitioner you must first become a registered nurse which can take 2-4 years. You must then pass the national state boards called the NCLEX-RN. Afterward, you must earn a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing which can take another 2-3 years. After your master’s, you must pass the nurse practitioner board certification exam for psychiatry. Some psychiatric nurse practitioners complete a doctorate which can take another two years.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner completes a four-year nursing program and receives a master’s and/or doctorate in psychiatric nursing. A psychiatrist completes four years of medical school and 4-5 years of psychiatric residency.

Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners have similar roles and responsibilities. They both assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. They both can prescribe medication. At the end of the day, see the provider that makes you feel safe and comfortable.

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