Mental Health Nurse Career Overview

Mental health nurses provide assessment and treatment for people with mental health conditions. Obtaining these positions requires experience and education.

This guide covers the steps to becoming a mental health nurse, along with certification options and answers to questions like, “what is a mental health nurse?”, “what does a mental health nurse do?”, and “how much does a mental health nurse make?”

Mental health nurses care for patients experiencing mental or behavioral health conditions. They work in hospitals, independent practices, clinics, and government settings such as military bases and jails.

Their work includes assessing patients, assisting with treatment plans, maintaining patient health records, and communicating with and educating patients and their loved ones.

Mental health nurses work in hospitals and health systems, clinics, inpatient treatment centers, independent psychiatric and psychological practices, and government settings such as correctional facilities and military bases. They may also work in disaster relief or similar humanitarian care settings.

The first step in becoming a mental health nurse is earning a registered nurse (RN) license. You must earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) to become eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

Earning an ADN takes two years. Earning a BSN takes four years, as it covers more materials in greater depth. If you plan to earn a master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner, the BSN is more valuable.

However, there are RN-to-MSN programs if a two-year degree is the best choice for you. After graduating, you must pass the NCLEX-RN examination and apply for a state license.

As with other nursing jobs, entry-level mental health nurses receive extensive on-the-job training from their employers. Once they have gained experience, many mental health nurses pursue certifications, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC).

While certification is not a legal requirement to work as a mental health nurse the way that an RN license is, it demonstrates your knowledge and experience. Many employers require or strongly prefer certifications for higher-level mental health nurse positions.

If you want even more growth potential in mental health nursing, explore becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are licensed to diagnose and prescribe treatments, which means more autonomy and likely a higher salary.

Mental health nurse salaries range from $51,000 – $95,000 annually, with an average annual salary of $68,000 and average hourly salary of $32.87, according to August 2022 Payscale data.

Like other nursing jobs, factors affecting mental health nurse salaries include local demand and cost of living, experience and education, and responsibilities, including supervisory responsibilities.

It takes at least two years to become a mental health nurse. You must earn a two-year ADN and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to earn an RN license. A BSN degree takes four years, but is often more valuable for career advancement. Many nurses obtain one to two years of clinical experience before pursuing a role in mental health nursing.

Mental health nurses work with psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, and other nurses. They may also work with social workers, clergy, and other partners who contribute to healthcare but are not healthcare workers themselves.

Mental health nurses care for patients with mental or behavioral conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may work with pediatric, adult, or gerontological patients.

Certification is not legally required for mental health nurses the way that a nursing license is, but many employers require or strongly prefer it, especially for higher-level or supervisory positions.

Page Last Reviewed: August 21, 2022