Psychiatric nurses work double duty in this clinical nursing specialty to provide physical and mental health care. Unlike psychiatric nurse practitioners who hold a graduate degree and are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), psychiatric nurses only need either a nursing diploma, associate, or a bachelor’s degree in nursing to enter the workforce. Many nursing programs provide a rotation in psychiatric-mental health nursing that introduces students to the specialty. They also must obtain a registered nurse (RN) license, certification, and two years of work experience.
It takes a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric nurses to administer mental health care. While some psychiatric nurses work in a community capacity to deliver mental health services, others help individuals one-on-one to accomplish daily tasks and improve their lives.
When psychiatric nurses earn a master’s in nursing or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP), they can become APRNs who can assess, diagnose, and treat the mental health needs of a patient, which can include prescribing medication and providing psychotherapy.
Psychiatric nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree undertake these skills and responsibilities:
Psychiatric nurses work in any setting that provides mental health treatment services which, in addition to hospitals and clinics, can include rehabilitation centers, schools, and state or federal agencies. They help individuals with mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, dementia disorders, eating disorders, and psychoses. Psychiatric nurses, as explained below, perform different duties depending on the work setting.
Psychiatric nurses admit or discharge patients, monitor patients being detained for psychiatric hospitalization for safety, perform high-risk assessments, manage medications, and groom and bathe patients.
Psychiatric nurses facilitate social and emotional needs, provide crisis intervention and treatment, and administer cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Psychiatric nurses assess patient’s mental and physical health, develop treatment plans, consult with psychiatrists and other health professionals, and manage medications.
Working long hours as a psychiatric nurse requires patience, endurance, and attentiveness. Psychiatric nurses regularly navigate volatile situations. Patients with a psychosis or dementia can be physically or verbally abusive. Furthermore, the mental health field seems undervalued compared to other nursing sectors. That said, the job offers many rewards. Psychiatric nursing, despite all of its challenges, provides an opportunity to join a team of devoted professionals who strive to better patients’ lives for the long term. The job offers many pros and cons as the graph below details.
The steps below outline the process to becoming a psychiatric nurse. They include education, licensure, and certification.
Psychiatric nurses can make higher wages when compared to other nursing specialties. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that RNs working in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals make an annual mean wage of $74,610, or $35.90 an hour. Data from PayScale show salaries increase with experience. Entry-level psychiatric nurses who have worked less than one year make about $29.10 an hour, whereas those with 5-9 years of experience earn $32.00 an hour.
While the data refers to RNs in general, an expected job growth rate of 7% should create 221,900 jobs from 2019-2029, according to the BLS.
Find State-Specific Salary Data HerePsychiatric nurses work in bedside roles that differ from psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists who can diagnose patients. Psychiatric nurses, on the other hand, assist patients with activities of daily living, administer medication and help to manage any side effects, observe patients to evaluate their progress, and offer guidance, education, and other forms of interpersonal support to patients and their families.
Psychiatric nurses treat patients with a variety of mental health illnesses. For example, they may work in a senior living facility helping people living with dementia or in a mental health center overseeing patients recovering from eating disorders. In a psychiatric hospital, psychiatric nurses might work with people diagnosed with a mood disorder.
According to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), the key to maintaining a safe healthcare environment includes awareness, attending, caring, and connecting. Psychiatric teams use risk management strategies to maintain safety. To do this, psychiatric nurses perform routine safety checks, avoid dangerous closed areas, wear appropriate clothing, maintain awareness, and keep in communication with other staff.
A good psychiatric nurse must demonstrate empathy and strong communication and problem-solving skills. Psychiatric nurses should maintain open communication and collaborate with other staff members to carry out interventions plans. The job also requires strong interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships with patients and the emotional stability to handle high-stress environments.
Karen Luu, MSN, PMHNP-BC is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Luu holds a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree from Azusa Pacific University and an undergraduate degree in public health science. She has seven years of nursing experience, which includes working at a Level II trauma center, community hospitals, mental health urgent care, and private practice. Luu is currently working at a private practice which specializes in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She emphasizes the importance of incorporating the recovery-based model in her everyday practice.
Whether you’re looking to get your pre-licensure degree or taking the next step in your career, the education you need could be more affordable than you think. Find the right nursing program for you.
Resources and articles written by professionals and other Nurses like you.
Discover the roles traveling nurses fill and the recommended education level and skills needed to be successful within the position.
Find out about managerial roles for LPNs.
Read here to find out whether nurses can perform surgery and options for nurses who wish to work in the operating room.
