Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) help patients live with psychiatric disorders and provide resources to help improve overall quality of life. They are also responsible for educating patients’ families on the road to recovery. Perhaps you’re interested in mental health and you’ve decided that you’d like to work as a PMHNP, but you’re not exactly sure how to make that a reality. Show
This page will walk you through the common steps basics of how to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, explain what you’ll study, and discuss possible career opportunities. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Job Duties and ResponsibilitiesWhether you’ve just graduated from high school or are looking to complete a postgraduate program, you should know that there are numerous health care degrees and nursing degrees available. With so many options to choose from—spanning standalone courses and certificates to online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees—and covering a range of specializations, figuring out the focus of each discipline may be tough. Explore online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs. To put it another way, if you’re considering a psychiatric nurse career you’re probably wondering: what does a psychiatric nurse practitioner do? The answer to that question depends on your specific job, but psychiatric nurse duties include a broad range of responsibilities. PMHNPs treat patients with various psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, ADHD, mood disorders, and substance abuse. They often support patients with more serious disorders too, such as schizophrenia. Psychiatric nurse practitioners also evaluate patients before and during their care, monitoring their progress, liaising with their families, and educating them about the support they offer. Read on to learn more about how to become a PMHNP, including the studies you must complete to qualify. What Are the Education Requirements for a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?To become a psychiatric nurse practitioner takes time and dedication. Candidates usually complete a nursing program—either a diploma nursing program, a two-year associate in nursing degree, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. They must then become licensed as a registered nurse. Though the specifics vary by institution, undergraduate nursing programs generally cover a range of topics, including anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, and microbiology. Bachelor’s courses also emphasize communication, leadership, and critical thinking. Clinical rotations are compulsory to graduate from many undergraduate nursing programs. Apart from certification demands (see below), aspiring PMHNPs commonly complete a postgraduate qualification. In practice, there are several options available here, from a master’s to doctorate. What Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Certification is Needed?After completing a nursing program, you’ll be required to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in order to obtain RN licensure. Once you’ve become licensed and obtained a master’s degree, you can then become certified by the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) as an Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). Depending on the individual state nursing board, there might be further licensure requirements too, but gaining a psychiatric nurse practitioner certification shows employers that a nurse is an expert in their area of focus. However, it’s important to understand that regulations for scope and standards of practice can vary by state—so make sure you do your research before committing. 6 Common Steps to Becoming a Psychiatric Nurse PractitionerWith different regulatory hurdles, degree options, and specializations, every educational journey is bound to be different. But here are six potential steps on how to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
What Are the Continuing Education Requirements for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners?After starting work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you must renew your certification every five years. But before you can start the renewal process, you’ll have to prove that you’re developing professionally and continuing education for psychiatric NPs can help you do that. What you focus on is up to you, but there are some minimum requirements. First, you must complete a mandatory 75 hours of education in psychiatric nursing. At least 25 of those hours will be in pharmacotherapeutics, and at least 37.5 hours are expected to be formally approved continuing education hours. Your continued studies must also be provided by one of several accepted agencies, including the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. In short: continuing education for psychiatric nurses is a fundamental part of the process, so make sure you do your research before you start studying! Apart from continuing your education, renewing your certification requires you to finish one or more of the eight ‘ANCC renewal categories’ in your chosen field. In practice, there’s a broad scope here, from volunteering to completing academic research. Valuable Skills that Can Help You Become a Psychiatric Nurse PractitionerAs with every profession, there are many skills psychiatric nurses use. Here are a few common skills psychiatric NPs have—though it’s important to emphasize that while they may help you, none of them guarantee you success in the field. ProfessionalismPsychiatric nursing can be emotionally demanding, but it helps if NPs remain professional at all times, showing respect and sensitivity when communicating with patients and their families. This may help to ensure you gain trust with patients, their families, and your coworkers. Problem SolvingFundamentally, PMHNPs help patients manage their mental health issues. Problem-solving skills can be useful throughout the treatment process, especially when it comes to identifying risk factors like trauma and substance abuse. Analytical SkillsThough psychiatric nursing by definition involves emotion, some professionals may also have robust analytical skills. After all, determining the scope of a mental illness might be hard. PMHNPs are often comfortable synthesizing data and patient research, as well as their own medical knowledge, to design care for patients. In brief, the journey to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner takes many different skills. But work hard, and do your research, and you too may be able to get started on a career that aligns with your personal goals. Last Updated October 2020 What is the highest paying nurse practitioner job?WHAT ARE THE HIGHEST-PAYING NURSE PRACTITIONER JOBS IN 2022?. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner ($114,468) ... . Telemedicine Nurse Practitioner ($113,883) ... . Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner ($113,387) ... . Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner ($112,511) ... . Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner ($112,384). How do I become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in Canada?Requirements include:. Hold a current RN license.. Hold a master's, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an accredited program.. Have worked a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours within the PMHNP program.. Have completed courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology.. What are the requirements for maintaining a Pmhnp license in Kentucky?Renewal of your APRN license requires that you complete continuing education, as mandated by your national certification organization and as prescribed by the Board. The Board requires that you complete 14 contact hours of continuing education annually to maintain licensure.
How do I become a psychiatric nurse practitioner UK?You need to be registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) to work as a mental health nurse in the UK. To be eligible to register you must complete a pre-registration nursing degree or registered nurse degree apprenticeship delivered by an NMC-approved education institution (AEI).
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