A psychiatric nurse practitioner is a highly skilled nurse who has earned at least a master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing and, in some cases, a doctorate in the field. The demand for these specialists is growing because they can perform many of the same tasks as psychiatrists while being less expensive to hire. This pay cut should not lead anyone to believe that nurse practitioners’ work is less skilled than that of psychiatrists. They’re usually highly skilled, and their master’s or doctoral work has primarily focused on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, with extensive clinical experience.
Although some bachelors to nurse practitioner MS degree programs exist, most nurse practitioners begin their careers as registered nurses. However, these aren’t very common. The practitioner is almost always assumed to have completed their education as a registered nurse. Because these practitioners can often prescribe medications, their licensing may differ from state to state and country to country.
A psychiatric nurse practitioner can do a lot of different things and work in a lot of different areas. This nurse specialist can provide counseling, determine a mental illness diagnosis, and prescribe medications in direct patient care settings such as offices, hospitals, or care facilities. People can see these nurses as therapists and receive any prescriptions they may require to manage their mental health condition medically. The only thing such nurses are usually not allowed to do in this situation is administer psychological tests.
The psychiatric nurse practitioner is not required to operate a one-stop shop for mental health issues. He or she could primarily function as a medication prescriber, similar to a psychiatrist. In this case, the practitioner may collaborate closely with the patient’s therapists or psychologists to ensure that the patient’s care is coordinated. Nurses of this type can prescribe, provide medical care, and possibly work with patients individually who require additional education about their condition in mental institutions or day facilities. Nurse practitioners can also be helpful in educating families about a loved one’s psychiatric condition in this educational role.
While some psychiatric nurse practitioners work independently, others work under the supervision of a psychiatrist or in an office with psychiatrists. Other nurses in this field may work as case managers, for health insurance companies, various care facilities, or public health agencies. When a psychiatric nurse practitioner earns a doctorate, he or she can teach the profession in a variety of settings or work in administrative positions in a variety of settings.