Psychiatric nurse practitioners provide mental health care in various settings, administer medication, monitor patients’ mental health, and participate in treatment plans. They may also attend to physical needs and receive additional training for counseling and psychology. The job can be physically and emotionally demanding, but additional certifications can increase employability. Education includes psychiatric nursing and psychology topics, and continuing education is available through professional organizations.
A psychiatric nurse practitioner is a nurse who specializes in providing psychiatric care. This type of nursing care can be provided in a psychiatric facility, a psychiatric wing in a hospital, or at home, depending on the nature of the patient’s needs. You may also hear psychiatric nursing referred to as mental health care. Salary scales for psychiatric nurses vary according to their level of experience and training and where they are employed.
As a nurse, providing psychiatric care can be very complex. Psychiatric nurses must administer medications to their patients, keep a close eye on their patients’ mental health, and be active participants in the patient’s treatment plan. Especially in psychiatric settings, psychiatric nurses are relied on to monitor the mental health of patients, providing information about which treatment techniques are working and assessments of the patient’s progress with treatment. The nurse-to-patient ratio is often low, reflecting the fact that the care of the mentally ill can become very complex.
Like other nurses, a psychiatric nurse may also need to attend to a patient’s physical needs, such as assistance with toileting, bathing, and dressing, or help navigate physical therapy programs. Some psychiatric nurses also receive counseling credentials and additional psychology training so they can conduct group therapy sessions and offer other mental health care to their patients. In the case of a psychiatric nurse providing home care, the nurse may also need to present patient assessments to a supervising physician where the patient’s progress is discussed.
Working with the mentally ill can be very physically and emotionally demanding, especially in the case of people who have been institutionalized for long-term treatment. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are generally qualified to care for patients of all ages, but some pursue additional certifications so they can focus on patients of special interest, such as young people with mental illness or the elderly. The more certifications a psychiatric nurse has, the more employable they will be.
Someone who wants to become a psychiatric nurse usually studies psychiatric nursing in nursing school. In addition to covering basic nursing topics, the student will be introduced to topics specific to psychiatry and psychology, including overviews of common psychiatric conditions, medications used to assist in treatment, and specific issues that may arise when treating the mentally ill. Psychiatric nurses can also join professional organizations to network with other psychiatry professionals and have access to continuing education courses that will keep their skills sharp and current.
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