Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
A psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP) is a nurse who can act as a primary mental health care provider and who fills many–but not all–of the functions of a doctor. PNPs have strong medical backgrounds and experience in psychiatric settings.
Training and Requirements
At minimum, a psychiatric nurse practitioner must have a bachelor’s degree and become a registered nurse. They must then obtain a master’s or doctoral degree. PNPs must take board examinations in psychiatric nursing to become licensed, and typically must complete ongoing continuing education requirements established by their state’s board. There is an ongoing nursing shortage that extends to PNPs.
PNPs are governed by many of the same rules as psychiatrists. They must, for example, adhere to strict confidentiality standards and correctly diagnose illnesses prior to prescribing medication.
Role in Psychiatric Care
PNPs practice in a variety of settings, but are most commonly found in hospitals, nursing homes, and public health departments. They have significantly more autonomy in decision-making than either registered nurses or licensed practical nurses and can dispense medication to psychiatric patients. Some work in nurse practitioner offices or fill in for psychiatrists. Psychiatric nurse practitioners can and do provide psychotherapy, in addition to managing the medical side of psychiatric illnesses. They may also offer advice and support to people and their families just as a psychiatrist or other medical doctor might.
PNP care is typically less expensive than the care of a psychiatrist, and patients may have to wait shorter periods of time to obtain an appointment with PNPs.
References:
- About psychiatric-mental health nurses. (n.d.). American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Retrieved from http://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3292
- Psychiatric nurse practitioner. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.discovernursing.com/specialty/psychiatric-nurse-practitioner#.WW0ge4jyuM9
- What is an NP? (n.d.). American College of Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved from http://www.acnpweb.org/what-np
Last Updated: 07-17-2017