Advanced practice registered nurses are registered nurses with a level of nursing practice that employs skills, experience and knowledge in nursing care. They have attained a Masters or post Master’s degree and have a specific role and serve a specific patient population ("APRNS in the U.S", 2016). With the education and certification, APRNs can assess, diagnose, prescribe medications and order laboratory and diagnostic tests. APRNs can be divided into 4 different areas of specialty: Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM).
A Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who is prepared to provide counseling and psychopharmaceutical management to individuals, groups and families as regulated by state laws, as practice varies state by state ("Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner", 2016). A psychiatric-mental health nurse (PMHN) as a Nurse Practitioner is an advanced specialty in nursing. APRNs may earn a PhD or EdD for them to work as researchers, professors, or administrators in universities.
The sub-specialty areas are: child and adolescent mental health nursing, gerontological-psychiatric nursing, forensics, or substance use disorders. Also, PMH-APRNs provide consultation and services to clients with multiple and complex mental and physical health concerns. Others work with primary care providers and collaboration and integration of health care roles are some of the specializations ("American Psychiatric Nurses Association", 2015).
Each Board of Nursing and state legislature decides on what title to give for APRNs to use which are the following: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. They also regulate the licensure, scope and standards of practice ("American Psychiatric Nurses Association", 2015).
Scope of Practice
Care Services provided
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners apply the nursing process to be able to assess patients regarding mental health needs. The PMH-APRNs develop a nursing diagnosis, make a nursing care plan, implement the plan and evaluates the plan (“Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses, 2015). They assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with psychiatric disorders or the potential for such disorders. They identify the risk factors for such disorders. They provide treatment such as psychotherapies. Medication prescription and management are also part of the services they provide. Aside from those, they have a contribution to policy development, quality improvement, evaluation of practice and healthcare reform ("American Psychiatric Nurses Association", 2015).
There are instances wherein the responsibilities and role of a PMH-APRN are similar with that of a psychologist, psychiatrist and social worker. A PMH-APRN can prescribe medications, administer psychotherapy yet they cannot administer psychological testing unlike the psychologists who are trained to do so. All these psychiatric providers can independently practice but depend on state regulatory laws, standards and scope of practice ("American Psychiatric Nurses Association", 2015).
Clients
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners work with individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities. The PMH-APRNs are responsible for the mental health needs of the clientele. They offer primary care services to the psychiatric-mental health population.
Practice Setting
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses have varied career opportunities. Work settings include:
Schools
Prisons
Outpatient clinics
Acute care
Health homes
Behavioral health homes
Long-term care
Private practice
Hospitals
Reference
American Psychiatric Nurses Association. (2015). Apna.org. Retrieved 15 July 2016, from http://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3292#1
APRNS in the U.S. (2016). NCSBN. Retrieved 15 July 2016, from https://www.ncsbn.org/aprn.htm
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. (2016). Nursing.vanderbilt.edu. Retrieved 15 July 2016, from https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/pmhnp/pmhnp_faq.php#faq1
