Psychiatry Nurse Information
The clinical practice of psychiatric nursing occurs at two levels -
basic and advanced. At the basic level, registered nurses work with
individuals, families, groups, and communities to assess mental health
needs, develop diagnoses, and plan, implement, and evaluate nursing
care. Basic level nursing practice characterized by interventions that
promote and foster health, assess dysfunction, assist clients to regain
or improve their coping abilities, and prevent further disability. These
interventions focus on psychiatric-mental health clients and include
health promotion, preventive management of a therapeutic environment;
assisting client with self-care activities; administering and monitoring
psychobiological treatment regimens; health teaching; including
psychoeducation; crisis intervention and counseling and case management.
Registered nurses who seek additional education and obtain a masters or
doctoral degree can become advanced practice nurses in the specialty
(Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialists or Psychiatric
Nurse Practitioners). After post-master's supervised clinical practice,
they can become certified as specialists in adult, or child and
adolescent psychiatric-mental health nursing. In addition to the
functions performed at the basic level, these advanced practice nurses
assess, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders and potential mental
health problems. They provide the full range of primary mental health
care services to individuals, families, groups and communities, function
as psychotherapists, and in some states they have the authority to
prescribe medications. Psychiatric-mental health nurses in advanced
practices are qualified to practice independently to offer direct care
services in settings such as agencies, communities, homes, hospitals,
and offices. Some psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialists
practice consultation/liaison nursing, delivering mental health services
to physically ill patients or consultation to staff in general medical
settings.
Because of their broad background in biological, pharmacological,
sociological, and psychological sciences, psychiatric-mental health
nurses are a rich resource as providers of psychiatric-mental health
services and patient care partners for the consumers of those services.
Psychiatric nursing sub-specialties include, but are not limited, to
child, adolescent, adult, geriatric, consult/liaison, substance abuse,
eating disorders, forensic. Certification in a sub-specialty is possible
through ANCC and various sub-specialty organizations.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse must possess the following knowledge:
Biologic and psychological theories of mental health and mental illness,
psychotherapeutic modalities, substance abuse and dual diagnosis, care
of populations at risk, community milieu as a therapeutic modality,
cultural and spiritual implications of nursing care, family dynamics in
mental health and illness, psychopharmacology, legal and technical
factors, including documentation specific to the care of those with a
mental illness.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse must possess the following skills:
Comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment, interdisciplinary
collaboration, identification and coordination of relevant resources for
clients and families, use of psychiatric diagnostic classification
systems, therapeutic communication, therapeutic use of self,
psychoeducation with clients and families, and administering and
monitoring psychopharmacologic agents.
Psychiatric-mental health nurses work in a wide array of inpatient and
outpatient such as full or partial hospitals, community-based or home
care programs, and local, state, and federal mental health agencies.
Other settings include: School/college of nursing, private practice,
military, primary care office, prison/jail, home health agency,
behavioral care company/HMO.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse - basic (RN) level national annual
salary range: $25,000-$47,000 (dependent on geographical location). A
psychiatric-mental health nurse - advanced (APRN-PMH) level national
annual salary range: $50,000-$70,000.
A generalist PMH nurse holds either a BSN, AD, or
diploma. An advanced PMH nurse (APRN-PMH) holds a masters or doctoral degree, is
ANCC certified, and has an advanced practice license from the state in which
he/she practices.
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