What do psychiatric nurses do

The psychiatric or behavioral health nurse specializes in caring for patients receiving treatment for a variety of mental illnesses, addiction, eating disorders or substance abuse.

Patients with psychiatric disorders require a great deal of emotional support, education, and therapy from skilled mental health professionals. Working with patients and the interdisciplinary team, including case managers and social workers, to assess and provide a safe discharge environment is a large part of the day-to-day of a psychiatric nurse.

This specialty is suited to the nurse who is patient and kind, but not afraid to lay down some boundaries when necessary. Those who know they want to become a psychiatric nurse should plan on taking a few mental health courses while in school. Upon becoming an RN, most nurses gain experience in general nursing before they move into the psychiatric specialty, although it's not unheard of for a new grad nurse to go right into psychiatric nursing.

Education requirements include holding an active RN license, which may be achieved via an Associate's Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor's degree. The trend in the healthcare industry is shifting toward primarily hiring BSN-educated registered nurses, but this is not currently an enforced requirement.

Earning more education, however, will make an RN more money and create better opportunities. Read more for further clarify on psychiatric nurse certifications. There are opportunities for advancement within the psychiatric nursing specialty, which require further education.

The PMH-APRN role is an advanced nursing role requiring extensive education in development, physical and mental health assessment, the diagnosis of mental health conditions, integration and implementation of care, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, practice evaluation, consultation, and liaison, according to the APNA. To utilize these skills in practice it is necessary to obtain the appropriate educational degree. Advanced masters and doctoral degrees allow a PMH nurse to work in particular roles, such as that of psychiatric primary care provider, psychotherapist, consultant, and university educator.

The BLS does not track salary information for nursing specialties. Becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner involves completing a four-year bachelor's degree in nursing and being registered as a nurse.

Psychiatric nurse practitioners also need to earn certification and obtain licensure as a nurse practitioner. Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in psychiatry and are qualified to assess both mental and physical aspects of psychological problems.

In contrast, psychiatric nurse practitioners are certified nurses who provide medical services to individuals. Psychiatric nurses specialize in providing mental health care to patients, while nurses in other roles tend to provide care to people who have physical and other health-related problems.

Build a career you'll love What. Home Career Explorer Psychiatric Nurse. What does a Psychiatric Nurse do? Was this information useful? Working as a Psychiatric Nurse The role of a psychiatric nurse varies depending on the training and qualifications they have received, but could include the following duties: Managing a caseload of patients and helping to ensure their care, safety and progress to recovery Collaborating with a team of mental health professionals to create a plan of care and treatment for their patients Working with and educating the patients' family so that there is a supportive environment for the patient Providing social support by creating or facilitating patient access to support groups, group therapy sessions and social activities Restraining patients who are a danger to themselves and others while making sure that they remain as safe as possible through medication or physical restraint.

Get career advice for Psychiatric Nurses. How much does a Psychiatric Nurse make in the United States? Per hour Per day Per week Per month Per year. Average base salary Data source tooltip for average base salary.

Making diagnoses, advocating for patients, administering and evaluating treatment plans, as well as prescribing medication, will all be within the scope of your work. If you are interested in healthcare, specifically psychiatric nursing, know that there is no better time to get into this rapidly growing field!

In fact, according to the U. What does a psychiatric nurse practitioner do on a daily basis, and what can you expect once in this advanced nursing role? Learn more through these commonly asked questions about being a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Many aspiring nurses are interested in the field of mental health because of the blend of holistic and targeted treatment measures. For instance, intaking a patient begins with an evaluation that concerns medical history and symptom analysis.

A personal history is also taken, which allows nurses to learn about family dysfunction, genetic red flags, trauma, or developmental issues.