Faqueta Kenisha Green · 633 Stephenson Ave, Savannah, GA 31405-5970 · Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (2024)

FAQs

Faqueta Kenisha Green · 633 Stephenson Ave, Savannah, GA 31405-5970 · Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner? ›

PMHNPs can diagnose and treat any and every psychological condition, from mood disorders like depression and bipolar to others like dementia, eating disorders and addiction.

PMHNPs can diagnose and treat any and every psychological condition, from mood disorders like depression and bipolar to others like dementia, eating disorders and addiction.

Challenges Facing Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

Healthcare environments are high-stress settings where psychiatric NPs frequently work with patients experiencing pain, anger or other struggles related to their condition. Often, the patient's family members may feel powerless to assist.

As mentioned many times already, one of the reasons why psychiatric mental health NPs are one of the happiest nurse practitioner specialties—with a good work-life balance being one.

The ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) (Across the Lifespan) board certification examination is a competency-based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of the PMHNP.

PMHNPs are registered nurses (RNs) with advanced training in mental health. They can assess, diagnose, and treat patients with anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, personality disorders, and other mental disorders.

Generate differential diagnoses, provide psychotherapies, evidence-based intervention, and manage psychotropic medications. Partner with patients and families, and interdisciplinary colleagues to promote mental health and prevention.

PMHNPs will prescribe medication, treatment and/or therapy for mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, substance abuse, dementia and many other conditions. Unlike FNP, PMHNPs can provide long-term treatment and offer psychotherapy.

For nurses who are passionate about providing much-needed mental healthcare to patients, pursuing a future as a PMHNP can be rewarding. In comparison, FNPs have the opportunity to provide comprehensive and lifelong care to patients and their families, allowing them to serve both individuals and their communities.

A Distinction in Roles

It is helpful to consider the practical differences in psychiatric nurse practitioner vs family nurse practitioner. A psychiatric nursing role focuses on a patient's mental health, while the family nurse practitioner coordinates many aspects of healthcare.

Is it better to see a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner? ›

Yes — seeing a PMHNP is as good as seeing a psychiatrist for most mental health concerns. Nurse practitioners are licensed, certified, and professionally trained to provide high-quality care. The scope of practice and work setting for both professions is similar, as is the quality of care you receive.

Some specialties are in higher demand than others which factors into market saturation. The job market for psych NPs is decidedly not saturated. If you're a specialized NP looking for a job in a small town, it may not take more than a few other similar local providers to make the job market feel full.

Competitive annual salaries

As advanced practice nurses, PMHNPs tend to be well compensated when compared to other nursing specialties. This has to do with the level of education required, highly specialized certifications, and their capabilities surrounding diagnosis, prescription and treatment.

The designation FNP-C means “certified family nurse practitioner.” The American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) offers this credential.

To get better insight into the process of evaluating and diagnosing ASD at different ages, including the use of autism spectrum tests, we spoke with Allison Paugh, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) in Goldsboro North Carolina, who assesses, diagnoses, and treats a variety of mental disorders, ...

Introduction to Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

Some psychiatric nurse practitioners work from their own private practice, while most are members of an advanced practice comprised of various doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel.

However, neurologists — doctors who specialize in disorders of the brain and nervous system — are often consulted to diagnose dementia. Geriatric psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and geriatricians may also be able to diagnose dementia.

As physicians with training in MCI and AD dementia care, psychiatrists can play an important role in the timely diagnosis, treatment, and management of MCI and mild AD dementia.

Neuropsychological testing is a type of assessment that evaluates a person's cognitive abilities. It is used to diagnose dementia and other brain disorders, as well as to measure the severity of cognitive impairment and track changes over time.

Dementia is a clinical diagnosis made in individuals with a significant decline from their baseline level of cognitive performance.