Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Career

RESPONSIBILITIES

What Is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner? 

Psychiatric nurse practitioners—sometimes called psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs)—are advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in mental health care. PMHNPs assess, diagnose, and treat mental health and substance use conditions across the lifespan. Depending on their training, work setting, and state scope-of-practice laws, their work may include psychotherapy, medication management, patient education, and collaborative care. 

This role is different from that of a psychiatric registered nurse. While both may work with patients experiencing mental health conditions, PMHNPs complete graduate-level nursing education and national certification that prepares them for advanced practice responsibilities such as diagnosing conditions and developing treatment plans. 

PMHNPs and psychiatrists also follow different educational pathways. Psychiatrists are physicians who complete medical school and residency training, while PMHNPs are advanced practice nurses. Both may diagnose and treat mental health conditions, although their training and state-regulated scopes of practice differ.

What Does a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Do?

Psychiatric nurse practitioners assess patients, diagnose mental health conditions, develop treatment plans, and provide ongoing psychiatric care. Their exact responsibilities depend on their specialty, work environment, training, patient population, and state practice laws.

Typical psychiatric nurse practitioner responsibilities can include:

• Conducting psychiatric assessments. Review symptoms, history, medications, and health factors. 
• Performing mental status examinations. Evaluate mood, behavior, cognition, and thought processes. 
• Diagnosing mental health conditions. Identify mental health and substance use conditions. 
• Developing treatment plans. Create individualized plans based on patient needs. 
• Managing medications. Prescribe and monitor medications when authorized. 
• Providing therapeutic interventions. Provide psychotherapy and other appropriate interventions. 
• Providing crisis care. Assess crises and develop safety plans. 
• Collaborating with other professionals. Coordinate care with other healthcare professionals. 
• Educating patients and families. Explain diagnoses, treatments, medications, and resources.

Not every PMHNP performs every one of these responsibilities. Duties and practice authority can differ based on state law, employer policies, patient population, and the practitioner’s individual education and training.

Where Do Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Work?

Psychiatric nurse practitioners can work throughout the healthcare system. This range of possible environments can give PMHNPs opportunities to work with different patient populations and treatment models. 

• Hospitals 
• Outpatient behavioral health clinics
• Community mental health centers
• Primary care and integrated care settings
• Private practices
• Telehealth services
• Substance use treatment programs
• Schools and universities
• Correctional facilities
• Government and public health settings

Who Do PMHNPs Treat?

PMHNP certification is designed for psychiatric mental health care across the lifespan. Depending on their training, employer, and applicable practice requirements, PMHNPs may work with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. 

Their patients may experience anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, trauma-related disorders, psychotic disorders, ADHD, substance use disorders, perinatal mental health conditions, and other psychiatric or behavioral health concerns.

The specific conditions and populations an individual practitioner treats will depend on their experience, role, clinical environment, and professional scope.