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0 By Arlene Taylor
A Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice Registered Nurse (RN).
Many of the registered nurses that we are most familiar with work in the inpatient hospital setting. However RNs can work in a variety of settings. Registered nurses most often have undergone formal nursing training. They have graduated from an accredited nursing program and passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX). Passing the NCLEX examination allows the Board of Registered Nursing to grant the nurse the title of “RN.”
The Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
In the USA, Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are also referred to as Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP), Nurse Practitioners (NP) or Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). All of the terms to describe these nurses vary by user.
PMHNP’s have undergone additional education and training after becoming RNs. They typically undergo 2-3 additional years of school after attaining their Bachelors Degrees. Most PMHNPs have attained Masters Degrees. However some have also attained Doctorate degrees. This means after attaining their Masters degrees they have continued on 3-4 additional years to attain a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree (DNP). Or a Doctorate of Philosophy in the Science of Nursing degree (PhD). In California, a Masters degree is the minimum requirement for all nurse practitioners who wish to practice (legally).
They are unique
PMHNPs are unique of other APRNs, in that they are required to complete all of the training required for other general Family Nurse Practitioners, as well as complete specialized mental health training. This assures that by graduation, PMHNPs are adequately qualified to care for the healthcare needs of the family. The “family” refers to the newborn, child, adult, as well as our family elders.
After graduation, nurse practitioners must sit for another examination to be eligible to use the title of “PMHNP,” “NP,” or “APRN.” Passing this examination allows the nursing practitioner to become Board Certified (BC). Attaining board certification grants the Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner furnishing privileges. Holding furnishing privileges grants them eligibility to attain Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) certification. Once they have attained DEA certification, they are ready to serve our communities as middle level providers or mid level practitioners. This means they are able to perform Registered Nursing care as well as offering most of the services provided by your primary care Physician.
More individualized care
In primary care offices, Nurse Practitioners are similar to Physicians’ Assistants in the methods that they deliver care. A Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is able to care for primary care, behavioral, and/or mental health care needs. This allows a bit more individualized care than offered in primary practice, for those who may have both primary and mental health conditions.
Often Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners work in the outpatient setting. However as nurse practitioners there really is very little limitation on available work settings. This is due to the wide degree of knowledge base that these individuals hold. Some Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners work in acute hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care offices, operating rooms, nursing homes and even rehabilitation facilities.
A more holistic approach
You may find that PMHNPs are able to help with health maintenance, health screening, diagnostic evaluation and lab interpretation. They also provide medication education, offer psychotherapy, prescribe medications and give referrals to other practitioners. They offer a more holistic approach than a generalized practitioner or internal medicine physician.
Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are regulated by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). They must follow practice compliance regulations of any physician when it comes to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Verifying licenses of a nurse practitioner in California is fairly easy. The State of California Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with the BRNI provides this service to the public. Here’s their website: www.rn.ca.gov/online/verify.shtml
Thanks for reading!
-Nurse Rose
UNITED STATES
UNITED KINGDOM
