Can a nurse practitioner be a psychiatrist

If you're seeking mental healthcare, your first thought might be to look for a psychologist or psychiatrist. Amid a growing therapist shortage, it can be difficult to find a mental health professional with availability. It's commonplace to be waitlisted for months or to never hear back from clinics at all.

Table of Contents Show

What Does a PMHNP Do?
PMHNPs Vs. Psychiatrists
Should I See a PMHNP?
Which nurse practitioner specialty is in highest demand?
What NP makes the most money?

A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) might better fit your needs. But what exactly is a PMHNP, and what services do they offer?

What Does a PMHNP Do?

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.

PMHNPs often work in hospitals, rehab facilities, and other inpatient and outpatient healthcare centers. In these environments, PMHNPs work with other healthcare professionals to discuss patients' specific needs and create a holistic care plan. The role includes evaluating incoming patients' medical history, familial situations, and psychological and physical symptoms.

With this information, they can diagnose patients and formulate treatment plans, which typically combine therapy, counseling, and medication.

In many states, PMHNPs can even operate independent practices. So, many run their clinics and offer therapy through telehealth instead of working in clinical settings.

PMHNPs Vs. Psychiatrists

When it comes to the duties of PMHNPs vs. psychiatrists, there is a significant amount of overlap. Both diagnose and treat patients with mental health disorders, create care plans, provide psychotherapy, and prescribe medication.

The major difference between PMHNPs and psychiatrists is the amount of time spent in school. PMHNPs spend 6-7 years completing their bachelor's and master's degrees, while psychiatrists take about 12 years to earn their licenses.

PMHNPs spend their undergraduate years in nursing school, first becoming an RN. Then, they attend PMHNP-specific graduate programs to specialize in psychiatry.

Unlike PMHNPs, psychiatrists are physicians who spend about 4 years in medical school and 4 years in residency.

Some jurisdictions require PMHNPs to work under physician supervision. However, many states allow them to work autonomously. An American Journal of Preventive Medicine article suggests that PMHNPS may help address the mental health practitioner shortage.

These differences aside, from the patient perspective, a PMHNP and a psychiatrist are quite similar. However, PMHNPs are more likely to have availability for new patients, and they usually provide their services at lower rates than psychiatrists.

Should I See a PMHNP?

Like counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists, PMHNPs have their own specialty areas, therapy modalities, and treatment philosophies. Many focus on certain demographics, such as those with eating disorders or substance abuse issues. Some centralize medication in treatment, while others choose to avoid prescribing medication except in extreme cases.

When choosing a mental health professional, consider whether they have experience helping patients with similar needs, if their treatment philosophy speaks to you, and if they are within your insurance network. Many PMHNPs accept various private insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, or offer sliding scale therapy.

Once determining which mental health professional(s) you are interested in seeing, inquire whether they have time for a phone call. Some offer free consultations to determine whether or not they are a good fit for you.

You can find PMHNPs on Psychology Today, Brightside Health, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Sources

Caron C. (2021). ‘Nobody Has Openings’: Mental Health Providers Struggle to Meet Demand.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/well/mind/therapy-appointments-shortages-pandemic.html
Chapman S, et. al. (2018). Utilization and Economic Contribution of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners in Public Behavioral Health Services.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379718316039

Psychiatrists and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are two important roles in the healthcare community. Both of these professionals have to meet certain educational requirements, training, and certifications in order to practice legally. Both of these roles are crucial to healthcare and helping patients improve their mental health.

Psychiatric nurse practitioners take on a wide variety of responsibilities in the healthcare field. While psychiatric nurses are not medical doctors, they share many of the responsibilities with psychiatrists in diagnosing and designing treatment plans for patients. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are vital to the medical establishment as additional experts to help with mental health.

Training and credentials. The first step to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner is to get a nursing bachelor’s degree, and become a registered nurse (RN). Most nursing programs will prepare you to take the RN licensure exam, or can help already registered nurses earn that specific nursing credential. Nurse practitioner hopefuls must then pursue a nursing master's degree or PhD with a specialty in psychiatric mental health care. The final step is to get certified as a PMHNP. The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) credential requires an exam, advanced practice registered nurse license and a certificate in their chosen speciality, and 2,000 continuing education clinical hours. Your PMHNP certification is valid for 5 years.

Duties. Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners take on lots of responsibilities in medical and psychiatric diagnosing. Nurse practitioners conduct physical and mental health assessments, psychotherapy, design treatment plans, prescribe psychopharmaceuticals and other medicines, offer counseling, work with other healthcare professionals, and educate patients and communities on mental health and well-being. The exact duties of a PMHNP will vary based on the specialty, individual patients, and locations.

Psychiatric nurses treat a wide variety of patients, including those who suffer from mental illness or issues including:

Anxiety
Panic attacks
Depression
Bipolar disorder
ADHD
Substance abuse
Schizophrenia
Trauma
PTSD
Postpartum depression
And other mental illness

PMHNPs are valuable members of the healthcare industry. Psychiatric nurses help patients suffering from all kinds of mental health and medical issues.

Job outlook. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employment for nurse practitioners and nursing overall will grow 26% by 2026—much faster than the national average of 5% for job growth. Healthcare and nursing is an industry that always has a need for more professionals, and with mental illness being an increasingly high medical concern, more nurse practitioners are needed than ever before you meet demand. Job satisfaction for this profession is high, though the career is demanding and may have unique hours and heavy responsibilities.

Salary. The average annual salary for nurse practitioners is $113,000, with the lowest 10% earning $80,000 per year and the highest 10% earning more than $182,000 per year. The location where professionals work, the years of experience that they have, and the type of patients they work with all have a direct impact on salary levels.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) that evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with mental disorders. Psychiatry is different from what psychiatric nurse practitioners and therapists and psychologists do because to the status as medical doctors, though many of their job responsibilities are similar.

Training and credentials. Psychiatrists begin their education with a bachelor’s degree in a health care field. A pre-med degree that will help students be prepared for medical school is usually ideal for those who hope to become psychiatrists. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, students will need to become either a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathy (DO) by attending medical school. Students then will need to complete a residency program focused on psychiatry. Medical students need to get licensed and board-certified in psychiatry before they can practice, and board certification in psychiatry means ongoing education requirements to continue practicing in many states.

Duties. Psychiatrists work with patients who suffer from mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They perform psychiatric evaluations, develop treatment plans, prescribe medicine, and continue to work with patients to adjust treatments and continue to help. Psychiatrists can work in all kinds of settings like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other health care settings.

Psychiatrists can work in all kinds of subspecialties including:

Substance abuse
General psychiatry
Mental illness help with issues like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Geriatric psychiatry
Child and young adult psychiatry
Psychiatry that works between departments like the ER
Forensic psychiatry
Learning disorders
Psychotherapy

Psychiatrists work to help patients through all kinds of mental and emotional issues, and are a vital element of the healthcare field.

Job outlook. The job outlook for psychiatry is great, with an expected 16% job growth in the next few years. Mental health is an increasingly important and concerning epidemic facing the United States. Mental health disorders are becoming some of the largest health risks, so psychiatrists are needed to help patients and continue to research how to overcome these diseases. Job satisfaction is generally high, though there are many difficult and emotional elements that can take a toll on professionals.

Salary. Psychiatrists earn an average annual salary of $216,000. Medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy generally have high salaries due to the extensive schooling requirements to become one. The location where a psychiatrist works and their subspecialty will directly impact their salary.

If psychiatry and mental health is a field that you’re passionate about, there are other options for careers that you could choose from including:

Marriage and family therapist. This profession requires a master’s degree and is centered around offering counseling and insight to couples and families experiencing issues.
Human resource professional. Human resource professionals deal with helping employees get through difficult or traumatic times at the office, help resolve conflict, and are focused on helping others.
School counselors. School counselors often help students deal with traumatic situations or mental health issues. They administer psychiatric evaluations, offer therapy and counseling, and more to students at their school.
Psychiatric clinicians. Psychiatric clinicians administer psychiatric examinations and evaluations and help aid psychiatrists in different aspects of their daily work.

If you have a passion for mental health and want to help others, these kinds of career paths could be ideal for you. Get started on the path to a career that you’re passionate about today.

Which nurse practitioner specialty is in highest demand?

Family practice and psychiatric nurse practitioners are two of the most in-demand specialties, but the other ten are also in need. And while I listed 12 specialties above, there are so many other opportunities for nurse practitioners to pursue if they desire to leave a positive impact on healthcare in today's world.