# data[].attributes.body
From the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing - Psychiatric Nursing | APNA

"Nurses in psychiatric-mental health:

Partner with individuals to achieve their recovery goals

Provide health promotion and maintenance

Conduct intake screening, evaluation, and triage

Provide Case management

Teach self-care activities

Administer and monitor psychobiological treatment regimens

Practice crisis intervention and stabilization

Engage in psychiatric rehabilitation and intervention

Educate patients, families, and communities

Coordinate care

Work within interdisciplinary teams"

# data[].attributes.body
How to become a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse?

"To become a psychiatric-mental health advanced practice nurse, must obtain the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification (PMHNP-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. To sit for this certification exam you will need:

An RN license

A masters or doctoral degree from an accredited Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. (The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and National League for Nursing accredit programs.) Your program must include:

At least 500 supervised clinical hours

Three separate courses in: advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology

Content in: health promotion/maintenance, differential diagnosis and disease management

Clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Psychiatric-mental health (PMH) nurses provide care to individuals, families, and communities who have current or potential mental health needs. Essential components of PMH nursing practice include health and wellness promotion through:

Identification of mental health issues

Prevention of mental health problems

Care of mental health problems

Treatment of persons with the full range of psychiatric-mental health disorders, including substance use disorders

PMH-RNS

A psychiatric-mental health registered nurse (PMH-RN) cares for those with mental health issues, mental health problems, psychiatric disorders, and co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. Working with individuals, families, groups, and communities, PMH nurses select and implement evidence-based interventions to promote positive outcomes and recovery. They are key members of interdisciplinary teams and develop partnerships with those with whom they work to assist them with their individual recovery goals. They help people gain, re-gain, or improve coping abilities, living skills, and managing symptoms; maximize their strengths; and prevent further disability.

PMH-RNs with advanced degrees often focus on design, implementation, evaluation, and operations of psychiatric-mental health care delivery. They develop workforce, manage culture, ensure access to care, maintain quality standards, foster safe practice environments, and improve outcomes for individuals and communities.

PMH-APRNS (Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Nurse Specialists)

PMH-APRNs assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, families or groups with complex psychiatric-mental health problems or the potential for such disorders. They provide a full range of psychiatric-mental health services to persons from pre-birth until death. Their key roles include prescribing or recommending psychiatric medication, providing various forms of psychotherapy, and providing clinical supervision. PMH-APRNs are prepared to work independent of other disciplines and may be self-employed or employed by an agency, practice autonomously or collaboratively, and may or may not bill clients for services provided. Due to the need for the services they offer, the scope of practice for PMH-APRNs is continually expanding.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Psychiatric-mental health nurses are trained mental health care professionals that practice according to high quality licensing and credentialing standards. Psychiatric-mental health nurses form strong therapeutic relationships with people experiencing mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders, and often with their familiesRead More ›

# data[].attributes.body
From NurseJournal.org gain an understanding of what Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses do with these questions and answers.

"How are psychiatric nurses different from psychologists, psychiatrists, or therapists?

Psychiatric nurses work in bedside roles that differ from psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists who can diagnose patients. Psychiatric nurses, on the other hand, assist patients with activities of daily living, administer medication and help to manage any side effects, observe patients to evaluate their progress, and offer guidance, education, and other forms of interpersonal support to patients and their families.

What types of conditions do psychiatric nurses treat?

Psychiatric nurses treat patients with a variety of mental health illnesses. For example, they may work in a senior living facility helping people living with dementia or in a mental health center overseeing patients recovering from eating disorders. In a psychiatric hospital, psychiatric nurses might work with people diagnosed with a mood disorder.

How do psychiatric nurses remain safe while working?

According to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), the key to maintaining a safe healthcare environment includes awareness, attending, caring, and connecting. Psychiatric teams use risk management strategies to maintain safety. To do this, psychiatric nurses perform routine safety checks, avoid dangerous closed areas, wear appropriate clothing, maintain awareness, and keep in communication with other staff.

What skills make for a good psychiatric nurse?

A good psychiatric nurse must demonstrate empathy and strong communication and problem-solving skills. Psychiatric nurses should maintain open communication and collaborate with other staff members to carry out intervention plans. The job also requires strong interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships with patients and the emotional stability to handle high-stress environments."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - UT Health San Antonio

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is the role of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners?

# data[].attributes.headline
Day to Day what Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Do.

# data[].attributes.subject
Day to Day what Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Do.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Trust

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Is It Like To Be A Mental Health Nurse?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What do Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Do?

# data[].attributes.headline
Resources at Felbry College School of Nursing

# data[].attributes.subject
Resources at Felbry College School of Nursing

# data[].attributes.body
Books Located at the Learning Resource Center

Abnormal Psychology by David Barlow.

Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing by Margaret Jordan Halter.

Introduction to Psychology by James Kalat.

Psychology for Nurses and Health Professionals by Richard Gross.

# data[].attributes.body
References to have and know throughout your nursing career.

SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

NIMH » Home (nih.gov)

Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)

Home | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

American Psychiatric Nurses Association | APNA

American Psychological Association (APA)

First Lady Rosalynn Carter leads fight against stigma, mental illness (cartercenter.org)