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mental health certification for nurse practitioner



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Dec 26, 2008 11:10 AM

mental health certification for nurse practitioner


Does anyone know of a way for a family nurse practitioner who has years of experience in mental health nursing to obtain some sort of psychiatric/mental health certification without having to complete a mental health nurse practitioner program?
I looked at the ANCC requirements and I have all the classes they require but it says I must have graduated from an approved mental health nurse practitioner program. Please advise if you know anything about this. Thank you

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35 Comments
No. 1
from patrick1rn
Old Dec 26, 2008, 11:52 AM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
Originally Posted by bobcambren View Post
Does anyone know of a way for a family nurse practitioner who has years of experience in mental health nursing to obtain some sort of psychiatric/mental health certification without having to complete a mental health nurse practitioner program?
I looked at the ANCC requirements and I have all the classes they require but it says I must have graduated from an approved mental health nurse practitioner program. Please advise if you know anything about this. Thank you
Are you an RN ??
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No. 2
from Whispera
Old Dec 26, 2008, 12:01 PM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
If I was you, I'd contact ANCC and ask them their requirements. You can find them online and do the email thing or call them. I don't know the website, but imagine it's not too hard to find with a search. When I was getting my CNS psych certification they were quite helpful with explanations of requirements.
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No. 3
from sirI
Old Dec 26, 2008, 12:47 PM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
Thread moved to NP forum for a better response.
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No. 4
from UVA Grad Nursing
Old Dec 27, 2008, 08:32 AM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
You'll need to complete a ANCC approved Psych NP or Psych CNS program. In order to sit for boards, you will need to have at least 500 precepted hours in PMH nursing. None of your FNP hours would apply.

ANCC requirements for PMH certification have been becoming more stringent in the past 6 months.
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No. 5
from MedictoRN
Old Jan 05, 2009, 08:36 PM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
As an FNP student I wonder what would you be able to do with the Mental Health Cert that you can't do as an FNP? I understand wanting to be certified for your own sense of accomplishment, just wonder how this would expand your scope.

Thanks for the insight.
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No. 6
from Whispera
Old Jan 05, 2009, 09:23 PM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
some psych facilities prefer to hire psych NPs or CNSs rather than family NPs
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No. 7
from zenman
Old Jan 05, 2009, 09:54 PM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
Originally Posted by MedictoRN View Post
As an FNP student I wonder what would you be able to do with the Mental Health Cert that you can't do as an FNP? I understand wanting to be certified for your own sense of accomplishment, just wonder how this would expand your scope.

Thanks for the insight.
Appropriately treat people with mental health disorders.
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No. 8
from JDCitizen
Old Jan 06, 2009, 04:44 AM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
Originally Posted by bobcambren View Post
Does anyone know of a way for a family nurse practitioner who has years of experience in mental health nursing to obtain some sort of psychiatric/mental health certification without having to complete a mental health nurse practitioner program?
I looked at the ANCC requirements and I have all the classes they require but it says I must have graduated from an approved mental health nurse practitioner program. Please advise if you know anything about this. Thank you

Well to cut the edges of the program you could consider a post masters certificate. There is usually overlap of programs but this varies from program to program. The war, economy and an aging population MH practitioners are probably going to see a boom for awhile.
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No. 9
from DelilaNP
Old Jan 08, 2009, 05:45 PM

Default Re: mental health certification for nurse practitioner
I am an ANP and have been researching this, too. The answer is just as above: You have to go back to school.

Post master's certificate would be shortest route. A year and a summer primarily online for me at UNC. Other thoughts to maximize your time and investment:

Entry level for NP practice will be doctoral by 2015. There is a movement to limit prescription priviledges of psychoactive meds to doctorally prepared NPs as well. For these reasons consider an on-line Doctor of Nursing Practice with a concentration in Psych/mental health NP. You will remain marketable and won't be at a loss in a few years. There is one such program at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. If the state you live in is not Tennessee and it participates in the academic common market you can attend for in state tuition rates. Check out this link http://www.sreb.org/
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