PMHNP...Do I need a Psych Nursing Background?

[jk82]

I'm looking to go back to school and get my Psych Mental Health NP. I work in a large pediatric hospital, but we don't have a psych unit. I currently work in the ER and get some exposure to psych patients but not a lot. I'm curious if it is necessary to have psych nursing experience before getting my PMHNP. I am also wondering if there are more job opportunities in child-adolescent mental health or adult mental health? Thanks for your advice and expertise.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

When I got my training as a psych CNS (they're considered to be alot like a psycn NP--in some states they're the same thing), there was someone in the major who had a background in med surg, but no experience in psych at all. She had alot of trouble with the work, and had some big incorrect beliefs about psych patients to overcome. She often said she wished she had psych experience before choosing the master's level specialization.

I'm an adult mental health specialist. There are about equal opportunities as far as I can see. In Indiana you can work with children even if you are only specialized in adult psych care. I wouldn't advise it though. Child specialization is much much more complicated, and more regulated and paperwork-loaded than adult.

[al dente]

You don't necessarily need psych experience, but it will be helpful. You will have a sharp learning curve about basic psych treatment paradigms that will be well known to those with psych experience. My class had three FNPs who were respecializing. They made it through, but they struggled more than the RNs in the program who worked on psych units or had prior psych experience.

States are beginning to crack down on areas of specialization and you will most likely need to be certified in the area that you want to practice i.e. family psych (includes child) or adult psych. My state does not allow you to see children or adolescents unless you are trained and certified in that area. I suggest that you train to sit for the Family PMHNP exam offered by ANCC; it will allow you to see patients across the lifespan.

Demand for services is high in both areas, but demand for child/adolescent services is exceptionally high. There are simply not enough child psych providers of any kind: child NPs, psychologists, or psychiatrists. Even child-trained master's level therapists can be hard to come by.

[jk82]

Thank you all for your advice! I'm going to look into getting some psych nursing experience! :-)

[inthesky]

Some PMHNP programs require a year of psych experience, but not all of course!

[ivyleaf]

As a psych nurse, I would recommend it. A lot of people in RN school really didn't end up liking psych after their rotation..it's not for everyone (Just like any other specialty)