Psych nursing? scope of practice

[Infofreak411]

What is the scope of practice in terms of Psychiatric nurses?

What is required to become a psych nurse (ie. training, certifications, etc.)?

Do psych nurses just primarily get involved with the medical aspects of psychiatric patients such as checking vitals passing meds and assessing other health matters that may arise or do they actually get involved with the psycho-social aspects as well.

Is all of the counseling left to clinical social workers?

I like medical and mental health so it would be great if I could combined them both!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Straight from the horse's mouth (well, the APNA), psychiatric/MH nursing scope and standards:

http://www.apna.org/files/public/12-11-20-PMH_Nursing_Scope_and_Standards_for_Public_Comment.pdf

This is a draft available to the public. If psych is where you are/are going to end up, do consider purchasing the official copy.

Here in the US, you do not need any special education to become a psych nurse: all you need is to have graduated from nursing school and be licensed as a LVN or RN. Other countries may have different educational/experience requirements. Also, some states have educational/experience requirements that need to be met in order to be listed with that BON as a psych/MH nurse.

[hungrygirl]

I think this is what I want to do! It's wonderful to see my "dream" job so clearly. (Until I'm actually in the job it seems fluffy and unreal.) Or maybe ambition is the better word.) I've worked in mental health research for some time, but I rarely saw mental health nurses in action or even talked to one, so I've never been quite sure (hence "dream"). It seems like mental health research nurse get to do all of the clinical things that I like to do as just a research coordinator. I've done assessments, and phlebotomy when in NY but I'm CA now and I'm not certified here. So I can't currently even do that. I have looked in to mental health / psychiatry NP programs. Are you an NP? Is that even necessary or just a more direct route to doing what you do? Do you say you're a member of the "crusty old bat society". Did it take you some time to work your way into your position?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Who are you writing to, hungrygirl? If it's me, since I'm a member of the crusty old bat society...

I did what I wrote about as a generic nurse. I didn't need certifications or advanced training to do it. However, I was older than most new graduates and had lots of life experience with family members who had mental illnesses, and I tend to be an assertive presence. some say it's difficult to get a job as a psych nurse right after nursing school graduation. Of those I worked with, no "new" nurses were there other than those with the characteristics I had.

After a couple of years I became certified as a psychiatric nurse. Most of the people I worked with didn't do that. Now I'm a CNS rather than an NP. When I became a CNS, the lines between CNS and NP were pretty blurry, and I chose the CNS route. I've worked as a psychiatric liaison in a generic hospital where I floated the building, seeing patients who had psych issues who were hospitalized for medical issues. I did that as both a generic RN and a CNS. I've done research too. Since I became a CNS I've moved away from inpatient care to outpatient care, and have my own clients that I see regularly for counseling and medication management. I also taught psychiatric nursing for a longgg time.

Sometimes you'll have to invent your role, both as a generic psych nurse and as an advanced practice psychiatric nurse. I think, sometimes, facilities don't know what we can do, so we have to show them. That's been my experience, for sure!

One thing that's definite...you'll get more by being with patients and getting to their hearts, no matter what kind of nurse you become, than one who pays attention to the paperwork first. Get out and be with the ones you care for. It makes a world of difference for them as well as for your joy in the job.

[verene, MSN]

Also, can cnas get a job in the psych field? To get a good grasp on experience and insider point of view.

Yes they can. I'm a CNA who works in psych. My job title is "Residential Caregiver" and I work at a mental health ALF, run by a community mental health organization. Many of these organizations will hire CNAs as caregiver/house monitor type positions. It is definitely a different kind of CNA work. I don't do anywhere near as much hands on patient care as training set me up to do, but a much broader form of work. In many ways it is much more independent than most CNA jobs.

My job is to primarily keep calm in the house and be available to residents who need a little extra help/support. I also supervise self-medications, arrange appointments & transportation for residents, follow up with doctors, psychiatrists, and case managers, make snacks, lead group activities, do light housework, assist with self-care, provide emotional support to residents, deal with any emergencies that come up (everything from medical to filing missing persons reports), take care of charting and office administration, order supplies, and generally get to be a jack of all trades around the building.

I love my job, but realize it is probably not for everyone.