Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

I am licensed as an Advanced Practice RN (CNS) via ANCC certification in Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing & license from state board. Obtaining this status took several years, including Master's degree, several months with a consultant doing group therapy, studying for and taking certification exam, and applying and paying for APN licensure. However, now that I have attained this status, I am finding that there is much confusion out there in the job market about my licensure and qualifications. I want to practice as an advanced practice CNS or I would not have put forth so much effort, time, and money to get to this point! I would appreciate input from colleagues regarding his/her job(s) as CNS in this field.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dear Becca,

I to am an MSN (after years of hard work!) who will take the ANCC exam in child and adolescent psychiatric nursing in June 1999. Once certified, I will be eligible via cert. and graduate school curriculum to apply for advanced practice licensure, that is, nurse practitioner license in Nebraska. Explaining my credentials to insurance companies, patients and families, other professionals, etc. is a challenge. I would like to hear from other advanced practice nurses in psych. who have had experience navigating the managed care maze. I believe that advance practice nurses in psych. have treatment skills that are unique and at the same time complementary to other mental health clinicians.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for your reply Dachsie. I am licensed as an APN in my state, but many times I am confronted with questions from other nurses wanting to know if this is the same as an RNP. I have to reply, no, not in this state. Here an APN may have prescriptive privileges and receive 3rd-party reimbursement. An RNP cannot, unless he/she is an APN. Even though national certification and advanced practice in psych nursing is the oldest advanced level, many nurses have no understanding of this. Likewise, much of Medicine and Psychiatry don't understand. So, I either have to establish some type of private practice, which is not likely to be accepted since there is little understanding, or I have to continue at status quo.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by Becca:

I am licensed as an Advanced Practice RN (CNS) via ANCC certification in Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing & license from state board. Obtaining this status took several years, including Master's degree, several months with a consultant doing group therapy, studying for and taking certification exam, and applying and paying for APN licensure. However, now that I have attained this status, I am finding that there is much confusion out there in the job market about my licensure and qualifications. I want to practice as an advanced practice CNS or I would not have put forth so much effort, time, and money to get to this point! I would appreciate input from colleagues regarding his/her job(s) as CNS in this field.

Please fax curriculum vita to 901-543-6055 attention W. Sawyer. ASAP.

------------------

Willa RN

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment