ANP-C going back for PMHN

PG2018 · Jun 23, 2015

Just finished up my summer session for additional certification in PMHNP. Any one else do this? My cohorts are going back for FNP (more jobs) but I like mental health. Plus I really do not want to treat children. Thanks for any input!!

Right now, psychiatry is the in demand field. More medical students are showing interest in it. More residency slots are filled. More NPs are becoming interested it, and a lot are choosing a post-master's certification like yourself. I hope the field doesn't deflate like it has for CRNAs.

Kids aren't my favorite patient either, but we get a lot of them. Most of them have state insurance, and it reimburses better than any private/employer insurance. So unless you get an adult only psych job, as the ANCC is phasing out the adult psych cert (or already has) you may have to treat them.

I've thought about trying to pick up the FNP, but there are a lot of factors involved that dissuade me. One, I don't want to do family practice clinicals, i.e. pelvics, well baby checks, rectal exams, et al. Two, I also don't think the personal merits of being better credentialed to treat primary care (which I don't want to work in) are sufficient to sacrifice a work day. Here, the adult/gero path is geriatric-focused, and I've thought about that option too. I'm just not keen on more clinical exposure and paper writing.