I recently made the choice to switch from a Mental Health Counseling program to an Accelerated BSN program. With the ultimate goal of obtaining an advanced degree (PMHNP). This was an informed decision based on some things I learned when talking to graduates of my old counseling program. The short story being that PMHNP's seem to earn more and get more respect than LPC's.
I'm also an older student (in my 40s) but will start taking my nursing pre-req's soon. I'm very clear about my path but do have some questions.
- Is it true that Mental Health Nursing is not a popular career choice?
- What is a typical day like for an Advanced Practice Mental Health Nurse?
- Do you feel well compensated salary wise?
- What is the job market like for PMHNP (I've heard there's a huge demand).
I'm 100% sure about my career choice. I love psychology but am really excited about learning more "hard science" when it comes to anatomy and physiology. My goal is to work really hard and get started on my new career ASAP.
There is a huge demand for Psyc NP's. With that being said, there is a large demand because these jobs are hard to fill for the employer- not everyone has a stomach or the constitution for psyc. Personally for me, I found it too challenging. With adult pts, you will deal with schizophrenics, bipolar depression, drug addiction, homelessness, non-compliance, etc. Mostly med and lab management, taking calls from families/nsg staff. Also dealing a lot with the DPAHC or public guardians. I had a pt once was schizophenic and bipolar, and was on cocaine, mj, and alcohol (I didn't mention names, so I'm ok HIPAA-wise). I had to deal with snf's who did not want to take psyc pts (unless you gave them coveted "skilled days" first). Ive had snf's who did their best to d/c stable psyc pts, even if it meant they went somewhere unsafe. Ive had to deal with psyc hospitals who would not admit pts, because they were not unstable enough... On the bright side, it is a great satisfaction when you have stable pts w/ good quality of life, and you are a part of making this happen. So, you really have to love (or really like) what you do. No amount of money would entice me into being a psyc NP, but that's just me.
Glad to see this thread is still going, I'm recently a RN and and just got offered my first job in psych. I seem to be one of the few people
I graduated with who is actually interested in this field, my ultimate goal is to become an PMHNP after getting a few years experience. Any other advice for following this path. Good programs to do while working ? outlook for the southern CA area?
Some people might disagree with me on this but I don't care! :) I would strongly suggest that if you want to be an NP in psych you should get some solid medical nursing experience eg Med Surg, ED or ICU. Always remember that psych diagnoses are rule out diagnoses and we need to always consider other medical differentials. Most of our patients have significant medical co-morbidities involving medications or treatments that may impact or complicate psychiatric treatment. Psychiatry is sometimes plagued by the not knowing what you don't know syndrome. Our physician colleagues have all had basic rotations in all areas of medicine. Nursing school experience is NOT adequate. In addition, many psych patients may not even have a PCP and you have to be capable of recognizing and possibly diagnosing or treating a wide range of medical issues.
After graduating from nursing school, I looked at my jobs in nursing as a sort of residency. I worked in a variety of areas ranging from inpatient psych to med surg to ED to cardiac and respiratory ICU. I worked full time while I went to grad school, told all the docs I worked with that I was in an NP program and asked them to treat me like a med student - they were more than accommodating and I was regularly humiliated! But I learned a ton. I am a much better NP for it and am compensated accordingly.
I am so glad that you posted this. I have been so afraid to apply for a PMHNP program. I am a med-surg/oncology nurse with 8 years of experience and a psych clinical instructor. I don't have any other psych experience but I love my psych experience with my nursing students. I am just afraid I don't have enough experience to be a PMHNP. I want to get a post masters in PMHNP so bad. I really think I would be a real good PMHNP.
I'm glad it helped! Your post points out one of the MAJOR problems in nursing: you're working as a psych clinical instructor but you're worried that you may not have enough experience in psych to do a PMHNP program! We are in such a rush to get students into nursing programs even though we don't have faculty who have the training and background to really prepare and teach them....
You really should get some in-patient psych nursing experience - part time perhaps. One of the jobs I had while I was going to grad school was on the mobile assessment team with a local psychiatric hospital. I would go to EDs in area hospitals and evaluate patients for involuntary holds. It was great experience and helped with diagnostic reason and decision making. As nurses we don't make decisions - we assess and inform so someone else can make a decision which we implement. One of the changes in role to an NP involves learning how to make a decision - its not easy! I know you're busy in teaching and working in MS/O but some part time psych experience would be good. I worked 8 shifts a week in 3 different jobs while I was in school to try to get everything in !!
I put a lot of thought in what you were saying about no psych experience and schools not looking into the students nursing experience. I have changed my mind but I am not indecisive. I am going to do FNP now. I have 8 years of Med-Surg experience. I will look into PMHNP in the future. Thanks for your advice.
Pursuing an FNP is not a bad choice - it will build on the experience and knowledge you have. In primary care you will see a lot of psych...I'd recommend the Master Psychopharmacologist program through the Neuroscience Education Institute (neiglobal.com) after you've taken the basic pharmacology course in your FNP program. You can always add a post NP certificate in psych - if you find you're still interested......
Old thread, but I thought I would chime in. In my area, Upstate NY, psych NP jobs are paying in the low 6 figures, which to me, is just barely making your MSN degree worthwhile, and a long way from making a DNP worth it. When I look at the number of on-line programs now available, I truly cringe. The law of supply and demand applies to your paycheck.
In no way do I think the OP is any type of a "Debbie Downer". Not at all. I think she is very realistic about the job market. I agree that the stories of making "big money" in psych are quite few and far between.
I know a Psych NP who graduated 15 years ago from a big name school. After all those years, she has nothing to show for it. Her loans are not even close to paid off, and she drives a 13 year old vehicle. Yes, some personal factors are involved, but I don't think she is alone.
I know someone else who is doing quite well with it. She has a lot of experience, and she found an employer that pays by the patient. Productivity based pay can earn a large check, even approaching 200k, if you are willing to work:)
The talk of big money in psych has become one of those false employment cliches. Like all the people who got teaching degrees "to have something to fall back on". Then they found their teaching degree was totally useless.
I didn't do it for the money. At the time I got my degree, I expected to get just enough of an increase to pay my loans, and I was right. I didn't like being an RN, it wasn't for me.
But we won't get more money by having a Psych NP program on every corner. Supply and demand.
I will be completing my PMHNP coursework and graduating in May. I am changing my scope of practice as a Public Health CNS for ten years. The last three years while going to school I have been working in a psychiatric inpatient unit in a hospital. I also work in the Crisis Unit in our ED. Both have been great experiences I never had in my previous 20 years of nursing. It has also reinforced my interest in my chosen plan.
Gaining some experience in a direct care setting may also help you to see if you would like it. If you were to get your CNA (certified nurse assistant) while going to school, you could get hired as an entry level Behavioral Health Tech in a psychiatric inpatient setting. It has to be more about fulfillment rather than money or you may not be happy. Best wishes as you pursue your plan.
Goatie
19 Posts
There is a huge demand for Psyc NP's. With that being said, there is a large demand because these jobs are hard to fill for the employer- not everyone has a stomach or the constitution for psyc. Personally for me, I found it too challenging. With adult pts, you will deal with schizophrenics, bipolar depression, drug addiction, homelessness, non-compliance, etc. Mostly med and lab management, taking calls from families/nsg staff. Also dealing a lot with the DPAHC or public guardians. I had a pt once was schizophenic and bipolar, and was on cocaine, mj, and alcohol (I didn't mention names, so I'm ok HIPAA-wise). I had to deal with snf's who did not want to take psyc pts (unless you gave them coveted "skilled days" first). Ive had snf's who did their best to d/c stable psyc pts, even if it meant they went somewhere unsafe. Ive had to deal with psyc hospitals who would not admit pts, because they were not unstable enough... On the bright side, it is a great satisfaction when you have stable pts w/ good quality of life, and you are a part of making this happen. So, you really have to love (or really like) what you do. No amount of money would entice me into being a psyc NP, but that's just me.