Can an FNP work in psych?

Jules A, MSN · Jul 7, 2015

It will depend your state board of nursing. In Maryland you can not practice primarily outside of your specialty and psych is a specialty. Before I got my FNP I was not able to initiate somatic medications. I could continue them if a patient came in on them as ordered by another provider but I could not make adjustments or start new ones despite taking the same gen pharm course with FNPs.

I would pick one route, perhaps your FNP, and then go on for a post master's if you want to expand your practice. FWIW NPs rarely do "counseling" its medication management only with a sprinkling of psycho-edu thrown in for good measure.

moni · Jul 7, 2015

Thanks Jules. Where did you get your FNP, and would you recommend it? I'm looking for an online hybrid with a network of preceptors.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 7, 2015

I went to a brick and mortar.

PG2018 · Jul 8, 2015

You can work in psych, but you won't be paneled to for everything. For example, you might could see depression and anxiety, but perhaps not more severe disorders. You also may be unprivileged to sign off on the therapists' treatment plans and address other nuances of mental health. In reality, you're doing yourself a favor avoiding treatment plans. I really recommend the PMHNP if you're interested in psych. You can work on the FNP as well (I think about picking that up on a daily basis), but at this moment there are a lot of jobs for PMHNPs. Those options may not remain, and when they leave I assure you, you there won't be many FNPs working in psychiatry. We're sort of a "best kept secret" that someone recently found out about. Additionally, if you're selective in your jobs, you can clear 200k+. The FNPs around here that are really hoofing it are making maybe half that. That figure isn't the norm for PMHNPs, but the options for it are definitely there. A lot of PMHNPs I know take 60 minutes for an initial eval and 30 minutes for a med check. I don't ascribe to that, but it's becoming more common. For me, somatic meds are ok if I can find some nexus to mental health. For example, alpha agonists, beta blockers, antimicrobials (particularly minocycline), antiemetics, etc. I really want the FNP so I can tinker with all of the side effects that psych meds give, i.e. cholesterol, hyperglycemia, hypertension, etc.

CocoaLoverFNP · Jul 8, 2015

Thanks Jules. Where did you get your FNP, and would you recommend it? I'm looking for an online hybrid with a network of preceptors.

I didn't know, until i joined AN, that there is a "hybrid NP program" with network of preceptors. I also didn't know that there are programs that are solely online. Some students say there are programs you can finish within 5 months? I couldn't believe it! Although I can't comment on how these programs are ran, I guarantee that there are better options than so-called hybrid programs. I'm really thankful I didn't know because I believe that anything that takes time is worth waiting for ;-)

I went to a state university in California. It took me 3 years to finish my program. However, I really learned a lot! They gave us a list of preceptors but we had to contact them and do all the paperwork. It wasn't really that difficult. Although, I found that doctors are more willing to precept.

Just my 2 cents: If you want a quality program (one that will prepare you in the real world.... Since most NP jobs do not give you more than a few days of orientation), then you cannot rush it. Choose the program that will allow you to cherish every moment. Good luck!