Dual FNP/PMHNP

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Specializes in ER.

Hi all,
Looking for anyone who has or is currently completing a dual FNP/PMHNP degree. My overall goal is community health/primary care as an FNP but I know how much mental health is involved so I have been considering getting dual certifications just to gain the extra background/education that PMHNP offers. My main questions:
1) Do you find that the psych NP certification helps in your primary care role?
2) Can you switch roles-- see some primary care, some mental health patients in your clinic? I think I saw some call this an "integrated clinic" ? Is it based on state regulations?
3) Do you find it difficult to maintain the minimum practice hours (1000 hours/5 years/certification)?
4) What barriers did you come across doing the dual certification?
5) Did you do one and then eventually go back to get the other certification?

Any insight that you can offer, I appreciate! 
Thank you,
Alisa

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I’m not dual certified, but I look at things from a billing perspective. To the point that it would be an impossibility for a clinic to pay your worth based on dual certs from a salary perspective. Pmhnp benefits from having little overhead due to lack of need for in office tools, MAs, referral staff, etc. This allows them to command a higher salary than your average FNP.  So from that perspective, it’s not worth the expense of training and certification to keep up if you truly want to work in broader community health.   And as you noted you would have to clearly define the hours dedicated to that second cert(though many patients will have cross over).  There are far more needs for mental health access across the board though and it would likely be the more lucrative option. 
 

 At the end of the day, there’s nothing preventing an FNP from seeking their own advance CME training on their own and treating a range of mental health conditions (or whatever specific areas your community is in more need of).   For instance we don’t have a lack of mental health access here, but there aren’t any rheumatologists in our area.  We are forced to fill that gap. Many of us have taken in person Cme’s to fill that gap where comfortable.  It’s not perfect but it’s better than nothing. 

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Specializes in medsurg.

Hello everyone. I am in the last two semesters of attaining a PMHNP and in need of a PMHNP preceptor for the last two semesters. I reside in Michigan . Please any recommendation will be greatly appreciated. 

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Specializes in ER.
On 1/22/2021 at 5:39 AM, djmatte said:

I’m not dual certified, but I look at things from a billing perspective. To the point that it would be an impossibility for a clinic to pay your worth based on dual certs from a salary perspective. Pmhnp benefits from having little overhead due to lack of need for in office tools, MAs, referral staff, etc. This allows them to command a higher salary than your average FNP.  So from that perspective, it’s not worth the expense of training and certification to keep up if you truly want to work in broader community health.   And as you noted you would have to clearly define the hours dedicated to that second cert(though many patients will have cross over).  There are far more needs for mental health access across the board though and it would likely be the more lucrative option. 
 

 At the end of the day, there’s nothing preventing an FNP from seeking their own advance CME training on their own and treating a range of mental health conditions (or whatever specific areas your community is in more need of).   For instance we don’t have a lack of mental health access here, but there aren’t any rheumatologists in our area.  We are forced to fill that gap. Many of us have taken in person Cme’s to fill that gap where comfortable.  It’s not perfect but it’s better than nothing. 

Hi DJMatte,
Thank you for the thoughtful response! Those are considerations that I was not aware of it and that will certainly help me in my decision. Your example of the mental health vs rheumatology community need is really good insight. I won't be able to find out where the "gap" is until I get to the community that I work with. And you're right, there are always CMEs and extra learning out there for when I reach that point. 
Thank you again,
Alisa

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Specializes in Psych Nursing.
On 1/22/2021 at 9:06 AM, mfon Essien said:

Hello everyone. I am in the last two semesters of attaining a PMHNP and in need of a PMHNP preceptor for the last two semesters. I reside in Michigan . Please any recommendation will be greatly appreciated. 

Did you have any success?  I continue to hear this is a problem and I'm looking to start school for the same. 

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