FNP,anybody working as psych NP?

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Moderators, if ok, please keep in general for a wider audience, since I know many FNPs aren't working in their field. Anyone out there with the FNP degree working as psych NP? If so, would you be willing to share in detail what you do? I would be really interested! Thank you so much in advance.

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Specializes in medical surgical.

I am so glad you asked this. I have been wondering myself. I hope someone answers.

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Thanks for posting. I am currently working as RN, not FNP in busy family practice office. I know FNPs don't always work family practice, but don't know any working psych. Wondering if they're out there and would love details about a typical day.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I believe you have to have been educated in the psych component and pass those board exams.

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Specializes in Med/Surg Nurse.

We have a PsychNP at our hospital, she is not a FNP, she is licensed as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She practices alongside the psychiatrists in the clinic and hospital setting; she has prescriptive authority, and from the experiences I've had when working with her she is very knowledgeable, thorough, and provides her patients with excellent mental health care in the acute setting. There are specific Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Nursing Programs that provide this Masters Nursing Degree. I suppose a FNP could exclusively work in the Mental/Behavorial Health area, I'd hope that these FNP's would have nursing experience in this field. In rural areas of the country FNP's probably have to take on varying roles such as Mental Health providers due to the limited amount of providers in general.

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