FNP working in mental health

[marineRN]

Okay.....I already know what the reaction of PMHNPs will be. But after looking at the scope of practice of an FNP there is nothing banning FNPs from working in a mental health setting only vice versa. Anyone know for sure?

MarineRN

[SandBetweenMyToes, BSN, RN]

To DelphiniumRN: With regard to your statement, "For example as a psych NP there is no law that I can not treat a Bacterial Brochial infection, however if I have no adequate training in that field and that patient ends up sicker s/p my treatment and it is due to my lack of knowledge in that field, and they decide to sue me for neglicence. Judicially I may be at fault.", I think you may be mistaken. I just finished my FNP and my last paper I wrote was pertaining to the differences beteen an FNP and PHCNP. In my research, I found this:

"According to the ANA (2000) scope and standards, the advanced practice psychiatric-mental health nurse is limited to the provision of primary mental health care services to those at risk for mental disorders or presently in need of psychiatric-mental health services. This practice does not extend to the provision of primary care services unless the PMHNP is dually prepared and certified in another nursing specialty."

American Nurses Association (2000). Scope and standards of psychiatric-mental health nursing practice. Washington, D.C. ANA Publishing.

So, I do not think you would be practicing within your scope of practice to do so.

[kellyc1212]

This is a super late response (by like, 7 years. Ha!) But I thought it would be awesome to follow-up on these responses and gauge your views/opinions regarding this subject now. I had applied and was accepted into a PMHNP program, but after talking to a psych NPs, I changed course and have entered FNP school. In my state (AL) many mental health clinics (inpatient and outpatient) hire FNPs to treat mental health populations. Not only that, but I also will have the flexibility to treat other patient populations outside of mental health.