MHPNP still able to work as RN?

[NPZ_RN]

I am a Florida RN with interest in pursing my MSN in psychiatric nursing. My question is if I become a licensed psychiatric practitioner am I able to still work as an RN in a hospital if I am unable to find a job or do I lose that scope and get it replaced with the psychiatric scope once licensed?

[pro-student]

You do not lose any scope of practice if you become an advanced practice nurse (APN) since all APN is based on simultaneously being an RN. You can still choose to work as an RN regardless of what other education or credentials you might have however, you are held to the highest level of education and training you have in terms of liability. That mean that if something happens to a patient you caring for, the legal standard for liability will be what would a prudent NP do in the situation, not an RN even though that's the role you might be employed in at the moment.

Put another way, if you are an NP, you can voluntarily choose to work in a position with lower responsibility and not utilize your full (NP) scope of practice but you cannot give up the higher level of liability your education and training would confer. To illustrate this point, malpractice insurance will charge you a rate based on your NP credentials regardless of what role you practice in since you are legally held to the higher liability standard.

(Btw- the acronym is PMHNP.)

[DirtyVA]

Hello NPZ_RN,

I am a former insurance tort claims investigator. What pro-student said is exactly what I was told by several Oregon and Washington State RNs, APNs and BONs who were waiting for licensure or wanted to P/U extra floor shifts or work in a pool for extra cash, from a liability stand point you will be held to the higher standard when it comes to liability and economic damages. Make sure and run it by your insurance carrier as well to ensure you are protected in the RN role.