NP for child psych?!

Trauma Columnist · Feb 6, 2017

Moved to student NP forum

elkpark · Feb 6, 2017

There is no longer a child psych NP specialty. Back in the CNS days, there were child, adult, and gero psych CNSs. The first psych NP role was in adult psych, and a "family" (which really meant child/adolescent) psych NP role was added a number of years later. Since then, the nursing community, in its infinite wisdom, as part of a general reorganizing of advanced practice nursing, has completely eliminated the psych CNS credential, and has rolled the two psych NP roles into one, eliminating the child/adolescent specialty. The only advanced practice psych role available now is the PMHNP (psych-mental health NP), which is a "lifespan" role, child through geri (which means, realistically, that the bulk of your education will be with adults, with a little bit of child and geri tacked on). Once you're licensed, you can choose to work in child psych (however minimally prepared you may be to do that ... :rolleyes: ), but you can no longer get a child psych-specific degree or certification.

I would encourage you strongly to get some real psychiatric nursing experience, to see how you actually like the field and get some exposure to what psychiatrists and psych NPs do, before you commit to a graduate program.

Best wishes for your journey.

Terra_RN · Feb 7, 2017

Thank you! I am currently applying for jobs in psych but I like to plan ahead which is why I'm looking into NP programs. Im not planning to enroll soon maybe another year or so; I just want to weigh my options for schools.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2017

I would get a few years experience working with children psychiatric patients before going that route. It seems a lot harder than normal psychiatric patients. I know it is harder to find peds psychiatric facilities to begin with.

Jules A, MSN · Feb 7, 2017

I would get a few years experience working with children psychiatric patients before going that route. It seems a lot harder than normal psychiatric patients. I know it is harder to find peds psychiatric facilities to begin with.

Also in general peds isn't what many normally think of when they think psych. Peds is ADHD, anxiety, trauma, the sequela of inutero exposure, horrible parents and sometimes depression. On occasion you will see a true mood disorder or psychotic process in adolescents but rarely in children and unless you are extremely skilled if you think you are seeing a true mood disorder or psychosis in a child you need to consult a psychiatrist for guidance.

Other than ADHD, anxiety and depression the main modality that offers any hope to help these children is therapy and a safe environment. As a psych NP you will be doing medication management only in most cases. It can be frustrating and also not especially challenging since there are a minimum number of meds you will be utilizing unless you are someone who goes into it with zero psych experience and believes the "voices" they are hearing are actually psychosis rather than an artifact of trauma and have the indecency to prescribe an antipsychotic to a 6yo.

Terra_RN · Feb 9, 2017

My plan is to hold off on school until after I have psych experience. I've worked in other areas of nursing & it's not fulfilling. Psych has always been an area of interest for me & whichever route I decide to go for my NP I will make sure I am 100% sure that's what I want to do. Thanks for all of the input! :)