Potential Prospects as PMHNP

[benson1994]

Hi, I am a new member here. I want to preface this by stating this site has helped me more than you know the past three years, so thank you.

I am currently a junior in a BSN program with a 3.78 GPA, no outside healthcare experience (I do plan to work as an LPN this summer), and very active within various student nursing organizations (SNA, Sigma Theta Tau). I have an inclination to apply to various PMHNP programs once I graduate, my dream school being UPenn. With that being said, I have a few questions I was hoping you could help answer.

1. I have heard graduate programs place a high value on experience, do you believe it is essential to work for a few years prior to applying? Some programs require two years, whereas some do not. My fear is becoming content with an RN salary, losing desire, losing the focus I have, and settling down too early.

2. Does being a male pose a hindrance to getting accepted? I have heard both sides to this argument, and I would prefer the answer be that it does not influence my application either way.

3. Granted I meet the graduate program requirement's that I apply to, in your opinion, would I receive likely receive admission to a program?

I am aware this is VERY preliminary, however, this is something I have wanted for a very long time and discussing/planning the future has always been a big motivator for myself throughout my education.

Thanks for reading and/or help

[oceanblue52]

I really think it is important to work in a Psych setting before getting your Psych NP. Even if you are very book smart, there are patterns of behavior, communication skills, and differential diagnosis that you cannot learn from a textbook. Case in point: dealing with a Patient who has Axis II communication patterns who is absolutely insistent on getting a particular benzodiazepine. You can read all about setting limits and boundaries, but it is much harder to execute in real life, and takes quite a bit of trial and error before you get comfortable. Likewise, scoring an AIMS LOOKS easy but until you see the full spectrum of EPS and TD, it would be hard to score objectively. Heck, I worked in Psych for 5 years before nursing school and have graduate level coursework in Psychopathology, and I still feel like I would benefit from at least 1-2 years of learning before I start my NP education.

I dont think being being a male will affect you, male presence is very powerful with certain types of patients.

If you have great references and get some solid experience, I'd say you have a high likelihood of being accepted. I wish you luck and definitely check out other topics on this forum, there is a TON of valuable advice to absorb. Also look into joining APNA (Psychiatric Nurses Association), they have a lot of valuable learning modules available and great networking opportunities.

[GeminiNurse29]

I agree about the experience. Nursing is one of those fields that education doesn't beat having seen, touched, or experienced something. Education enhances it.

Like the poster above said, it's one thing to read about it and another to deal with it. Psych might not be as glamorous as some other nursing fields. But there's a lot of critical thinking and decision making that can only come with experience. For example, in my setting, we have to often discern between the patient making things up to get attention or sent out vs an actual medical crisis. Recently we sent out a guy who was unresponsive with a pile of blood next to him and possibly had evidence of a seizure. The hospital said it was nothing but a nose bleed. But better safe than sorry. And especially in forensic psych, it can be a matter of safety, life and death.