Prescription authority and CNS degree

Published

Many APRN jobs advertised require an APRN with prescription authority. Does receiving an Advanced Practice Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Curriculum, CNS degree give the APRN prescription authority once national tests are passed? Would appreciate any information on this degree. Do you have this degree and how is it working out for you? Thanks for your help on this subject. Would appreciate any info you might have.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Many APRN jobs advertised require an APRN with prescription authority. Does receiving an Advanced Practice Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Curriculum, CNS degree give the APRN prescription authority once national tests are passed? Would appreciate any information on this degree. Do you have this degree and how is it working out for you? Thanks for your help on this subject. Would appreciate any info you might have.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Many APRN jobs advertised require an APRN with prescription authority. Does receiving an Advanced Practice Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Curriculum, CNS degree give the APRN prescription authority once national tests are passed? Would appreciate any information on this degree. Do you have this degree and how is it working out for you? Thanks for your help on this subject. Would appreciate any info you might have.

It depends on the state you live in whether CNSs have prescriptive authority. I'm working on my advanced practice degree and have chosen PMHNP rather than CNS because I'll be moving to a state in which CNSs do not have prescriptive authority.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Many APRN jobs advertised require an APRN with prescription authority. Does receiving an Advanced Practice Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Curriculum, CNS degree give the APRN prescription authority once national tests are passed? Would appreciate any information on this degree. Do you have this degree and how is it working out for you? Thanks for your help on this subject. Would appreciate any info you might have.

It depends on the state you live in whether CNSs have prescriptive authority. I'm working on my advanced practice degree and have chosen PMHNP rather than CNS because I'll be moving to a state in which CNSs do not have prescriptive authority.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Are you completing an NP program online by any chance? If so, would love to hear about it. Also any advice on how grad school is going? Is it super intense? Are you able to work and attend full time? What is your salary and job expectations upon graduation? Would love to hear from you if you have the time to answer so many questions. So rare to talk to others interested in the mental health field. Thanks again for taking the time to answer original post.

Look forward to hearing from you if possible.

It depends on the state you live in whether CNSs have prescriptive authority. I'm working on my advanced practice degree and have chosen PMHNP rather than CNS because I'll be moving to a state in which CNSs do not have prescriptive authority.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't mean to be a hair splitter but CNS doesn't refer to a degree but to a role and a particular certification. Times are changing and eventually so will the title. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association will soon be certifying advanced practice psych nurses with simply the title of Advanced Practice PMH. The degree is a masters degree in nursing and can even be a doctorate. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has recently published a white paper proposing the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). I'm not sure I like yet another title but the point is that advanced practice requires advanced degrees.

Each state has within their Nurse Practice Act what is required for advanced practice and what the title is in that state. Most states have some kind of prescription authority. The best resource is the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association last issue (Dec 04?) that provides a complete update state-by-state regarding advanced practice.

I practice in Oregon that tends to be very progressive. As a APRN I prescribe independently and have done so for about 20 yrs. I have both a masters and a doctorate in psych nursing. I love the work that I do and enjoy the autonomy.

Many APRN jobs advertised require an APRN with prescription authority. Does receiving an Advanced Practice Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Curriculum, CNS degree give the APRN prescription authority once national tests are passed? Would appreciate any information on this degree. Do you have this degree and how is it working out for you? Thanks for your help on this subject. Would appreciate any info you might have.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for your post. I found the information helpful and plan to look up recent article you refer to for clarification. I currently work in the psychiatric field with MI DD homeless population. Look forward to going back to grad school for NP (or should i say Advanced Practice PHM). Enjoy hearing your side of being in the field for a number of years and your practice as an APNP and impressed that you have doctorate! Now my only decision is wondering if i am too old, already 48 so trying to decide about school. Hope this psychiatric chat board hears more from you.

Don't mean to be a hair splitter but CNS doesn't refer to a degree but to a role and a particular certification. Times are changing and eventually so will the title. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association will soon be certifying advanced practice psych nurses with simply the title of Advanced Practice PMH. The degree is a masters degree in nursing and can even be a doctorate. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has recently published a white paper proposing the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). I'm not sure I like yet another title but the point is that advanced practice requires advanced degrees.

Each state has within their Nurse Practice Act what is required for advanced practice and what the title is in that state. Most states have some kind of prescription authority. The best resource is the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association last issue (Dec 04?) that provides a complete update state-by-state regarding advanced practice.

I practice in Oregon that tends to be very progressive. As a APRN I prescribe independently and have done so for about 20 yrs. I have both a masters and a doctorate in psych nursing. I love the work that I do and enjoy the autonomy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are NOT too old. I've taught many students older than I and, in fact, like teaching those students. They have a stronger base from which to learn, know how to learn from their environment, have good thinking skills, but tend to have demanding families who still want to see them. Please don't let age be an excuse from advancing yourself.

Thank you for your post. I found the information helpful and plan to look up recent article you refer to for clarification. I currently work in the psychiatric field with MI DD homeless population. Look forward to going back to grad school for NP (or should i say Advanced Practice PHM). Enjoy hearing your side of being in the field for a number of years and your practice as an APNP and impressed that you have doctorate! Now my only decision is wondering if i am too old, already 48 so trying to decide about school. Hope this psychiatric chat board hears more from you.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the encourgement to continue on with school. Let me know if you recommend any online grad schools that focus on psychiatric nursing.

You are NOT too old. I've taught many students older than I and, in fact, like teaching those students. They have a stronger base from which to learn, know how to learn from their environment, have good thinking skills, but tend to have demanding families who still want to see them. Please don't let age be an excuse from advancing yourself.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also do not mean to split hairs, but this is the first I've heard that APNA is now offering certifications. ANCC, which has been certifying psych nurses for the last several decades, has recently developed the psych-mental health nurse practitioner certification in addition to the psych CS certification (with child and adult specializations). They have been insisting that they will continue to offer the CS certification, since the two roles involve different educational preparation and different clinical focus and skills.

I've been a child psych CS for many years, don't have prescriptive authority, and don't want it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion