mtnbiker

I struggled with this decision for a while! I work with FNPs, they encourage me to finish the PMHNP degree then get a post cert in FNP. This what I will do, then on to the DNP. Nursing is life long learning, so I just keep rollin on. At the time I made my decision to do the PMHNP, I was studying suicidality, mental health behavior modification with opioid dependent individuals, and working in a dual diagnosis residential treatment center. Right now, at this time in my journey, Psychiatric Nursing, is very interesting to me. When I have a curious mind and want to learn all I can about a topic, this is when I succeed in school. No regrets, keep learning, keep getting alphabet letters after your name! Doors open for you after each degree obtained. It is an exciting journey. Best wishes on your success!

Well said! Ive been at my new psychiatric RN job for 3 weeks now, doing part time case management for SMI outpatient and part time residential substance abuse/SMI patients. I am really enjoying it. Challenge I have is learning the language and how to chart effectively in the psych terminology. The other challenge is how to come up with the proper nursing intervention for a patient who has paranonia r/t auditory and visual hallucinations. Ive been just working on fostering a trusting environment and ensuring the patient feels safe. Any other psych nurses out there that would provide me ideas for these patients would be great! Thank you!

I just started a psych RN job and I absolutely love it. Working with SMI and SUD population. Learning how to write a psych RN nursing note is so differant than a med surg note! Excited to start EKU this spring.

Hi there. I will be starting EKU in Jan. I have connected with a EKU graduate from Flagstaff. She told me EKU places you with a preceptor for clinical hours. She told me she got her hours down in the Valley. The academic advisor at EKU told me I would be placed at Gilbert, Chandler, or Phx. I live in the Verde Valley (Sedona). Wont mind the travel in exchange for guarantee of placement for clinical hours. Let me know how your journey turns out. Would like to start an Arizona EKU PMHNP support network.

I did it! Left med surg bedside and started in psych. Absolutely love this population. I get to work with SMI and SUD. Been at my new job for 2 weeks. Trying to figure out how to write psych RN notes! This is a learning curve! Ha! Looking foward to starting my MSN PMHNP journey. Start EKU this spring.

I switched gears as well. I was going go to Aspen University for MSN in Forensic Nurse, but due to my location in very rural northern arizona, there is not a big job demand for the forensic nurse role. I switched to MSN PMHNP. I start EKU in the spring for this.

Hi there. I will be starting EKU in Jan. I have connected with a EKU graduate from Flagstaff. She told me EKU places you with a preceptor for clinical hours. She told me she got her hours down in the Valley. The academic advisor at EKU told me I would be placed at Gilbert, Chandler, or Phx. I live in the Verde Valley (Sedona). Wont mind the travel in exchange for guarantee of placement for clinical hours. Let me know how your journey turns out. Would like to start an Arizona EKU PMHNP support network.

I am in the process of the transition. I have applied for a part time RN at a recovery inpatient residential unit for women who have SMI and substance abuse issues. Waiting to hear back. The only psych experience I had is what I did in my clinicals in nursing school and the patients who present with psych issues on the med-surg unit I work on now. Eagerly waiting advice from other psych nurses out there who will post experiences and information regarding changing from bedside to psych.

I applied to and got accepted into Eastern Kentucky University PMHNP program. I have been bedside for over 30 yrs as a CNA, LPN, and now RN. Time for me to start my journey to the passion I have had in my heart for awhile now. I intend to work outpatient behavioral in addictions and mental health. If I were to work inpatient I would like adolescent population. Best of wishes to you! You have alot of good experience. Keep posting and let me know how your journey unfolds!

Duley noted. My interest is in addictions and the behavioral health surrounding that. I have explored the DEA cert regarding suboxone prescribing, ect... In AZ. The NP prescribing authority is really monitored, as it should be. Another option I had in mind, instead of the PMHNP, was FNP with an addiction certification of sorts. This way, I can prescribe and still get to work with the type of patient whom I have that passion for.

Thank you for your post. I currently work on a med-surg unit and there are psych patients mixed in, but I think being on true psych unit would help me get a better understanding. Committing to a DNP program is a bit overwhelming but that is the direction of the nursing future. May as well join in with the trend.

I am in the process of doing just that. I have requested to shadow a PHMNP and am now looking for behavioral health RN openings in my area. I live in Northern Arizona, Sedona area. Im checking around for psych jobs in Prescott and Flagstaff Thank you for your response and being part of my quest for knowledge.

Wow. You had/have a very well rounded RN experience prior to becoming a PHMNP. I have only had 2 years experience on a med surg floor so Im a little apprehensive to jump right into the NP role in mental health. But I am going to move foward with coming up with a plan. I know I am drawn to the mental health of a patient rather than the physical. I can do nursing tasks and skills all day long but walk away with only temporary satisfaction. Your comments are very helpful to me. Thank you very much.

Well said for sure. Getting down to the muck of it all day and day out may not be my cup of tea. And yes, I do have "passing interests" in mental health. While I am interested in forensics, suicidality, and substance abuse, the heavy burden of being trapped in a mental illness and trying to help someone get out could definately be a challenge. Thank you for your post. Appreciate your comment.

Good to know. Thank you for the input. I can understand how the FNP would be beneficial up front to get a basic medical foundation then branch off into a specialty such as mental health. I am a new RN of 2 years, I have not worked in the psych setting. My areas of interest are suicidality, forensic nursing, substance abuse, and medication assistive therapy for recovering addicts. I would like to shadow a PMHNP for a week to see what their work week and job responsibilities looks like.

Thank you very much for your response. I'm feeling good about my decision to pursue PMHNP. In the enrollment process now with Eastern Kentucky University. Ive researched many schools and I like the EKU curriculum and schedule. Looking foward to working with various native tribes in my state of Az.

I am frozen with indecision on my choice to pursue PMHNP or FNP. Are there any PMHNPs out there that could weigh in? What does your average day/patient population look like? What type of facility do you work at? Are you glad you chose this field of work?

I also was going to do the masters in forensic nursing at Aspen as well, but then thought to myself where would I work? I did a 40 hour web based SANE training for free through tribal forensic healthcare but am struggling finding a place to do the clinical training. I live in rural Northern Arizona and the only Forensic Nursing Department is in Pheonix. I believe I am changing my educational route to PMHNP so I know I can get a job with that degree. If Im going to put the money out for a masters I got to have good financial return.

I'm a bedside nurse and am considering doing the MSN PMHNP route. I o not want to spend any more time than i have to at the bedside. I have have been an LPN for 12 years and an RN for 2 years. I feel I could be rewarded in a different way than the bedside nurse does. I want to have a deeper relationship with my patients, not just 3 days in the hospital. I've never had any pysch nursing experience. This is whole new leaf I am going to turn over. Let me know how your decision goes. Best of wishes.

I am a new "old" RN just started at a teaching hospital, working on a telemetry floor, and I so agree with you on the pettiness and the numbers and finding fault and not talking directly to me first about mistakes. UG. why does it have to be like this? What is it in human beings that people function in work environments like this. Is it a nursing career thing?, It is a woman management thing?, Such a cruel and un-fostering way of "learning the ropes". Maybe I will make my capstone project about this! At my evaluation, it was all about my what I am not doing right, numbers, percentages, ect...Nothing about how well I am coming along. So I do empathize with you. I go to work everyday so stressed out over doing everything exactly right, in the eyes of management. Maybe I just need to get thicker skin...? I never question my ability to be a good nurse, but I do question how long I will be a hospital nurse! Blessings to you and your journey!

Thank you everyone for contributing! I looked on my BON (Az.) Website and found the answer under the Advisory Board Scope of Practice FAQs. It is the very 1st question/answer on there!..It states"... it is the RN scope to prepare a medist to facilitate the ultimate user's self administration...the nurse is not considered dispensing when a med is taken from the ultimate user's labeled package..." For me, personally...the gray area lays within the "middle man"...the dorm parents, med tech, non-licensed staff, ect...best to use good nursing judgement to assess the distributer of meds..do they know signs and symptoms of reactions, side effects, cheekings meds, ect...?

Does anyone have experience working as an RN at a private boarding school. Is it in the RN scope of practice to dispense medication from the student's pill bottles into a weekly mediset for other non-liscensed staff to distribute? Any input would be appreciated.

Ekgs made easy, skill stat, and really take the time to understand the "p,q,r,s, and t waves and what they each represent and whats going on with the lengthening of each of these wave forms. (atria and venticles) At first I learned the rhythms graphically, because I too, learn by the visual process. It was not until I recently became a telemetry nurse, and have to monitor cardiac rhythms quickly, did I really grasp the concept of the certain rhythms and whats really going on. Understanding a 12 lead EKG is another story...At a glance I can notice ST elevation, still trying to get better at bundle branch blocks! baby steps...lifetime of learning!...keep plugging away!