Coffeegirly

KLeigh, PMHNPs have been around and prescribing for years. Depending on the state, they can practice on their own. In my state they do, in other states they can't. Hopefully the advanced practice nurses in those states are working diligently to change the legislation there. Becoming a PMHNP is an excellent route to go.... they've been around for years, they assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe psychiatric disorders. I'd say go for it. They aren't new.

Bailey, I could be wrong but I think it's per year. A lot of the info about their programs can be found online. That is where I found most of the info. If you email the instructors, you can get info that way too. The programs are outlined pretty well online though but do email someone depending upon what program you are interested in.

Rush has a great online nursing program. They have wonderful, caring faculty and they are very professional and known throughout the country. I would recommend it.

He or she can also earn a DNSc- a doctorate in nursing science. A clinical and research oriented doctorate degree.

Yellow Finch, I am curious to know what your dose of Effexor XR was before you switched to Cymbalta. I am also hearing that Cymbalta is good for anxiety and yes, I've heard it is also weight neutral because of the norepinephrine effect as well. I have an equal amount of patients on Cymbalta vs. Effexor and have a lot of patients who love Cymbalta and the same can be saidi for Effexor. I do wonder if Cymbalta is as effective for anxiety although the patients say that it is helpful. Many say that it has helped with pain issues. I am concerned about weight gain for many of them. Have you had many patients gain weight or had patients get cravings on Effexor XR vs Cymbalta? Curious to know. Thanks.

yes, nursing has been complacent. i ask you why. no, we don't need men to have a voice..... but why haven't we had one? with all the numbers of nurses we have.. i ask you again, why haven't we used our numbers to become more powerful? i don't recall ever giving residents or interns the "stink eye." i don't think fuegorama vbmenu_register("postmenu_1725510", true); has read any of my posts regarding my respect towards mds. i didn't become a np to practice medicine or write a long list of differentials. so what? i know my limits. i hope my own md (and the np i see) does too and knows when to refer me to a specialist too. it sounds like the ama is lobbying long and hard.

It's not nursing that isn't ready for this, it's the AMA that isn't ready for this. They are threatened big time. I can only hope that nurses don't run off afraid which has often been the history because the AMA is so big and powerful. Yet nursing is large but predominantly female. With more and more males entering, let's hope our voice changes more and we all start feeling stronger and more empowered to stand up to this group called the AMA who is clearly threatened by us. No one wants to take anything away from their role. I don't know about you but I respect them. They have expertise and knowledge way beyond mine... I have my own. Why they would think I would be a threat to them is silly. Are they worried about patient satisfaction and $? probably. That's the reality of it all. It's politics.

I also think you have to research the DNP program. Many of them offer the epidemiology, statistics and the other courses that have been mentioned. However, other programs do stress clinical expertise in the practitioners chosen area. I would have said these same things many years ago. Why a DNP? It's academic, just another degree.. it's oppressive, it's ivy tower stuff, etc. But as I've been working many years, I've come to slowly change my mind. I do lack knowledge, a lot of it. I practice darned well and yes, my surveys would be better than an MD's....but so? It's all about the patient. Y The person who made the comment about the docs who laugh at Dr. NP's.... there will always be those. But there will always be many more who will look at us with greater respect and always those that never will. We need to look at who we serve rather than argue amongst ourselves. Nursing is notorious for that. Heck, we can't even decide what the basic level of education should be!! In addition, now we let people go directly from a BSN to MS. Huh? Don't we need years of practice? Because frankly, I don't think a year or two cuts it... but that's just another thread. So here we are... rather than moving forward, we stagnate and bicker about these issues. Someone wants to make some rules... but not everyone agrees. In most professional groups, a of people get together, study something, come to a concensus, present their decision to the representatives and vote. Decision made. I believe that's been done but we bicker and often can't come to concensus because I think when it comes to these issues, people who graduate from various levels of nursing, for example, thinks their program is best and they should have to change because of this and that. Change is hard. There are reasons for them. I don't think all change is bad and maybe sometimes we should actually look foro the positives. jmho.

Hi again, I have had plenty of PMHNP's who have said their experience and educational background have been of benefit to their admission to Psy.D. programs. In fact, on an application I have, it it listed as being preferable so I am a bit confused but perhaps I missed something. I am curious to know what state it is legal for psychologists to prescribe. I am aware that this is a very hot issue which is one reason I went for the PMHNP post masters. The other reason being that I don't enjoy testing. I am not certain that prescriptive privelages will come to psychologists but we shall see. The AMA lobbies long and hard and are not too thrilled about PMHNP's prescribing. Everyone thinks it's not a big deal to prescribe mental health medications but it really is. In addition, many NP's do not work under MD's. I don't and many NP's in neighboring states do not. That's what makes many NP's different from PA's. We are independent practitioners. If there are NP's out there who are not YET.... then the lobbying needs to continue because it will happen. I know many psych NPs who are making as much if not more than MD's and psychologists merely because there are so many patients out there who need mental health services.

What is really at the root of those of you not wanting the DNP? Is it the money? the time? What is it?

In response to EastCoast, I do introduce myself as a nurse practitioner. Yes, I too know many MDs that are unprofessional and are not any good. However, there are still many people in our society that look at MD's as professional and knowledgeable just because they have MD after their name. I think you must know a lot of bad doctors. I know my share of them too but I also know a lot of great ones too. I'm glad to be lumped in as being professional like them (which does, I've been told, include good decision makiing and diagnostic skills btw). I don't think it's a matter of we versus they. I think it's a matter of mutual respect and if a DNP helps us achieve that, I'm all for that. I'm sorry the timing was off for med school. I chose not to go. I believe in education- the more I know, the better. The more I learn, the better. I love it and so if I need to learn more, that's fine. If it helps my patients and my career, I'm good with it.

Well it's not surprising that the AMA would not support a DNP. Unless it's an MD, it won't be supported as adequate, period. As for putting me on par with physicians? No. But with the community? yes. Also, it would give give us more respect within the other professions, especially since we already have so many entry levels within the profession that we can't even make up our minds what level our education should begin at. Why didn't I go to med school? Because I wanted to be a nurse. I like the philosophy of nursing, not medicine. It's simple- I still like the philosophy. I get mistaken for being a doctor because of my professionalism is "like a doctor" which many patients think is a compliment. I am happy to correct them and tell them that I am a NP so that they realize that NPs are professional and knowledgable. We are good and deserve the recognition. We look at so much more than diseases. I'd rather go to school longer for a nursing related degree that I can feel good about than go to med school. I'm proud of what we do. I don't think money should be the object here, professional goals, satisfaction and philosophy should be. My opinion and life experience.:) :balloons:

I just talked to several psychologists and they are quite envious about my ability to prescribe due to the fact that I am a PMHNP/NP. I have some other biases with regard to PsyD so I am more inclined at this point in time to get my doctorate in clinical nursing. A few years a go I wouldn't have said that- but time and experience has changed my views.

The program is a blend between the DNP and the scholarly traditional research based doctorate in nursing program. It's a blend of the two programs. I think it's a great idea and gives the doctorally prepared nurse more clout and respect. I am an NP with a postmaster's as a psych NP too and even so, I still think it's a great idea and will pursue it too. In spending time elbow to elbow with physicians at conferences, I see the value in the degree.