delphiniumRN

interesting that all they require is hours, my school also requires 16 credits of didactics minimum depending on post specialization. Good Luck, there is definately a need for people willing to work with the mentally ill.

Caitlin, Go back to VA education department and see if they will train you in other areas. For example some of the clinics such as Causeway have medical. I think the VA has a women's health clinic. I know there are adequate Geri Patients. Preceptors are scarce however if you already have a good reputation at the VA, try to network. Good Luck. PS I would think they would love to keep you there anyways. You are already trained and credentialed. They also know what type of worker you are.

Actually I will get my Psych Np next year and the only caveat I have to you is to know what you are dealing with when doing psych. For instance in IM a family M.D. wont touch someone with severe depression with psychotic features, Mania that is not well controlled and chronic Anxiety/OCD issues. If you decide to go into the psych field which your FNP does not restrict, remember that if you were to go into a court of law to defend yourself you would have to prove that your training was adequate to handle this type of patient. For example as a psych NP there is no law that I can not treat a Bacterial Brochial infection, however if I have no adequate training in that field and that patient ends up sicker s/p my treatment and it is due to my lack of knowledge in that field, and they decide to sue me for neglicence. Judicially I may be at fault. You would also in some states need a Psychiatrist to contract a collaborating agreement with you.

maybe someone should remind the social worker what happened at the MGH bipolar clinic with the pdoc being attacked. That patient hadn't even shown agression prior.

Thanks, it seems that it depends on your training. I think the Federal Govt dictates it's own scope and I will be at the VA for training. Makes sense

I thought the OP was from MA. You are absolutely right.

Hi, I graduate from an adult pmhnp program next year. I also have colleagues who will be in pmhcns tract. I understand that in some states the cns can not prescribe. What is the difference between scope of practice? Is is mostly the managment of med for the NP's. It seems that CNS's in massachusetts do the same as well. Some people say the adult scope is 13-85+ others 18-85+. I have also been told by a FNP professor that as a PMHNP I may have to do an emergency physical and that would be in my scope due to the NP training. Seems strange? Is is up to us to determine our scope? The state of massachusetts is not clear on the board site as to the ages for treatment.The ANCC site indicates 13+. Mass BON also separates NP's and CNS's however doesnt include the Psych NP because it is a fairly new speciality. Is anyone else as confused as me with this? I know that Psych is a crazy field, however it shouldn't be this difficult to navigate. Any light shed would be wonderful. How is the job Market in Mass for psych NP's newly graduated, but with RN experience? Many Thanks, Delphinium:clown:

I know the a CNS in psych can prescribe once they fufill all requirements.

You know what is strange: the addiction part I understand. I dont agree with drug diversion and it is a crime. Working under the influence is also a risk to patients. What really turns my stomach is that she is probably leaving some poor patient that needs pain meds in pain. That is a crime against humanity in my book. IMHO. I knew a hospice aide who used her patients morphine. I was livid and reported her.

who are you meeting with? the dean of nursing good luck

I worked Geri Psych one day it was worse than a pulmonary floor. If you equate Geri to fragile and then add on all of the peculiar labs as well as the slew of medical meds and psych meds and their possible interactions. There is a great challenge in that. I think I agree with the other nurses psych can exhaust you emotionally and mentally quicker. It can be physically demanding when there is a psych code. It is like comparing oranges to apples. The only similarity is that they are round fruits..

good luck to you guys, it is a hard program.... you can do it

The best thing to do is to follow protocol and to document what type of distress: ie grimace, clenching, htn, crying in your note. These types of descriptive words used in a note when titrating a drip will only protect you legally. Another this sometimes the patients family requests the drip go up because they know of some gesture the patient makes when distressed- document this as well

I find it pays less at least where I work. However at the graduate level cns/np the psych specialist makes more generally. Possibly d/t the specialist component.. any ideas

You need to ask the school, because cleary there are not enough psych np/cns around. MD's can precept nurses as long as they agree to the contract.. That can be difficult.