PsychBoss

Ok, Ill take a crack at this. As far as job prospects that is largely variable based on market. Some markets have many more NP's a than others and some markets employ many more than others. That being said, I haven't seen many areas where you couldn't find a job in Psych even as a new grad. Most PMHNP's work in the outpatient setting, but inpatient is an options, as well as a blending of the true. There are probably more jobs with community clinics, but there are plenty of jobs available in private practices as well. Not only will you not be required to give therapy but you more than likely won't be asked too unless it's a private practice. Our schooling is heavily slanted toward medication managment. We can bill for therapy but many providers don't want us focusing on it as it's not as profitably and frankly we aren't nearly as qualified as masters prepared therapists. As far as how "mentally draining" the job is? I guess that depends on the person. In my opinion it is more focused than floor nursing however there is a much greater sense of responsibility or weight to your decisions. I find critical thinking and problem solving energizing and wearing many hats and putting out fires like when I was a floor nurse exhausting. Some people think just the opposite. There are drug seekers in every profession. Frankly primary care sees as many benzo and stimulant seekers as a mental health facility as well as opiate abusers. It's part of the world we live in and it's a major problem. However, there are options such as working at a detox facility or correctional facility where you will never prescribe a controlled substance. Those populations are draining in different ways. I didn't see if you mentioned if you were an RN. If I were you I would get a job as a tech at a mental hospital and see if you even like working with this population. Most people hate it or love it. If you are an RN, obviously get an RN job at an inpatient hospital or mental health clinic.

I'm a student but the difference in respect and autonomy I see the Psych Nps given that I work with compared to what I remember about being a bedside nurse is night and day. Many of them are treated as an asset and are valued for their critical thinking compared to when I was a bedside nurse I often felt like a warm body. I know in hind site it was probably just a couple of bad jobs but there is more to it than just the difference in money for me.

I've mostly been looking at job postings on indeed with posted salary ranges in different cities I'm looking into.

If I am working full time do I also need to get "clinical hours" while attaining my DNP? I don't mind taking one class at a time if I don't have to figure it a way to get

While salary is higher in areas with a higher need I don't know that you can assume 30k higher. It just depends on the market. You'll make more in shortage areas and states with more independent practice. I'm also in a PMHNP program. What states are you applying in? There are some states I havent seen offers over 100 and some states offer like 150+ for new grads. It's wildly variable and market driven.

Im in Psych NP school, actually on lunch break of a clinical rotation now. Psych NP's act in the same capacity as psychiatrists in most states, especially in outpatient therapy. Many states have varying degree of physician over site. For instance, the state I will practice in requires physicians to "review" 20% of charts and sign off on controlled substances. Some prescribe solely through the board of nursing and act essentially in the same capacity as psychiatrists with minor restrictions. In most practices, in my experience, the acuity of patients seen between psychiatrists and psych NP's is relatively the same. Day to day life varies depending on setting. For instance, the clinical setting I'm in now is a community health center. The NP I'm following spends somewhere from 10-20 minutes with most patients depending on the acuity for follow ups and around 30-45 for new intakes. Their day is often loaded with patients but there will be varying degrees of gaps due to the high rate of no shows and call outs with patients that receive insurance through the state. Private practice is typically more lenient and the clientele expects you to be more thorough. At the settings I've been, NP's spend anywhere from 15-30 minutes with patients for routine follow ups and 45-60 minutes for a new patient admit. For NP's in most settings you'll be doing medication management of psychiatric medications. You'll dabble very little with medical problems such as hypertension and headaches etc, but the vast majority of that will be referred to a PCP. NP's are also doing rounds in inpatient hospitals and partial programs. Some NP's practice counseling in the private practice setting but I don't see that much, and its usually in affluent communities. For most people its cheaper to someone for your medication management and someone else for therapy. I like it because I enjoy specializing in a specific area of medicine more than the variety that is typically seen in an FNP setting. The patients have a reputation for being more irritable or manipulative than a typical PCP setting but in my opinion that is overblown. Almost every patient I see for Psych problems see's a PCP anyway. People love it or hate it. I strongly recommend shadowing a provider before going down this path and also think it would be worth working in a psych hospital or clinic a little while as an RN to see if its for you.

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I just found out that I've officially been accepted to a PMHNP program and am wanting to gauge appeal in thie Nashville area. I received offers to a good FNP school as well as an offer to a psych speciality program. I've always been interested in psych, I currently work at a psychiatric hospital, and I'm very attracted to the demand and the perceived quality of life working at an outpatient clinic provided (8-5 no nights, no call etc.). I would love to not have to leave the Nashville area after graduating as my wife has a good job here and was wondering if anyone in the area thought that might be plausible for a new grad. I'm more conflicted than I thought I'd be, but it seems like the NP market is a bit saturated here, especially FNPs. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Also, for those who have entered the psych field, how has the career lined up with your expectations? I know that I'll be mostly working in medication management, probably 3-4 patients an hour, and I think I'd be fine with that. The autonomy of the field is very attractive to me. On that note, being that TN is a collaborative state, how has that affected your practice as a Psych NP? This turned into a bit of a ramble, thanks for taking the time to read.