psych/mental health nurse practitioner salary

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I am currently in nursing school receiving my RN and plan on continuing my education to receive my NP (as long as they dont commit me first lol) and was wondering if there are any mental health nurse practitioners that could tell how your salary is compared to other NP's in different fields (family, acute care, pediatrics, etc...you get the idea ) also curious about how your prescription privileges differe from other NP's. thanks!

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I work at an academic medical center in the northeast and the psych ARNPs are paid on the same scale as the other mid level care providers, PA's, CNMS and other ARNP (Annual salary range is 70 to 110,000 dollars). Nurse anesthetists are paid on a much higher scale.

Many psych NPs do some private practice counseling to earn extra dollars.

Prescriptive authority is determined by state law. Your employer may also further restrict prescription practices.

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thank you for your info...I was curious if pysch NP's are allowed to write rx's that other NP's can't, since they see psych patients that may be on controlled substances.

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I don't know the answer to your question, but I am pretty sure that the rules are different from state to state. I hope this link works for you- a power point from 2006 that is uploaded on the web and gives information about state to state differences in prescriptive authority for advanced practice nursing. If it does not work , try googling the title.

You will need power point to open - interesting info at beginning and then slides 15 and 16 are more specific. However, this info is a few years old and I know in my own state the rules constantly are being adapted and changed. What state do you plan to practice?

Prescriptive Authority: A National and State Perspective

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kentucky

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I don't know about controlled substances, but my son sees a Psychiatric NP in a private practice and she writes for his psych meds. This is in KY.

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thank you for your info...I was curious if pysch NP's are allowed to write rx's that other NP's can't, since they see psych patients that may be on controlled substances.

I've never seen a state that differentiates by type of NP. Usually its an either nor. You can look up an overview of state prescribing laws here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/440315

In Kentucky all NPs can prescribe schedule II's with some limitations. In Georgia for example the state does not recognize CNS except for Mental Health CNS. They have the same prescriptive authority as NPs (schedule III-V). So no Ritalin or Adderall for example in Georgia.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Specializes in Midwifery, women's health.

I have a good friend who just graduated as a psych NP in Ohio last May and is making well over $100,000/year. She did have experience as a licensed counselor before the NP program, but she was not an RN. I think it depends on where you're working -- she is making that money because she is working in correctional facilities. I don't know if she would be making the same amount in a hospital.

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I have a good friend who just graduated as a psych NP in Ohio last May and is making well over $100,000/year. She did have experience as a licensed counselor before the NP program, but she was not an RN. I think it depends on where you're working -- she is making that money because she is working in correctional facilities. I don't know if she would be making the same amount in a hospital.

You said that your friend was not an RN...I am just curious, then, did she complete a direct-entry program?

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Specializes in Midwifery, women's health.

Yep, she did a direct-entry program. She worked part-time as an RN after she took the NCLEX and before she finished the program, but it was less than 6 months.

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Check out this article:

http://nurse-practitioners.advanceweb.com/News/Hot-Topics/2009-National-Salary-and-Workplace-Survey-Results.aspx

In Kentucky nurse practitioners can write prescriptions for a 3-day supply of C-IIs with no refill. Only PMHNPs can prescribe 30 days' worth of psychostimulants.

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Are there opportunities for overtime or per diem as a Nurse Practitioner in mental health?

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