Psych NP programs

roser13, ASN, RN · May 4, 2016

Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles exist as a result of years of experience. Thus the "advanced practice" title.

How would you manage to become an advanced practice anything without the basics?

If you're hoping to gain college credit because of your life experience, well.....dream on.

morningcoffee · May 5, 2016

roser13, ASN

I guess you have a great personality, but maybe you are not happy today.

However hopefully, you do not use this website to vent out your anger.

I don't appreciate that.

Trauma Columnist · May 5, 2016

Moved to student NP forum.

There are many programs that do not require years of experience and this forum is pretty active - someone will be along to help you...

steffimiesha, ADN, RN · May 5, 2016

Hi, I am a new RN/BSN in my age 50's.
I would like to be a psych nurse practitioner.
Because of my age, I hope to get into a psych np program as soon as possible.
But it's difficult for me to find a psych np program which does not require years of RN experience.
Can anybody please help me find one?
Thank you in advance.

I have researched this before and found some. I don't remember them right now but I will post when I do. University of Wyoming has a dnp program.. But I'm not sure if you want to do dnp or msn. U do not need Rn experience to do university of Wyoming dnp program. It is online but it is mostly full time coursework. Good luck! And congrats! I am just starting nursing school this fall and eventually want to be a nurse practitioner

umbdude, MSN, APRN · May 5, 2016

I'm surprised that you're having a hard time with this. Most PMHNP programs I've looked at do not require experience. Generally only acute-care NP or CRNA programs have absolute requirement for experience.

morningcoffee · May 5, 2016

Thank you, steffimiesha for the info.

Good luck to you too!!

morningcoffee · May 5, 2016

Hi, umbdude,

I have not found any program although I have looked for them for a long time.

If you find them, I would really appreciate it if you let me know.

Thank you.

PG-15, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN, APN, NP · May 8, 2016

Look at walden university. They are starting the psych mental health np program this month

Gentleman_nurse, MSN · May 9, 2016

Hi morningcoffee:

I was in a similar situation. I contacted the psychiatric nursing track coordinator at the schools I was interested in. More often than not they encouraged to apply, even for schools with an experience requirement. I found they were more concerned about the fit for psych than previous work experience.

Psychcns · May 9, 2016

Figure out the cheapest way you can do it. Any state schools in your area? Since you are in the school mode it might be good to go straight through. Working as a staff psych RN could be interesting for you to learn about acute exacerbations of mental illness and current treatment. Best wishes.

Indalimbo · May 17, 2016

Hello morningcoffee,

My username is appropo as I just graduated from my PMHNP program (like last week) and am studying for boards. :)

I just wanted to encourage you to go for it!! I just graduated and i am 47 years old. True, I had about 5 years of RN experince 1 year hospital, and then 4 years of jail type nursing, but zero psych nurse experience. The whole Psych arena just interested me greatly vs. FNP.

I will attach a link for my schools program info, no campus visits and they only require 1 year of RN experience by the time you start the program..

Application Requirements & Application Process for Online RN-BSN, MSN and DNP Programs | Online Nursing Programs

All the best to you!!

Inda