I've searched this site high and low and found some posts on psychiatric NPs but nothing recent. I'm just wondering if psych NPs have a high level of job satisfaction and what are the hours typically like? Do you get to incorporate therapeutic communication a lot in your practice? Also, if anyone has attended Vanderbilts program.. did you enjoy it? did you feel they adequately prepared you for practice.. such as for prescribing meds?
Seems like there is a handful. I saw this while I was studying for boards, the guide I had listed 3; looks like 5 now. They just passed IP for us so I am thinking about going to market over there. But pulling a syllabus would be difficult... Guess I should keep my program records.
Either way, if you are competent boards is pretty easy it sounds like.
I'm a psych NP. I love what I do. I hate the politics of nonprofits. I work M-F 8-5 with no call.
Hello,
Could you tell us whether safety and violent attacks on PMHNP are a significant concern? As a woman being a PMHNP scare me because I am afraid that patients might become violent and attack me.
Could you tell us whether safety and violent attacks on PMHNP are a significant concern? As a woman being a PMHNP scare me because I am afraid that patients might become violent and attack me.
Very few psych patients are violent (at least in an outpatient setting). As an ICU and acute care RN I was hit more times that I can remember (usually by delirious patients) however as a Psych NP I've never been threatened. It also helps that I've worked almost entirely online in a state that is over 2000 miles from where my patients are located.
I’ve never been harmed or seriously threatened by a psychiatric patient. I’ve been threatened by antisocial people in the ED....”if you don’t give me xyz drug (opioid, benzodiazepine) I’ll tear tbisplace apart.” I assure them that we will not allow it, promise that they’ll be medicated if they try but that it won’t be the drug of their choice OR that I’ll call police, will press charges and will show up in court. That’s usually sufficient. The ED is far more dangerous than a psych unit. Patients with dementia and/or delirium are more dangerous than psychiatric patients.
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
On 2/9/2021 at 1:25 PM, Future MSN said:
Hello,
Could you tell us whether safety and violent attacks on PMHNP are a significant concern? As a woman being a PMHNP scare me because I am afraid that patients might become violent and attack me.
I an attending PMHNP on an all-male high acuity forensic psych unit. I have definitely been verbally threatened and had patients physically posture at me, and hearing derogatory language is not unusual, but I have NEVER been physically assaulted at work. If anything being a smaller female can be an advantage with some of the more aggressive guys because they don't need to show how macho they are and I have been able to deescalate some VERY dangerous patients (including a few violent and psychopathic patients) without anyone being injured because I am seen often as a non-threatening but also calm and firm/authoritative presence - which some of them actually *need* to help regulate and calm down.
I generally feel MUCH safer working in mental health settings than I do on regular medical units or outpatient settings. This isn't to say there is NO risk in this work, and that having good situational awareness and a good time around you are definitely important, but the stigma around mental health patients being violent is real. (Statistics show that individuals with mental health diagnoses are MORE likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of violence).
I an attending PMHNP on an all-male high acuity forensic psych unit. I have definitely been verbally threatened and had patients physically posture at me, and hearing derogatory language is not unusual, but I have NEVER been physically assaulted at work. If anything being a smaller female can be an advantage with some of the more aggressive guys because they don't need to show how macho they are and I have been able to deescalate some VERY dangerous patients (including a few violent and psychopathic patients) without anyone being injured because I am seen often as a non-threatening but also calm and firm/authoritative presence - which some of them actually *need* to help regulate and calm down.
I generally feel MUCH safer working in mental health settings than I do on regular medical units or outpatient settings. This isn't to say there is NO risk in this work, and that having good situational awareness and a good time around you are definitely important, but the stigma around mental health patients being violent is real. (Statistics show that individuals with mental health diagnoses are MORE likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of violence).
Thank you for your feed back. Are you familiar with any more statistics. I like numbers better than stories precisely because of bias. The fear of violence can overcome the reality of many situations. I found this paper by Khable DO which explores the statistics of the topics. Violence that escalates to murder seems rare and its more common to be a female victim. However, female case works not mental health providers seem to be at greater risk. Seems like good data. Please share any other statistics that can help illuminate the landscape and how violence manifest itself. Thank you for your comments. https://mentalillnesspolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/homicidementalhealthworkers.pdf
Very few psych patients are violent (at least in an outpatient setting). As an ICU and acute care RN I was hit more times that I can remember (usually by delirious patients) however as a Psych NP I've never been threatened. It also helps that I've worked almost entirely online in a state that is over 2000 miles from where my patients are located.
How much work experience do you need before can start working online treating patients? How available are online psychiatric NP opportunities? Is it like hitting the jackpot?
How much work experience do you need before can start working online treating patients? How available are online psychiatric NP opportunities? Is it like hitting the jackpot?
My first job out of school started in person and transitioned to online after about a month due to Covid. Once Covid is over I will travel to Seattle once per month for a week to see my clients on schedule II medications (ADHD). The law that currently requires this is suspended. I can't say that I exactly enjoy my work but it is definitely less stressful than neuro trauma ICU ( also I don't get hit or yelled at by surgeons who want me to override medications on patients just moved from the ER who are not even in our system Pixus, yet) and it is somewhat better to earn around 300K rather than 60K.
Could you tell us whether safety and violent attacks on PMHNP are a significant concern? As a woman being a PMHNP scare me because I am afraid that patients might become violent and attack me.
Psych is a specialty with a higher risk of violence compared other specialties, but it's probably still much lower than getting killed in a MVA. Although it is necessary to have safety in mind, it is quite unhealthy and stigmatizing to have so much fear of this population. You never want to interact with people with psychiatric illnesses with fear or scare that they are "crazy," because it will come across to them. Best way to handle this is to work with this population and process these feelings. You'll also learn ways to keep yourself safer and de-escalate when threatening situations arise.
I work outpatient and have been 95% seeing patients online. A good number of my patients are men who were recently released from prison and many had violent and drug history. I have been threatened by one, but the rest are mostly pleasant.
You can certainly work online with high-functioning patients, but I would find it boring.
My first job out of school started in person and transitioned to online after about a month due to Covid. Once Covid is over I will travel to Seattle once per month for a week to see my clients on schedule II medications (ADHD). The law that currently requires this is suspendED. I can't say that I exactly enjoy my work but it is definitely less stressful than neuro trauma ICU ( also I don't get hit or yelled at by surgeons who want me to override medications on patients just moved from the ER who are not even in our system Pixus, yet) and it is somewhat better to earn around 300K rather than 60K.
As a new grad in New Mexico I will probably early around 80 K which is okay. We all need a job. I just don't want to get hit or attacked my patients constantly. It's reassuring that you experience less violence than when you were working in the ICU. Do patients every threaten you? How often does this happen? Any patients ever stalked you? Thank you for your response
Very few psych patients are violent (at least in an outpatient setting). As an ICU and acute care RN I was hit more times that I can remember (usually by delirious patients) however as a Psych NP I've never been threatened. It also helps that I've worked almost entirely online in a state that is over 2000 miles from where my patients are located.
Are there enough opportunities to work this way? Or was the online position a diamond in the rough opportunity that only comes along once in a while?
So far there a lots of telepsych jobs (and psych jobs in general). Just be aware of the licensure requirements if you have patients across state lines.
In terms of working with psych patients in person, medium+ sized organizations will provide training in de-escalating, safety, etc. If you choose to work for an organization that does not provide this training, you can request it and any employer concerned about your concern for your safety will provide it.
DrCOVID, DNP
462 Posts
https://thriveap.com/blog/which-5-states-do-not-require-nps-take-national-certification-exam
Seems like there is a handful. I saw this while I was studying for boards, the guide I had listed 3; looks like 5 now. They just passed IP for us so I am thinking about going to market over there. But pulling a syllabus would be difficult... Guess I should keep my program records.
Either way, if you are competent boards is pretty easy it sounds like.