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?
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.
Thank you for your response. I will keep this in mind.
I did outpatient psych for 1.5 years in a private practice. I worked 9-6pm M-TH with an hour lunch. No weekends, holidays, or call. I did have to check emails Fri-Sun as the clinic was still open Friday and Saturday. So, I needed to respond to any patient/staff questions. When I started I had 2 patients per hour and then quickly went to 22 patients per day. I would see 3 per hour except only 2 the hour before lunch and leaving. Learning the meds was not as bad as I thought it would be. I don't recall the book name, but I had this excellent book that gave thorough information about meds and augmenting therapies and alternatives. The practice employed therapists. So, I did little psychotherapy and focused on med management. However, if a patient came in emotional or with a problem then I had to address it a little without stepping on the toes of their therapist.
Hi! Any chance you can try to dig up that book title DizzyJ?
Future MSN
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Thank you for your response. I will keep this in mind.