Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Question

[LadyRN10]

My head is spinning off my shoulders! My goal is to go into private practice as a prescribing clinician who specialized in psychiatry.

What is the difference between a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist?

Also, I won't be done by 2015, is that law going into effect saying I need a DNP to prescribe?

Please help!

[zoidberg, BSN, RN]

definitely the NP. (dnp's wont matter until states mandate it as the minimum req. to practice, and until recently some didnt even req the masters. some states still allow PA's and NP's with certificates to practice. )

the aanc is changing the psych np to a family psychiatric mental health NP credential. get a school that has already changed over, so if your adult or child psych lapses you wont be screwed! vanderbilt, Drexel, (and others) are flexible and have a good name and offer family psych np. good luck!