Questions for Psych NPs

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Specializes in Mental Health.

For those of you who are PMHNPs how many years of RN experience did you have before pursuing advanced education? And was it all in mental health or did you work in other areas as well? I just graduated with my BSN and recently received my license and would like to work in mental health. I knew I wanted to be a psych nurse before I even started my nursing program and I loved my psych internship in inpatient adolescent. My university added a Psych NP MSN last year and their requirement is at least 2 years of full-time RN experience and I see myself advancing my education in the future. Anyways I am curious to read about other people's experiences : D

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I had about a year and a half of inpatient psych experience before I started my program. I will have about four and half by the time I graduate next May (three year program). I think experience in psych is a wise choice before making the commitment to become a PMHNP. That being said, I have also dabbled in other areas. I've worked medical home health and PRN at a family practice clinic, experience in these other areas only cemented my interest in psych. My advice would be to focus on your new role as an RN and start honing your psych skills, i.e. therapeutic communication, and then start deciding where you want to go with your education/career.

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Specializes in neuro-surg, psych, CM/URP, CM/URP Mgr..

I am waiting to hear if I get accepted or not for a PMHNP program. I have 2 years adult chronic institutionalized schizophrenics, bipolar, you name it, we had it and 2 years from ages 8-17 inpatient and outpatient psych/MH (bipolar, schizo, anger, depression, behavioral management) and all together 19 years experience. Fingers crossed, deadline was 6/15 for applicants. Letters should come out in July for fall 2014.

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I graduated in 2009 and worked as a psych RN until 2003 when I had to quit to focus on my PMHNP program. I just graduated and I feel I was leaps ahead of the people with no psych experience.

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Should be 2013. Lol

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Specializes in Mental Health.

I was worried about the going back in time part. :-P

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