Should I do psych NP or FNP?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Your varied background makes you well-suited for a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Psych NP) or a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program. With your experience in management, public health, and acute/SNF settings, you have a strong foundation that would benefit in either program.

Either way, you will likely be a provider for the rest of your career, so it's important to dig deep when choosing which patient population you wish to serve.

Psych NP

Applying to a Psych NP Program is definitely realistic, but it may be more competitive due to the specialized nature of the field. Because of that, it's essential to emphasize your passion for the field in your application.

• Psych NPs are specialized, and the demand has grown in recent years, especially with the rising awareness of mental health and the increased need for mental health services across various settings. Since it's a specialty, the programs are more selective to ensure candidates are highly prepared for the responsibility.
• There are fewer Psych NP programs than FNP programs, making the competition for slots more intense. Here's a link to some Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) 2025 programs. 
• Intensive clinical training. Psych NP programs often require more clinical hours and direct patient interaction in mental health settings, which can be demanding. Depending on the program and state requirements, psych NP programs may require 600–800+ clinical hours. FNP programs, by contrast, usually require between 500 and 700 clinical hours.
• This makes admissions more rigorous as schools may look for candidates with solid clinical experience and commitment to working in the mental health field.

Since you're considering becoming a Psych NP, again, the first and foremost thing is to evaluate your interest in working with patients with mental disorders. Are you especially attracted to the psychological aspects of patient interactions and treatment? As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in an outpatient clinic setting, you would manage medications and conduct assessments in many areas. Does this align with your long-term career goals?

I highly recommend an informative and interesting thread here on all nurses titled "FNP to PMHNP (Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)—Is it Better?"

FNP

Or are you more interested in the flexibility of family care, which spans a broader patient base? If you're feeling uncertain after not being accepted initially, an FNP route might give you wider options and more flexibility, especially if you prefer working in a more general clinic setting.

• Generalist vs. Specialist.  FNP programs are generally considered more "broad" because they cover various ages and health issues, giving graduates the flexibility to work in multiple settings (outpatient clinics, urgent care, schools, etc.). This broadness means FNP programs can accept more applicants.

Both can lead to fulfilling careers—it's more about where you feel most engaged!

Register on a job search site like Indeed.com and read the job postings for both FNP and PMHNP, especially in your location.

FNP to PMHNP
It's also a consideration to go from FNP to PMHNP, but obtaining your PMHNP certification requires additional education and training.

FNPs transitioning to a PMHNP role typically must pursue a post-master's certificate or a second master's degree in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. These programs are designed for nurses with an advanced practice degree (like the FNP).

Summary

Becoming a provider is a significant decision that takes you down a specialized path, unlike your previous experiences of moving fluidly from one specialty to another, so the stakes are higher with this decision. 

Involve your loved ones and those who know you well in your decision-making, and talk it out.

Best wishes with your choice,

Nurse Beth

Additional Resources

Check out the Psychiatric Nursing forum here on allnurses.

Join the American Psychiatric Nurses Association