Any Psych NP's with advice???

Nursing Students NP Students

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Hello everyone! I'm new to this site and I want to get some feedback on what psych NP programs are like. I'm a currently working as an RN and I have always been interested in psych. I recently started thinking of becoming an NP because I would like to broaden my knowledge and I think NP is better fit for me. I come across my fair share of psych patients on my neuro/ med surg floor where I work. I know neuro and psych are not the same thing but I am very interested in the psych population. If anyone could give insight on what psych NP school is like and a typical day for a psych NP who works in a mental health facility or hospital it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 😀

Yes - people don't usually like it when others tell it like it really was. I think we're supposed to find something nice to say about the travesty of a program we went to, or to say nothing at all. That attitude is not going to help anyone - especially when what I said (or did you say it)? - is what so many other experience and may think they're the only ones.

What I always wonder about, when people post here about how awful their program was and how it didn't prepare them for boards or practice (and lots of people do, I'm not trying to single you out), is, why did you stay in the program? If the program wasn't providing you with what you were looking for and wasn't providing you with a high quality education, why did you stay and keep giving them money? To me, it would make a lot more sense to cut your losses and change to a different (better) program than to complete the program and then gripe a lot about what an inadequate program it was.

Bad programs are able to stay in business because people keep going to them. If they couldn't get/keep students, they would have to make changes.

1 Votes
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
What I always wonder about, when people post here about how awful their program was and how it didn't prepare them for boards or practice (and lots of people do, I'm not trying to single you out), is, why did you stay in the program? If the program wasn't providing you with what you were looking for and wasn't providing you with a high quality education, why did you stay and keep giving them money? To me, it would make a lot more sense to cut your losses and change to a different (better) program than to complete the program and then gripe a lot about what an inadequate program it was.

Bad programs are able to stay in business because people keep going to them. If they couldn't get/keep students, they would have to make changes.

My program which was a well respected State University was lukewarm but adequate and I think that is just the quick, superficial nature of NP education in general. Had I not had the extensive psych background I believe my practice would be substandard. That said the education was adequate for me although I will continue to lament about the people with minimal background in nursing or particularly in psych who think a couple of nursing pharm courses and they will be competent prescribers.

LMGTFY ---- Translation, please!

Did someone forget to tell you that a great many mental health patients have physical problems? That's why I do a complete ROS with every new patient and followup every visit for any new problems. That means you need to know all physical conditions that can mimic psych conditions…and there are a lot, plus all the meds that can cause psych symptoms. I was on vacation last week but the week before I ordered PT gait training for a patient that had been given a cane with no instructions on how to use it. I also ordered an OT consult to teach a patient how to use assistive devices since he had so much trouble getting his boots on due to back pain. Then, since primary care wouldn't order a urology consult on a patient with ED, I did so. Normally, I would send him back to primary care since he was on no meds that cause ED. But, since he had "emotional distress" due to the ED and that primary care wouldn't help him, he now fell in my backyard and I got things going. See how this works?

I am well aware that many physical disorders mimic mental disorders, and understand a ROS should be done with each psych eval. My point in the statement I made is that I do not see myself ever doing much in the way of physical exams, a large portion of my health assessment course. The theory portion of my health assessment course is much more applicable to what I foresee myself using after graduation. For what it's worth, I find your post very belittling and sarcastic but maybe others might appreciate your input.

I am well aware that many physical disorders mimic mental disorders, and understand a ROS should be done with each psych eval. My point in the statement I made is that I do not see myself ever doing much in the way of physical exams, a large portion of my health assessment course. The theory portion of my health assessment course is much more applicable to what I foresee myself using after graduation. For what it's worth, I find your post very belittling and sarcastic but maybe others might appreciate your input.

Interesting that you would find my post very belitting and sarcastic especially since you posted

(sorry but I never plan to use much of what we did in health assessment).
which most would take to mean that you never plan to use much of what you did in health assessment. Now you clarify that you do not plan on doing physicals but will use the theory portion of the class. My post stands as we are not psychic and respond to what you write, not what you intended to mean. This will be important in your documentation. In this post you also clarified that you are also well aware that physical disorders mimic disorders and that a ROS should be done on each visit. So now we are all clear on your position whereas before we might have thought you were suffering from a knowledge deficit.
Did someone forget to tell you that a great many mental health patients have physical problems?

This is obviously a sarcastic statement that I found offensive. I just find it strange that you would automatically jump to the notion that I have no idea physical ailments mimic mental health complaints. Surely after nearly three years of graduate school I would understand this, but I suppose it is in some people's nature to look for the negative. This is an internet forum, not a medical record so it's okay to be vague (and yes I realize you can then interpret my posts anyway you see fit). I guess you are trying to be helpful but in my humble not yet practicing, and therefore not entirely valid (my assumption from your posts), opinion you come across as more chiding than anything.

I know this is off topic and I apologize. To the OP, I say if you are interested in a PMHNP program then go for it. Get some inpatient experience, thoroughly research programs, and prepare yourself for quite a few courses that you might question the applicability of. However, as Mr. Zenman has mentioned, many of these courses will be of use to you down the road even if they seem more tailored to our medically focused friends. Good luck in whatever comes your way :-)

TheOldGuy....can I contact you about UND? I am going through the application process now for the Fall 2015 cohort. I would love to have someone to "mentor" me through some of this. What do you think?

If you can find an ER with it's own psych pod in it, that would expose you to a broad range of patients. I worked here in ATL for 2 years and it was a great experience.

Specializes in public health, corrections.

I went to a well respected state program, and graduated in 2006. I did have several good solid courses on psychopharm, child psych, and therapies. I would not feel comfortable with in depth therapy without further training, and I would have no problem paying for that if the fancy struck me. I am more into prescribing meds though, and I also put a lot of time into the therapeutic relationship - supportive therapy framework, some CBT stuff, some minor interpersonal stuff, and quite a bit of DBT (my employer does a lot of this with clients, and I have been given training). I strongly feel you must get GREAT preceptors in your training. This is key. Start forming alliances now with experienced PMHNPs and psychiatrists. As far as the person who mentioned that social workers make twice as much and PMHNPs make poor pay - I have amazing health and retirement and vacation along with a salary that is in the six figures and includes yearly step increases. I also work four tens. For the amount of work I do, I feel I am very well compensated. Plus, I can pick up moonlighting gigs quite easily if I have a particular financial goal in mind. High demand. I do have student loans - but, I do also realize I have options for forgiveness that I am not utilizing (rural area work, public service, etc.).

1 Votes
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
As far as the person who mentioned that social workers make twice as much and PMHNPs make poor pay - .

I missed that post but in my area psychologists make around $125,000 and social workers make around $60,000. As a NP I make way more than either of those figures.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
If you can find an ER with it's own psych pod in it, that would expose you to a broad range of patients. I worked here in ATL for 2 years and it was a great experience.

This is great for diagnosing but not so much for seeing the outcome and reaction to the different psychiatric medications. You will see sedating effects of the psychotropics but not the actual antipsychotic properties in play.

I went to a well respected state program, and graduated in 2006. I did have several good solid courses on psychopharm, child psych, and therapies. I would not feel comfortable with in depth therapy without further training, and I would have no problem paying for that if the fancy struck me. I am more into prescribing meds though, and I also put a lot of time into the therapeutic relationship - supportive therapy framework, some CBT stuff, some minor interpersonal stuff, and quite a bit of DBT (my employer does a lot of this with clients, and I have been given training). I strongly feel you must get GREAT preceptors in your training. This is key. Start forming alliances now with experienced PMHNPs and psychiatrists. As far as the person who mentioned that social workers make twice as much and PMHNPs make poor pay - I have amazing health and retirement and vacation along with a salary that is in the six figures and includes yearly step increases. I also work four tens. For the amount of work I do, I feel I am very well compensated. Plus, I can pick up moonlighting gigs quite easily if I have a particular financial goal in mind. High demand. I do have student loans - but, I do also realize I have options for forgiveness that I am not utilizing (rural area work, public service, etc.).

Portlandnp in what type of facility do you work?

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