Psych nurse practitioner

Nursing Students NP Students

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I just got accepted into a psych nurse practitioner program....However, I now have a second thought on accepting it after talking to a couple of PA and MD. I was told that unless I have some sort of inside track, it would be very hard for me to find a job in the mental health field as a NP. I work in the state of South Dakota and wonders if there's a higher demand in the either coasts? I have not even come close to pay off my BSN student loan and really hesitate to pile more debt especially in this economy.

Any insights would be appreciated.

Specializes in Psych, Family Health, Integrated Health.

Myelin,

You will be just fine in your studies as you are asking the right questions. I was fortunate as I worked for a university hospital system that paid most of my initial training for BSN, MSN. National Health Services Corp paid for the rest! (Post-Masters, DNP) , so no loans for me. Depending on where you want to work, you may want to consider the Corp. The money is tax free and it can pay your debt down fast. 4 years 120,000. I had a great experience, moved around the country and seen some cool places...not the horror stories you might of heard.

Thank you so much for the support and advice, Miss PsychNP! I know I'm fairly early in my studies to be thinking this far ahead, but I can't help it. It sounds like I should relax, because there seem to be plenty of jobs that pay well and many options for loan repayment. Plus, after having a positive conversation with some classmates ahead of me in the MSN program (there is, apparently, work for per diem/part-time RNs in the bay area, afterall), I'm not as concerned about having absolutely gigantic loans to pay back (they will hopefully just be sort of gigantic, haha!) It sounds like I will be able to work part-time as a RN during the PMHNP portion of my program.

Specializes in Psych, Family Health, Integrated Health.

Myelin

You will definitely be able to work.

This (Psych NP) is what I want to do ultimately. Please feel free to continue this thread.:yes:

Specializes in Consultation Liaison Psychiatry.

I can initiate involuntary commitments, lead an ACT team, etc. I cannot administer ECT...only physicians can do so. I grew up in California but like the cold New England winters. Portland, ME is pretty liberal although the state leadership currently is embarrassing. We can practice and prescribe independently according to state law. A number of facilities still will require physician supervision although the other physicians all have supervisors, too. I independently admit patients to one of our three attending psychiatrists. The residents have the same limitations on their admissions. In fact, the outpatient attendings in our organization do not even have admitting privileges. They have to send patients from their office to the ED or (occasionally)for direct admission by me, a PA, or a resident.

I think that you really have to look at each position and each organization as well as the state laws when choosing where to practice.

If you want to do primary care then go with the FNP. You'll be able to do a lot of uncomplicated mental health and there's actually a new certification in mental health for pedi and FNP's. It's offered through NAPNAP. If you really want to do psychiatry then the PMHNP is the way to go. I initially trained as a pedi NP but missed psychiatry and went back for my PMHNP. Since I work on the consultation liaison service and cover the inpt med-gero-psych unit I still get to do lots of medicine. I definitely need my medical experience in this job.

Specializes in ER, Psych.

Did you in fact pursue and finish your PMHNP?

How possible is it to graduate wih FNP and Psych Nurse practitioner?

Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
How possible is it to graduate wih FNP and Psych Nurse practitioner?

I think Vanderbilt has such a program. Tufts may have that as well. At any rate, you simply take all the classes, do all the clinicals, and bam you graduate with both foci. At my school, you had the option of doing any or all of the specialty tracks you wanted. I think the wisest choice is to pick one, start working, and then negotiate a work schedule that will allow you to get paid well and continue to study for the second cert. I'd like to pick up FNP, BUT there'd be no increase in my pay for having it, I'd spend more money to get it, I might even lose clinic time pursuing it (thus more lost money), and I have no interest in doing reproductive, anal, or gynecologic clinicals. I'm more interested in be credentialed to treat URI, N/V/D, minor derm yuckies, metabolic train wrecks we cause with atypicals, vitamin deficiencies, earache, headache, toothache, etc. And only above the waist!

I have an affinity for allergy, headache, and sports medicine, and if I weren't in psych I'd be doing one of those things. I went to a sports med CE once and got a lot of weird looks when people found out what my practice is. However, the Bill Nye of PTs taught me how to do an SI adjustment, and BOY DOES IT WORK!! I taught my wife how to do it, and we do it to each other.

Thanks psychguy.

Specializes in Psychiatry.

I know this is an old thread, but here in my area we have openings for psych NP's all the time. No shortage here. This includes all kinds of settings- acute, outpatient, residential. I'm always seeing postings, and none are less than 115k for a Masters level NP. DNP's are paid about 20k more. Best of luck

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