What career path?

[__clemons]

Good evening ,

I have a question about the nursing programs. If I do the Doctor of nursing practice for a nurse practitioner . Will i be able to work with family and clinial mental health patients in the hospital setting ? Like get paid to treat and diagnose families while seeing mentally ill patients in the hospital .... Or if not can I do doctorate of Family nurse practitioner with a nursing leadership certificate to one day manage all nurses .

Sincerely

Shanard Clemons

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

NP education is focused on treating patients, but the type of services that NPs provide is dictated by each state's Nurse Practice Act. In some states, NPs must work with a supervising physician. NP education is very specific in terms of the patient population that they are permitted to work with. Family NPs (FNP) are prepared to serve as a primary care provider (ambulatory care) - not to provide services in a hospital. You would need to explore the practice options for Psych NPs in your state.

NP education does not include the level of administrative/business education required to function as a healthcare executive. NPs who wish to move into these roles would need to obtain additional qualifications via formal education or experience. Chief Nursing Officer positions usually require a significant business/finance background and extensive experience in addition to MSN credentials.