Psychiatric Nurse

Job Description:
Psychiatric nurses work with mental patients in a variety of settings. There are two levels of psychiatric
nurses and the responsibilities vary by level. Basic level psychiatric nurses are registered nurses who
carry out doctors' orders. Their duties include developing nursing care plans for patients, providing direct
patient care, and administering medications. They work with family members, helping and teaching them
how to deal with a family member's mental illness. Registered nurses can teach other health care workers
and the public about mental health, working with groups or individuals. They can assess the mental
health needs of a community and assist with crisis intervention and counseling.

Advanced level psychiatric nurses have a master's degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing. They have
the authority to work independently and are qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with
psychiatric problems. In many states they can prescribe medications and do psychotherapy (a method in
which the therapist meets regularly with patients to talk about their problems and help them find
solutions), and act as case managers overseeing the care of patients. Both levels of psychiatric nurses
serve as patient advocates, which means they support the interests of patients and ensure that their
needs are met.

Psychiatric nurses work in psychiatric hospitals, mental health centers, community mental health
programs, health maintenance organizations, and clinics. Psychiatric nurses with doctoral degrees may
choose to teach, conduct research, or serve as administrators in hospitals, schools, and various agencies.

Note: Advanced practice nurses are also called advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) or psychiatric
clinical nurse specialists. Some are nurse practitioners who specialize in psychiatric care. (See the profile
for nurse practitioner for information of that role.)

Duties and Responsibilities:

Basic level psychiatric nurses perform the following duties:
Develop nursing care plans.
Provide direct nursing care.
Administer medications.
Carry out treatment strategies, as ordered by a physician.
Teach classes in mental health topics, such as stress reduction.
Teach family members about the patient's disorder and needs.
Determine the community's mental health needs.
Help plan community programs.

In addition to the above, advanced level psychiatric nurses can perform the
following duties:
Assess patients using a variety of methods.
Make a diagnosis based on the assessment.
Develop a plan of care and treatment.
Prescribe medications (in most states).
Provide counseling.
Provide psychotherapy (in most states).
Conduct research.
Serve as administrators.
Teach in universities.
Personal Qualities:
Psychiatric nurses must be caring, compassionate, patient, and interested in helping individuals with
mental disorders and problems with substance abuse. They need good communication and interpersonal
skills. They also need to be responsible, be able to problem solve and make decisions, and effectively
supervise others.

Physical Requirements:
Psychiatric nurses may be on their feet and walking about a good deal of the time.

Educational Requirements:
Registered nurses can be educated in three ways. First, they can earn an associate's degree in nursing
(ADN). This is usually a two to three year program at a community or vocational college. Second, they
can earn a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) which requires four or five years to complete. Graduates of
BSN programs have more advancement opportunities than those with an associate's degree. Some
students begin their career with an ADN and then enter a BSN program.

Nursing education includes both classroom courses and supervised clinical experience. The course work
includes anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, psychology, critical thinking, and nursing courses.
During their clinical experience, students work in a variety of specialties, such as pediatrics, maternity,
and psychiatry. Some nursing programs now offer clinical training in facilities other than hospitals. Others
have developed fast-track programs in response to the growing shortage of nurses.

Advanced level psychiatric nurses have a master's degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing.

Psychiatric nursing programs are accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (aacn.og)
and the National League for Nursing (nln.org).

Certification Requirements:
Registered nurses must be licensed. In addition, all levels of psychiatric nurses are certified by the
American Nurses Credentialing Center. The exact duties the psychiatric nurse can perform vary by state.

Projected Outlook for this Career:

The employment outlook is very good for psychiatric nurses because of the critical shortage of registered
nurses in all areas.

Salary Information:
In 2003, basic level psychiatric nurses earned an average income of $46,641. Advanced practice nurses
earned $68,522 and above. Nurses who become executives can earn over $100,000.

Career Ladders:
Basic level psychiatric nurses can pursue more education and become advanced practice nurses.

To Learn More and Prepare:

Obtain information from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
Explore the Web Links provided in this profile.
Review professional journals such as the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
(JAPNA).
Conduct an informational interview or job shadow a psychiatric nurse to learn more about the
duties performed.
 Explore the different functions an advanced practice nurse can perform and the various positions
available.
Obtain employment or a volunteer position working with the mentally ill.
Develop your communication and interpersonal skills.
Investigate scholarship and grant programs designed for students interested in nursing.
In high school, take courses in science, mathematics, English, and social science.
Contact educational programs for information about their admission requirements and courses of
study.
Learn about the NCLEX exam.
Learn more about the licensing requirements for registered nursing, as well as the duties
advanced practice nurses are allowed to perform in the state(s) in which you want to work.

Professional Organizations:
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
1555 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 515
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 243-2443
http://www.apna.org

Web Links:
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Click on "FAQ" to learn more about psychiatric nursing. Site also contains lists of accredited educational
programs.
http://www.apna.org

National Council of States Boards of Nursing

Contains general information about nursing regulations and licensing. Also contains contact information
for each state.
http://www.ncsbn.org

National Institute of Mental Health

Click on "For the Public" for fact sheets on a variety of mental disorders.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov

The American Psychoanalytic Association

Click on "About Psychoanalysis" to learn about this treatment.
http://www.apsa.org

American Nurses Association

Learn about the credentialing of psychiatric nurses by clicking on American Nurses Credentialing Center.
http://www.ana.org