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CAREER COUNSELOR
Psychiatric nurse practitioner
Question: I am a registered nurse and would like to make a change. I have considered getting a master's degree, but do not want to work in nursing administration. I have an interest in psychology and I find that I enjoy listening to people and helping them with their problems. I have thought about becoming a therapist. What would you recommend?
— Tammy
Response: Since you are interested in psychology you should consider getting your master's degree and becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. This would allow you to practice as a therapist.
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) that have specialized training in psychiatric-mental health nursing (PMHN). California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) has a board-approved combined master's degree and nurse practitioner program in psychiatric/mental health.
Training Options and Costs
Students are instructed on such topics as writing patient reports and pharmacology. The second year of the program involves the clinical component. Students are required to complete 18 to 20 hours of clinical rotations every other week. The rotations involve patient intake interviews as well as assessment of patient care.
Hospitals that provide clinical internships in psychiatric-mental health nursing include the Veterans Medical Center in Long Beach and County hospitals. Students may secure their own clinical internship with a hospital or an outpatient setting.
After completing clinical rotations, students are required to complete the master's degree component. The student will submit a research paper that is graded by three department advisors.
The department only offers admission in the fall. The application-filing period is from January 1 to March 15. Currently, graduate tuition is approximately $1,500 per semester for full-time students.
Job Description
Psychiatric nurse practitioners conduct psychosocial assessments, make diagnoses, and provide treatment to individuals or groups with psychiatric problems. They may also work with the patient's family by advising them on mental health care and lifestyle choices.
The practitioners provide a full range of primary mental health care services to individuals, families, groups and communities. They function as psychotherapists, educators, consultants, advanced case managers and administrators. They may also sub-specialize in such areas as child-adolescent mental health nursing, neuropsychiatric nursing, forensics or substance abuse.
Psychiatric nurse practitioners may work in private practice settings, mental health centers, clinics, doctor's offices, community mental health programs and HMOs.
Professional Resource
Professional Associations
APNA primarily focuses on education and networking. Regular membership is available to registered nurses in good standing with the licensing agency of their state or territory. Regular members receive subscriptions to professional journals and a bi-monthly newsletter. They have access to the membership directory, APNA's message boards and online journal. They also receive discounts on registration fees for the annual conference and on ANCC certification.
Annual membership dues are $120. Student membership is available for full-time students at a reduced rate of $66. The APNA's 20th annual conference will be held October 11–14 at the Long Beach Convention Center.
The APNA California chapter was founded in 1996, has over 375 members, and is one of the largest and most active state chapters of APNA in the nation. The chapter offers continuing education programs, networking opportunities and leadership training.
Local seminar and conference information as well as contact information for area representatives is available on the chapter website: www.calapna.org.
Membership benefits include discounted registration for conferences and meetings, subscription to a tri-annual newsletter, a journal, membership directory, an e-bookstore discount, access to the online membership directory, and opportunities for international networking. Annual membership dues are $115.
Employment Outlook
Above average growth is projected through 2010 for nurse practitioners. According to the APNA, as with all nursing specialties, there is currently a shortage of psychiatric nurses.
Salary Range
Psychiatric Nurses are considered advanced practice registered nurses and earn approximately $60,000 to $78,000 per year.
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.
E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.
— Tammy
Response: Since you are interested in psychology you should consider getting your master's degree and becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. This would allow you to practice as a therapist.
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) that have specialized training in psychiatric-mental health nursing (PMHN). California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) has a board-approved combined master's degree and nurse practitioner program in psychiatric/mental health.
Training Options and Costs
- California State University at Long Beach
- College of Health and Human Services
- 1250 Bellflower Blvd.
- Long Beach, CA 90840
- www.csulb.edu
- Contact: Nursing Department
- (562) 985-4473
- 1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Students are instructed on such topics as writing patient reports and pharmacology. The second year of the program involves the clinical component. Students are required to complete 18 to 20 hours of clinical rotations every other week. The rotations involve patient intake interviews as well as assessment of patient care.
Hospitals that provide clinical internships in psychiatric-mental health nursing include the Veterans Medical Center in Long Beach and County hospitals. Students may secure their own clinical internship with a hospital or an outpatient setting.
After completing clinical rotations, students are required to complete the master's degree component. The student will submit a research paper that is graded by three department advisors.
The department only offers admission in the fall. The application-filing period is from January 1 to March 15. Currently, graduate tuition is approximately $1,500 per semester for full-time students.
Job Description
Psychiatric nurse practitioners conduct psychosocial assessments, make diagnoses, and provide treatment to individuals or groups with psychiatric problems. They may also work with the patient's family by advising them on mental health care and lifestyle choices.
The practitioners provide a full range of primary mental health care services to individuals, families, groups and communities. They function as psychotherapists, educators, consultants, advanced case managers and administrators. They may also sub-specialize in such areas as child-adolescent mental health nursing, neuropsychiatric nursing, forensics or substance abuse.
Psychiatric nurse practitioners may work in private practice settings, mental health centers, clinics, doctor's offices, community mental health programs and HMOs.
Professional Resource
- State of California Board of Registered Nursing
- 400 R Street, Suite 4030
- Sacramento, CA 94244
- (916) 322-3350
- Fax (916) 327-4402
- www.rn.ca.gov
- Sacramento, CA 94244
Professional Associations
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)
- 1-866-243-2443
- www.apna.org
APNA primarily focuses on education and networking. Regular membership is available to registered nurses in good standing with the licensing agency of their state or territory. Regular members receive subscriptions to professional journals and a bi-monthly newsletter. They have access to the membership directory, APNA's message boards and online journal. They also receive discounts on registration fees for the annual conference and on ANCC certification.
Annual membership dues are $120. Student membership is available for full-time students at a reduced rate of $66. The APNA's 20th annual conference will be held October 11–14 at the Long Beach Convention Center.
The APNA California chapter was founded in 1996, has over 375 members, and is one of the largest and most active state chapters of APNA in the nation. The chapter offers continuing education programs, networking opportunities and leadership training.
Local seminar and conference information as well as contact information for area representatives is available on the chapter website: www.calapna.org.
- International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses (ISPN)
- 608-443-2463 or 1-866-330-7227
- www.ispn-psych.org
- E-mail: info@ispn-psych.org
- www.ispn-psych.org
Membership benefits include discounted registration for conferences and meetings, subscription to a tri-annual newsletter, a journal, membership directory, an e-bookstore discount, access to the online membership directory, and opportunities for international networking. Annual membership dues are $115.
- California Association for Nurse Practitioners (CANP)
- 1414 K. Street, Suite 300
- Sacramento, CA 95814
- (707) 575-8090
- Fax (707) 575-8620
- www.canpweb.org
- E-mail: admin@canpweb.org
- Los Angeles Region
- PO Box 7895
- Mission Hills 91346-7895
- (818) 725-3778
- Sacramento, CA 95814
Employment Outlook
Above average growth is projected through 2010 for nurse practitioners. According to the APNA, as with all nursing specialties, there is currently a shortage of psychiatric nurses.
Salary Range
Psychiatric Nurses are considered advanced practice registered nurses and earn approximately $60,000 to $78,000 per year.
— • —
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.
E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.
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