Job Outlook: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Everyone is looking to be healthy and happy, for which everyone focuses on their body but overlooks the mind. Unfortunately, metal pressure can’t be measured as easily and effortlessly as blood pressure. 

A psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is a nurse who specializes in treating mental health patients. This is an important role since mental health is a sensitive issue and according to studies about 50% of US citizens are likely to be diagnosed with different mental conditions. 

The pandemic and the elevated demand for healthcare professionals and changed nursing roles throughout the years have ensured a favorable job outlook for the next decade. Here is the detailed Job Outlook of a psychiatric nurse practitioner and their roles and responsibilities. 

Qualifications For Being A Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Firstly to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, one needs to be a registered nurse with specialized training in treating mental patients. Mental health is not the same as physical health, it is much more complicated, and not everyone can handle the patients.  

So if you think you are compassionate enough and want in-depth knowledge of psychopharmacology to treat mentally unstable people an online psych NP program will help greatly before you start your practice professionally.  

Duties Of A Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

A psychiatric nurse does more than just diagnose and treat since mental illness is a touchy subject for many the roles and responsibilities of a PMHNP go far and beyond that of a normal nurse. 

When caring for a patient, the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner’s role may include the following. 

• Educating patients and families
• Diagnosing & treating
• Managing acute illness
• Providing psychotherapy
• Prescribing medication for acute and chronic illness
• Diagnosing, treating, and managing acute illness
• Providing care coordination; making referrals
• Ordering, performing, and interpreting lab tests
• Diagnostic studies
• Providing preventative care including screening

In the current delivery system, PMHNPs deliver consultative psychiatric services to primary care settings and these services can be in the form of telephonic or video consultation, education for providers, resource coordination, etc. 

Reasons For Positive Job Outlook

We know mental health care is a significant part, but how does it change the whole job outlook of the practitioner? Ever since COVID-19 appeared, the healthcare industry has surpassed every other industry in growth. 

Here are some reasons why the job outlook of a psychiatric nurse practitioner ~

The pandemic has scared people to their core resulting in their deteriorated physical as well as mental conditions. The whole lockdown and quarantine time instilled terror and depression which took a toll on the minds of people. 

This created a positive job outlook for psychiatric nurses which is only expected to rise by 2030 since it’s no secret that the outcome of this crisis will last for years and so does the value of the healthcare professionals. 

Substance Abuse might not be as simple as you think it is. It is not just about illegal drugs, using pain meds, sleeping pills, alcohol, and other substances in the wrong way or overconsumption can lead to physical and mental harm. 

Substance abuse disorders as a great problem in the US and any parts of the world, and unfortunately it’s growing rapidly. Psychiatric nurses are invaluable when it comes to addiction which at some point turns into a mental health disease.  

Increasing work and education load and social media play an important role in the rise of suicidal tendencies among teens. The Internet is no longer a safe place, neither is overexertion with studies, peer pressure and the pressure of expectation leads to depression in teens along with lack of sleep, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts. 

In this case, a psychiatric nurse practitioner will prove to be invaluable for teens and young adults to help them cope with depression since they can’t always share everything with their parents. 

There was a time when all people cared about was physical health and mental health was not even a thing, thank god we are way past that time and people are taking mental health more seriously. 

Especially during Covid-19 when everyone experienced their near and dear ones dying due to the disease, everyone experienced their mental health deteriorating. 

Plus there is a shortage of psychiatric nurse practitioners since people are not aware of their value and the help they can provide. 

Vital Skills Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Must Have

Treating mental health disorders is not simply first aid or assisting, it is a much more complex and difficult task. A Professional nurse must have some crucial skills that can help them deal with the mental health care field and provide their patients with the best possible care. 

Here are some skills that a psychiatric nurse practitioner must have ~ 

1. Analytical Capability — Must have extensive medical knowledge to review a patient’s medical history
2. Flexible Problem-solving — Develop different solutions and treatments tailored according to different individuals. 
3. Professionalism — Must behave with professionalism in all situations. 

The Psychiatric nurse practitioner also needs to have some necessary soft skills along with practical skills which are the characteristics of a successful nurse ~

1. Ambition 
2. Critical Thinking 
3. Open-Mindedness 
4. Empathy 

If you think or can develop these skills, you are eligible to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. 

To Conclude 

The idea of choosing a career that is not just different but also helping others seems nice but becoming a full-time psychiatric nurse practitioner takes a lot. You need to be determined, ambitious, and a natural problem-solving person. 

The demand for mental health services is growing every year and the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses is expanding. 

By embracing opportunities for professional growth, staying up-to-date on emerging trends, and advocating for mental health equity, psychiatric nurse practitioners can contribute to positive outcomes for both patients and communities.

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