Psychiatric Nursing - Is It Your Calling?

It's common today to talk openly about our illnesses in general, but it’s still not easy to talk about mental illnesses. So it’s no wonder that there are few people interested in the field of psychiatric nursing. Therefore, the field is wide open to anyone with nursing aptitude who is interested in psychiatry and would like to be a nurse. Besides the lack of interest in the field, the nursing shortage is also contributing to the deficiency of psychiatric nurses.

If you have made a decision that you would like to study and become a psychiatric nurse, there are some things you should become familiar with before you get started. It will help you to know the details of what you are facing, and what the specifics of the job are. After reading this article, you will be much more prepared if this is your interest.

To start with, you should do is find a good registered nurse education program. There are many good nursing schools out there, and you will have to complete either a two-year associate degree program in nursing, a three-year diploma in nursing, or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing at a university. Make sure the program you choose will make you eligible to sit for your state’s registered nurse board examination for licensing once you have graduated.

Your nursing education may offer you an opportunity to study psychiatric nursing or to observe (or intern) in a psychiatric setting. You can also do volunteer work in a psychiatric atmosphere and actually work with patients with psychiatric conditions. Afterwards, if you still feel it’s your calling, and you have the communication skills and compassion to deal with psychiatric patients, you must get formal education in behavioral science if you have not done so already.

By now, I'm sure you can see that this is not a career decision to take lightly. 

Sometimes nurses who wish to specialize to a high level return to school for more advanced degrees. If you are considering becoming a psychiatric nurse, you may want to have the strong education that comes from the master’s degree in psychiatric nursing. Most psychiatric nurses have obtained this education.

Remember that there are two levels of care for the psychiatric nurse. In clinical practice, there is basic and advanced care. In the basic level, you would be working with patients as individuals, or in groups or communities. You would evaluate mental health needs, and develop nursing diagnoses as well as care plans.

The second level of care is reserved for the Advance Practice Registered Nurse, or APRN. These nurses have the master’s degree in psychiatric and mental health nursing, and have the role of Nurse Practitioner or Clinic Nurse Specialist. In addition to the basic level of psychiatric nursing care, the APRN also diagnoses and treats people or families, and act as psychotherapists and consultants. Often they serve as educators and case managers, as well as administrators.