Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse Practitioner / CNS Programs
(found 162 programs from 105 schools)

Listed below are all of the schools in the US offering accredited Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing (PMH) programs at the Masters degree level.

Show me all the Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse Practitioner / CNS programs in:

Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurses (which, at the Masters level, are certified as either Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Nurse Specialists) provide a wide range of care and treatment to individual patients or groups of patients suffering from mental illnesses, as well as their families and communities. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses can also specialize in distinct populations, such as Adult, Child, or Adolescent, or in areas such as Substance Abuse or Forensics.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), with over 6,000 members, is the leading professional association for psychiatric / mental health nurses. There’s also a good background article on Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing on the Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow website.

What Does A Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or CNS Actually Do?

Advanced Practice Nurses (NP or CNS) with a Psychiatric / Mental Health specialization are responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating a range of psychiatric issues. Because of the complexity and multi-dimensional nature of psychiatric issues, the specialty requires nurses to develop expertise in a number of different, inter-related areas - such as biology, pharmacology, sociology, and psychology.

Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurses practice in many different settings - from traditional healthcare settings like hospitals and clinics, to homes, offices, and others. They can practice independently, and in many states they can prescribe medication as well.

How Do I Become A Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?

The first step in becoming a Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is, of course, to find an accredited Masters of Science in Nursing program with a Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks. Fortunately, these are plentiful. There are a number of online options available as well.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center is the primary certification body for Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists. You will be able to take the appropriate certification exam at the end of your degree program. As always, make sure to check with the Board of Nursing in the state where you intend to practice, for any state specific requirements. While you can become a Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse without an MSN (as long as you are an RN, of course - the ANCC offers certification for Psychiatric & Mental Health RNs), the Masters level certification brings with it many additional responsibilities, including the ability to practice independently.