Millions of people experience mental health problems each year. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 21% of adults, or 52.9 million people, in the U.S. experienced mental illness in 2020. In the same year, 46.2% of these received mental illness treatment.
Psychiatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are at the forefront of this area of healthcare and are specially trained with the skills needed to identify and treat people who are suffering from mental health issues. Nurse practitioner (NP) is also one of the fastest-growing fields in the U.S. at this time, with projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showing NPs will be the number one fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. over the next decade.
PNPs are also in high demand in the U.S. at this time due to the mental health crisis facing the country coupled with a shortage of experienced professionals. With ample job opportunities in a variety of different settings, the role of a PNP has never been so highly sought after. One of the ways to become a PNP is through a direct entry masters nursing online program. In this article, we will look more closely at the role of a PNP and what it entails.
What Does a PNP Do?
PNPs are responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and recommending treatment plans for patients with various mental health disorders. Some of the most common mental health issues PNPs treat include anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
PNPs will carry out their duties through studying patient medical histories, performing psychiatric evaluations and working alongside doctors, psychiatrists and other health professionals. Some of the day-to-day duties of a PNP may include the following:
- Monitoring patients’ ability to take care of themselves and function independently
- Diagnosing mental health illnesses in their patients based on their symptoms and behaviors
- Helping patients maintain mental and physical health through exercise and nutrition
- Assessing patients’ for their mental, social, and emotional fitness
- Engaging in crisis intervention and psychiatric rehabilitation
- Teaching self-care activities and helping patients cultivate healthier and more positive thinking and behaviors
- Helping patients overcome substance misuse
- Develop outreach programs to educate and help communities better understand those who suffer from mental illness.
In addition to the above, NPs can also play an instrumental role in health care reform and policy development relating to mental health issues. Some of the opportunities for affecting change include the following:
- Influencing public policy development
- Advocating for people who need psychiatric care
- Engaging in healthcare initiatives in different organizations and settings
- Lobbying for legislative changes that will benefit their field and their patients
PNP Salary
The high demand for NPs in this field also translates into a higher earning potential for practitioners with the average PNP salary being $126,390 per year. This enables nursing in this field to enjoy financial job security as they provide invaluable mental health treatment to their patients and communities.
PNPs make a positive difference to the lives of those struggling with mental illness. The high demand and high salaries allow practitioners in this field to deliver much-needed healthcare while pursuing a rewarding and fulfilling profession.
