An Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse (APPN) is a licensed and certified mental health professional who provides comprehensive care to patients suffering from mental health disorders. They work in collaboration with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other healthcare providers to provide a wide range of services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders. APPNs can also provide medication management and therapy, as well as conduct psychological evaluations. They also may also play an important role in the prevention, early identification and treatment of mental health disorders. APPNs are trained to work with patients of all ages and with a wide range of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, community health centers, private practice, and schools. They are responsible for providing a continuity of care, and coordinate care between different healthcare providers to ensure the best outcomes for their patients. Advanced practice psychiatric nurses play an essential role in the mental health care system, providing essential care and support to individuals and families affected by mental health disorders.

What Does An Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse Do?

Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses are licensed and certified mental health professionals who provide comprehensive care to patients suffering from mental health disorders. They work in collaboration with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other healthcare providers to provide a wide range of services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders. They also may also play an important role in the prevention, early identification and treatment of mental health disorders.

How To Become An Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse?

To become an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse, one must first become a registered nurse and have a current nursing license. Then, one must complete a graduate-level education in a psychiatric-mental health nursing program and pass the certification exam for APPNs. Continuing education and certification maintenance is also required to maintain the certification.
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Education

Bachelor's degree
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Average Salary

$123,249
Average Experience Icon

Avg. Experience

3-4 years
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Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse Career Paths

A career as an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse typically begins with becoming a registered nurse and gaining experience in the field. After completing a graduate-level education in psychiatric-mental health nursing and passing the certification exam, one can work as an APPN in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, community health centers, private practice, and schools. With experience and additional training, one may also move into leadership roles such as director of mental health services or research and education positions. Some APPNs also choose to open their own private practice, or consult with organizations to improve mental health policies and practices.

Average Salary for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse

An Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse makes $123,249 per year on average, or $59.25 per hour, in the United States. The bottom 10% make about $105,383 a year, while the top 10% make about $153,732.

Highest Paying States

California

$156,363 Yearly

Alaska

$143,212 Yearly

Hawaii

$140,404 Yearly

Texas

$137,469 Yearly

Virginia

$136,859 Yearly

Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse Education

The most common degrees for an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse are Bachelor's degree (57.45% of jobs require this), Master's degree (33.69%), Doctoral or Professional degree (7.19%).

Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse Degrees

Bachelor's degree 57.45%
Master's degree 33.69%
Doctoral or Professional degree 7.19%
High school 1.1%
Associate's degree 0.56%
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