Compassionate care and treatment of those experiencing acute or chronic mental health conditions requires more than a single psychologist or physician. In many cases, treatment of mental illnesses can encompass an expansive team of professionals working in unison with one another to ensure those experiencing mental health symptoms are cared for and treated. Those responsible to support and assist with this level of care are psychiatric registered nurses.
Start, enhance, or advance a career in nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Providence. Built around the patient-centered care model, graduates of UP’s nursing degrees are not only ready to sit for National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) but possess a foundational understanding of nursing practice and are equipped with the tools and skills needed to deliver quality, compassionate nursing care across all lifespans.
What is a Psychiatric Registered Nurse?
Psychiatric registered nurses, or psychiatric mental health nurses, are licensed registered nurses who are trained and certified in the treatment of patients experiencing mental health conditions.
What does a Psychiatric RN do?
While the day-to-day responsibilities of a psychiatric registered nurse can vary based on the type and location of employment, those who choose the psych nurse career path will find that many of their core duties will align with that of a traditional registered nurse but within the scope of mental health and psychiatric care. Psych RNs work with a variety of different providers, such as social workers, psychiatrists, med providers, physicians, and other nurses to treat patients experiencing mental health symptoms or crisis. Psychiatric registered nurses often serve as the intermediary between different providers, and work with all providers and clinicians to ensure treatment.
Common job requirements include:
- Assess and monitor a patients physical and mental health
- Administer medications and other nursing care based on the patient’s treatment plan
- Document progression or regression in patients’ mental health
- Administer and support with diagnostic testing and psychiatric treatment
- Inform patients families and providers of patient progress in treatments
Where do Psychiatric Registered Nurses Work?
There are many opportunities available for psychiatric registered nurses both inside and outside of hospital care settings. While psychiatric RNs primarily work in psychiatric units of hospitals, they can also be found in a variety of other clinical care and mental healthcare settings. With a greater focus being placed on mental health awareness and care within the last decade, these locations have only expanded to include other non-traditional locations in and out of traditional settings.
Common work locations include:
- Hospital emergency rooms, mental health centers, and psychiatric units
- Private or public community health and wellness centers
- Long-term or in-patient mental healthcare centers
- Behavioral health and substance abuse centers or facilities
- State and federal penitentiary, courts and other criminal justice institutions
How to Become a Psychiatric RN
Becoming a psychiatric registered nurse includes elements of academic and vocational training and education, with most psychiatric nurses following the same pathway into the field. While the duration and time of completion will vary based on the specific program, many psych RNs will earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited university, secure RN licensure through NCLEX, and gain experience in nursing before pursuing professional certification, as many of the leading psychiatric registered nurse paths require a certain number of hours in experience prior to certification. When choosing where to receive certification, it is important to understand what the certification provides and the specific credentials that will be received.
A common certification many psych RNs pursue is the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. However, there are other options available through other nursing certification bodies.
Common psychiatric nurse career path includes:
- Earning a high school diploma or GED
- Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Secure licensure by passing the NCLEX-RN exam
- Gain experience working as a registered nurse (preferably in a psychiatric care setting)
- Earn psychiatric nurse certification
Psychiatric RN Career Path
Not only does the psychiatric registered nurse career path provide extensive opportunities within the registered nursing profession, it opens the door to new and exciting opportunities in advanced practice nursing and doctoral nursing practice both in clinical, educational, and administrative practice. Those who have a passion for mental healthcare and want to advance beyond the psychiatric registered nurse profession can pursue positions such as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) or psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist (PMHCNS). These positions allow for a more advanced and dynamic approach to the field.
Learn more about how a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Online RN-BSN bridge program can lead to or build upon a career in psychiatric nursing by visiting the nursing program page.
