Medical Career Training
Call TOLL FREE: 800-927-1248
 
Certified Nurse Assistant
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Emergency Room Nurse
Forensic Nurse
Geriatric Nurse
Home Nurse
Hospital RN
Legal Nurse Consultant
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
Neonatal Nurse
Nurse-Midwife
Nurse Practitioner
Oncology Nurse
Operating Room Nurse
Parish Nurse
Pediatric Nurse
Psychiatric Nurse
Registered Nurse (RN)
Trauma Nurse
Traveling Nurse


Nursing

See Available Psychiatric Nurse Schools

Psychiatric nurses provide care for psychiatric mental health patients. Psychiatric nursing has its roots in the late 19th century when it became common for psychiatric patients to receive nursing care. Since then, psychiatric mental-health nursing has developed into a field of its own, expanding and adapting to fit the changing needs of the mental health community. There are two levels of psychiatric nursing today--basic and advanced. Basic care nurses work with individuals, families, groups and communities to assess mental health needs, develop ways to diagnose mental health illnesses, and formulate a care plan for these patients. They provide care for patients by assisting with self-care, administering and monitoring treatment regimens, educating the patient, and crisis intervention and counseling.

Advanced psychiatric nurses, who must obtain a master’s or doctorate in psychiatric nursing, can be certified as specialists in adult, child, or adolescent psychiatric nursing. Some other psychiatric specialties include geriatric, substance abuse, eating disorders, and forensic, which require their own certification. In addition to care services provided by the basic psychiatric nurse, advanced practitioners assess, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders. In some states they have the authority to prescribe medication, and are qualified to practice independently to offer direct care services through agencies, communities, homes, or hospitals.

Psychiatric nurses work in various settings, such as hospitals, community-based or home health care programs, local, state and federal mental health agencies, military, prison, home health agencies, or primary care offices. Their schedules can also vary due to the nature of the job, and they often work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as well as overtime. Their salaries vary, but a basic psychiatric nurse can expect to make between $25,000 and $47,000, while an advanced psychiatric nurse can expect to make between $50,000 and $70,000.

In order to become a psychiatric nurse, an RN needs to take specialized education courses and have experience working with psychiatric patients before becoming certified. If they wish to become an advanced psychiatric nurse, they must also gain their master’s or doctorate in psychiatric nursing.

For more information, see Registered Nurse.

Online
University of Phoenix Online - RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, MS in Nursing, Master of Health Administration
Kaplan University - BS in Nursing, Continuing Education in Legal Nurse Consulting, Forensic Nursing, Life Care Planning, and Case Management
Walden University - Master of Science in Nursing

Arizona
University of Phoenix - Phoenix - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix - Ft. Huachuca / Southern Arizona - BS in Nursing (RN Required), Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Informatics Certificate, School Nurse Certificate
University of Phoenix - Tucson / Southern Arizona - Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

California
Everest College - Anaheim - Vocational Nursing
Career Networks Institute - Costa Mesa - Vocational Nursing
Maric College - Vista / North County , San Diego - Certificate: Vocational Nursing, Certificate: Nurse Assistant Training Program
University of Phoenix - Fresno / Central Valley - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Southern California - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix - Sacramento - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix - San Diego - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/MBA/Health Care Management
University of Phoenix - San Francisco - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
West Coast University - Los Angeles - Associate: Nursing

Colorado
University of Phoenix - Aurora - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Colorado Springs * - Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Connecticut
Lincoln Technical Institute - Hamden , New Britain - Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)

Florida
Angley College - DeLand - Nursing Assistant
Keiser College - Kendall , Lakeland , Melbourne , Sarasota , Tallahassee , West Palm Beach - Nursing
University of Phoenix - Orlando - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Jacksonville - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Fort Lauderdale - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Tampa - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
Virginia College - Pensacola - Practical Nursing (Diploma)

Georgia
University of Phoenix - Atlanta - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Columbus * - MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Hawaii
University of Phoenix - Honolulu - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Iowa
Hamilton College - Cedar Falls , Cedar Rapids , Des Moines , Mason City - Practical Nursing
Kaplan University - Davenport - Nursing

Louisiana
University of Phoenix - Baton Rouge - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Michigan
Everest Institute - Grand Rapids - Practical Nurse
University of Phoenix - Detroit - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Grand Rapids - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Portage / West Michigan - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Missouri
Sanford-Brown College - St. Charles - Diploma in Practical Nursing, Associate in Nursing

Nebraska
Hamilton College - Lincoln , Omaha - Practical Nursing

New Jersey
CDM Institute - Wayne - Nurses Aid

New Mexico
University of Phoenix - Albuquerque - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Ohio
University of Phoenix - Cleveland - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Oklahoma
University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City - BS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Tulsa - BS in Nursing (RN Required)

Texas
Texas Careers - San Antonio - Nurse's Aide, Vocational Nursing

Utah
University of Phoenix - Salt Lake City - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
Utah Career College - West Jordan - Nursing

Virginia
ECPI - Newport News , Northern Virginia , Manassas , Glen Allen , Roanoke - Practical Nursing
Medical Careers Institute - Virginia Beach , Richmond , Newport News - Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing

* Program Availability Varies By Location and Often Changes. To get the most up-to-date information, use the links we provide to request additional information from a local campus representative.