Career Profile: Psychiatric Nurse

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.

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

Arizona Schools
	Phoenix - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
	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
	Tucson / Southern Arizona - Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

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

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

Connecticut Schools
	Hamden , New Britain - Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)

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

Georgia Schools
	Atlanta - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required
	Columbus * - MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Hawaii Schools
	Honolulu - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Iowa Schools
	Cedar Falls , Cedar Rapids , Des Moines , Mason City - Practical Nursing
	Davenport - Nursing

Louisiana Schools
	Baton Rouge - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Michigan Schools
	Grand Rapids - Practical Nurse
	Detroit - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
	Grand Rapids - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
	Portage / West Michigan - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Missouri Schools
	St. Charles - Diploma in Practical Nursing, Associate in Nursing

Nebraska Schools
	Lincoln , Omaha - Practical Nursing

New Jersey Schools
	Wayne - Nurses Aid

New Mexico Schools
	Albuquerque - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Ohio Schools
	Cleveland - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Oklahoma Schools
	Oklahoma City - BS in Nursing (RN Required)
	Tulsa - BS in Nursing (RN Required)

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

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

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