Psychiatric Nurses
Psychiatric nurses are registered nurses with specialized training in mental health, often holding degrees such as a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or an associate degree in nursing (ADN). They typically work in psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, correctional facilities, and residential treatment centers. Additionally, they may work in private practice or provide home-based care.
They build therapeutic relationships with clients, provide psychological therapy, administer psychiatric medications, and manage challenging behaviors related to mental health conditions. Psychiatric nurse practitioners can prescribe medications similar to psychiatrists when they’re not available or cost-effective for an individual.
A study found that only about 5.2% of nursing students had “definitely decided” on choosing psychiatric nursing as a specialty, indicating a challenge in attracting students to this field. Efforts to address stigma and anxiety related to mental illness could make psychiatric nursing more attractive and improve recruitment rates in the mental health field.
