Online Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs

A psychiatric nurse practitioner has training in mental health and psychiatric treatment. Other requirements include becoming an RN and earning an MSN degree. Each of the following schools offers at least one online MSN degree program.

RN to MSN MSN: Education MSN: Informatics MSN: Leadership	Walden University -- At Walden, students rave over the variety of MSN degrees offered, including the RN to MSN, MSN - Informatics, MSN - Education, and MSN - Leadership. The MSN in Informatics program combines nursing with computer science, the MSN in Education incorporates teaching skills, and the MSN in Leadership & Management prepares nurses for management level positions.
MSN: Clinical Leadership	St. Xavier University -- At St. Xavier, the College of Nursing's mission is to serve the students they teach. The MSN in Clinical Leadership is a master's level degree program that will prepares nurses for careers in clinical leadership roles throughout the healthcare system.
MSN: Education MSN: Education Bridge	Capella University -- Capella University's MSN in Nurse Education program and RN to MSN bridge in Nurse Education meet the field's demands for excellent nurse educators. Capella University has responded to the call by offering students a curriculum that will teach advanced knowledge of educating nursing theory and practice.
MSN: Administration MSN: Education	Kaplan University -- The Kaplan University Master of Science in Nursing programs in nursing administration and nursing education provide students an advanced study of the science of nursing. Courses include Advanced Nursing Roles, Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing, and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in a Diverse Community.
MSN: Acute Care	Liberty University -- Accelerate your career with the MSN - Acute Care degree from Liberty University. The degree allows for Registered Nurses to prepare for practice as clinical nurse specialists with concentrations in acute care. The curriculum will emphasizes clinical practice and the real world application of nursing.
MSN: Education MSN: Leadership MSN/MBA: Leadership	Grand Canyon University -- The MSN - Nurse Education, MSN - Nurse Leadership, and MSN/MBA - Leadership degree programs from Grand Canyon University are targeted at giving current nurses the tools they need to become leaders in healthier. Whether your focus is education or management, Grand Canyon has the resources to get your where you want to be.
MSN: Adult Psych Care	Drexel University -- The MSN - Adult Psychiatric Care degree from Drexel University features a curriculum geared to transform general nurses and RNs into psychiatric nures practitioners. Courses are offered online, yet the college is affiliated with one of the finest teaching hospitals in the U.S.
Accelerated RN to MSN Accel MSN: Adult Health Accel MSN: Education	South University -- The South University MSN program prepares registered nurses for the next level of nursing. The format of the program allows nurses to pursue their education goals while continuing their job. The curriculum has been developed to develop clinical teaching skills and modern research skills. Specializations are available in adult health nursing and nursing education.
RN to MSN MSN: Education MSN: Leadership	Gonzaga University -- Gonzaga University offers several MSN degrees, including the General MSN, MSN Nurse Education, and MSN Nurse Leadership. Courses are developed to examine ground-breaking theory in the field for today's relevant research and development. Graduates work throughout the healthcare system.
MS in Nursing	Benedictine University -- The MS in Nursing at Benedictine University features an online format that meets the demands of today's working nurse. The curriculum offers core courses that build the skills necessary to lead, educate, and administer in health care while also providing the opportunity to specialize.
MSN: Education	Graceland University -- The Graceland University MSN - Nurse Education features an outstanding faculty and dynamic curriculum that empowers nurses to take that next step into becoming educators to the next generation. The curriculum offers creative educational methodologies that bring the real world of nursing into the classroom.
See all schools that offer Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner degrees ...

What is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?

A psychiatric nurse practitioner can be a rewarding career that helps you touch patient’s lives and help them in their journey of self-growth. For those interested in mental health and caring for patients, as well as teaching them how to care for themselves, a career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner is rewarding. This position is also referred to as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner or PMNP. This sector of the medical field is set for substantial growth when it comes to career opportunities, as the government attempts to improve mental health resources for the public. Because being a psychiatric nurse practitioner is a limited position that does not allow much room for growth, those who obtain a job as a psychiatric nurse practitioner tend to stay at the same job for years. This is not a job where employees move around a lot. Most stay at the same doctor’s office or clinic for a number of years after being hired.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner must start with a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree can often qualify you for a fast-paced nursing program that allows you to start practicing within a year. Check with your state’s requirements to see if there’s a program in your area that allows you to move at this accelerated pace. If you do not have a medical background, this accelerated program may be difficult. You will be learning many basic parts of nursing and also have an emphasis on psychiatry and handling patients suffering from many issues. This prepares you to sit for the NCLEX-RN. This is an exam that every nurse in the country must take in order to begin practicing in any capacity. After passing the NCLEX-RN, you will apply for a masters in nursing.

Nurse Practitioner Programs

While a nurse practitioner does not have all of the same responsibilities as a doctor, he or she goes to extensive training (typically an additional 6-10 years) and classes to put them in a position to handle clients as effectively. A masters in nursing requires extensive hours of clinical work. In most states, it is at least 600 hours, which prepares you for the daily pressure and situations you’ll encounter on the job. In 2015, many universities are introducing a doctorate in nurse practice (DNP) that aspiring nurse practitioners will be able to apply for to complete their studies.

Your nursing program should be in the same state you wish to practice in. That will ensure you’re being prepped for that state’s regulations and protocol when dealing with patients. This is especially important in the mental health realm where laws vary by state. What also varies are the certification exams that must be passed to become a licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner. In a nurse practitioner program you will learn the basics of mental health, the causes and the known treatments. The medical field is all about technology, so you should be comfortable working with computers and the latest software, as well as have the compassion to relate to human beings who need serious medical attention.

All psychiatric nurse practitioners must complete continuing education courses on a regular basis to keep their license and continue to work. Continuing education classes and periodic testing for renewal of a license are common practice for those working in the medical field such as doctors, nurses and EMTs. A psychiatric nurse practitioner is licensed to diagnose a patient as well as administer and prescribe medical drugs. The average salary for a psychiatric nurse practitioner is $95,000. In late 2010, psychiatric nurse practitioners were ranked 3rd for the highest paying nurse specialty in the medical field.

Where Can I Work as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?

Psychiatric nurse practitioners can work in a variety of settings and with many different client groups. Depending on area of specialty and geographic region, options for psychiatric nurse practitioners are practically endless. Licenses and certification are other factors that influence where psychiatric nurse practitioners work. These professional settings may include:

Hospital: Many hospitals have a psychiatric nurse practitioner on site 24 hours a day. This ensures that the needs of a patient is being met should he or she need psychiatric help. There are many reasons a mentally sound person may need a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Patients are often overwhelmed with anxiety if they are going into surgery soon or have experienced a traumatic event. A psychiatric nurse practitioner is trained to handle these events and more qualified than a nurse who only has standard healthcare training.
Nursing Home: Some nursing homes cater to the elderly who suffer from mental problems. A psychiatric nurse practitioner is usually on duty to help calm a patient and give drugs if needed. Some psychiatric nurse practitioners may also have a background in gerontology, which is the study of the elderly and their needs. A psychiatric nurse practitioner working in a nursing home should have a positive, upbeat attitude and patience. Working with elderly patients can be emotionally and physically exhausting. You should also be physically fit as you may have to lift patients or walk around with them extensively to build a relationship of trust that will benefit them when seeking treatment.
Mental Health Facility: This may be a secured ward or a voluntary mental health facility. You will be helping patients on a daily basis and build a treatment system that will benefit their mental health. In this position, it is imperative you’re compassionate and encouraging. For some patients, you will have to prepare them for the outside world. This can be an overwhelming idea for patients as they grow accustomed to living in one place and not going out for long durations of time. You will monitor a patient’s developments and gauge when the patient is ready to move on to a new step in the treatment regimen or ready to be free to stop treatment all together.
Patient homes: Some patients may require a psychiatric nurse practitioner to visit them at home. This may be a weekly or monthly visit. Typically this will happen with a patient has someone at home to care for them and is not considered a threat to themselves or to others. You will stop by periodically to ensure any drug treatment is being followed properly and to provide moral support for the patient and family.

In addition to these settings, psychiatric nurse practitioners can also work in the education sector. They can teach classes and train other nurses how to perform certain tasks. Depending on your area of interest, you can find employment in many different capacities. Psychiatric nurse practitioners program help students discover what’s best for them. Our list of accredited programs below will link you to more details about program offerings.