Increases in the demand for mental health services — coupled with a shortage of mental health professionals — are challenging our healthcare system.
A 2023 report by research firm the RAND Corporation found that between March 2020 and August 2022, a sample of 7 million U.S. adults who had employer-provided health insurance increased their use of mental health services by 39%. Additionally, as of November 2023, more than 165 million people in the U.S. were living in areas that suffered from shortages of mental health professionals, according to health policy organization KFF.
Expanding the number of medical professionals who have the expertise to treat mental health needs can help address these challenges. Among those medical professionals are psychiatric nurses, whose work is critical to helping patients improve their mental health.
It’s advantageous for anyone who is interested in enrolling in a nursing school program to become familiar with how to become a psychiatric nurse and what the profession entails
What Does a Psychiatric Nurse Do?
Psychiatric nurses provide services to patients who have mental illnesses or substance use disorders. They are instrumental in identifying interventions to help their patients achieve positive health outcomes. These interventions strive to:
Enable patients to build or restore their ability to cope with mental health issues
Teach living skills that can help patients address their mental health issues
Show patients how to manage their symptoms
Help patients by preventing further disability related to mental illness
Psychiatric nurses perform specific responsibilities such as:
Obtaining information from patients regarding their medical history, lifestyles, and symptoms
Conducting diagnostic tests
Assessing and diagnosing patients
Developing and overseeing patient care plans
Counseling patients about coping with mental illness
Administering medication
Providing services related to crisis intervention
Those who become psychiatric nurses can work in a variety of settings, including:
Community and public health centers
Hospitals
Long-term care facilities
Medical practices
Schools
Substance use treatment programs
Telemedicine providers
Steps to Become a Psychiatric Nurse
Knowing how to become a psychiatric nurse is important for anyone who may be exploring careers in the field. The steps involved in entering the profession are outlined below.
1. Earn a Nursing Degree or Diploma, Pass the NCLEX, and Become a Registered Nurse
The first step on the path to becoming a psychiatric nurse involves earning a degree or diploma. This then enables graduates to become registered nurses (RNs). To do this, individuals first need do one of the following:
Earn a nursing diploma from a hospital-based nursing program
Earn an associate degree in nursing
Earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing
After earning the required degree or diploma, an individual can take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. After passing the NCLEX, individuals then apply to the licensing boards in the states where they want to practice to obtain licensure as a registered nurse.
2. Develop Key Skills
After becoming a registered nurse, it’s important for an individual who aspires to work as a psychiatric nurse to cultivate certain skills. For example, psychiatric nurses benefit from having strong skills in areas such as:
Communication. Interacting with patients and their families is a significant part of a psychiatric nurse’s job, so being able to communicate well and listen effectively to a variety of people is a valuable skill.
Empathy. The ability to demonstrate empathy is important in building trusting relationships with patients who have mental health issues and supporting them through their treatment.
Critical thinking. Psychiatric nurses should possess the critical thinking skills to recognize each patient’s unique needs and identify the best treatment plans to meet those needs.
Problem solving. Skills in problem solving enable psychiatric nurses to help patients who may be apprehensive or reticent about beginning a treatment plan.
Patience. Working with individuals who have mental health conditions requires psychiatric nurses to exercise patience and remain professional in challenging situations.
3. Gain Work Experience
Individuals who are interested in entering psychiatric nursing need to fulfill work experience requirements to become certified as a psychiatric-mental health nurse. For example, to be eligible to take the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) exam from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), registered nurses need to have completed:
Two years of full-time work experience as a registered nurse
At least 2,000 hours of clinical psychiatric-mental health nursing within the three years leading up to the exam
4. Earn PMH-BC Certification
To earn the PMH-BC certification, registered nurses who have the required work experience must complete 30 hours of continuing education in psychiatric-mental health nursing. RNs must have completed those hours within the three years leading up to taking the PMH-BC exam.
After passing the exam, RNs receive their PMH-BC certification, which must be renewed every five years.
5. Continue Professional Development
It is critical for psychiatric nurses to continue to enhance their expertise and learn about new developments in their field. In addition, to renew their PMH-BC certifications, RNs must complete 75 hours of continuing education that meets the requirements of the ANCC.
Psychiatric nurses also can pursue career advancement by becoming psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). This requires earning a graduate degree such as a master of science in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice degree (DNP), passing a certification exam, and becoming licensed as a nurse practitioner.
Job Outlook for Psychiatric Nurses
A nationwide shortage of nurses translates into a bright employment outlook for psychiatric nurses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the U.S. healthcare system will have an average of 193,100 openings for registered nurses each year from 2022 through 2032. For psychiatrist nurses in particular, the ongoing shortage of mental health providers, especially in rural areas, reflects a significant need for healthcare professionals who bring mental health expertise.
Statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also help illustrate the reasons nurses with mental health expertise could be in demand. For example:
More than 1 in 5 adults living in the U.S. have a mental illness.
More than 1 in 5 children from ages 13 to 18 either currently are experiencing or will experience a mental illness considered to be seriously debilitating.
Psychiatric Nursing: An Opportunity to Make a Significant Contribution to Healthcare
Knowing how to become a psychiatric nurse is the first step on the path to a rewarding career that can offer a meaningful sense of fulfillment. Helping patients improve their mental health is a great way for nurses to use their expertise. Individuals who are interested in pursuing nursing education can explore nursing school programs at Fortis to learn how those programs can help them achieve their goals.
With practical nursing and Associate Degree in Nursing programs — as well as an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offered in partnership with the Denver College of Nursing (DCN) — Fortis provides options for nurses wherever they are on their career path.
Recommended Readings
Finding Your Nursing Niche
How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse?
Why You Should Consider Becoming a Psychiatric Nurse