An Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) is a registered nurse who has attained a higher level of education and experience in health care delivery. An assessment to achieve the status of an ANP takes place at the Masters level. ANPs play a significant role in a specialized healthcare setting. The nurses’ prescriptive authority allows them to contribute to the provision of better healthcare. They can conduct medical assessments and prescribe treatment for patients with complex problems (Drew, 2014, 299). ANPs that pursue further education in mental health requires a high level of expertise and skills to improve patients’ experiences. An advanced psychiatric nurse assesses and diagnoses mental illness, and outlines an appropriate treatment plan to handle the patient’s condition. The health practitioner is thus required to pursue an advanced nursing course as it improves the competency levels and increases his or her career prospects.

An advanced psychiatric nurse is responsible for the provision of mental health care services. The primary purpose of pursuing an advanced nursing role is to gain skills and competencies that enable caregivers to tend to patients with complex needs. Therefore, education offers an excellent opportunity for a nurse to acquire skills that are useful in the nursing field (Drew, 2014, 299). Advanced psychiatry nurses have theoretical, scientific, and clinical knowledge that enable them to attend to mental health patients of all ages. Participation in several psychotherapeutic treatment modalities equips the nurses with the experience and ability to treat the mentally ill patients.

Reasons for Pursuing an Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Role

Pursuing a psychiatry nursing role has several advantages. Attaining certification increases a nurse’s career prospects as employers prefer highly qualified personnel. Besides, it improves practitioners’ understanding of critical concepts in the field of psychiatry. Nurses also enjoy better pay and autonomy. Thus, the program offers nurses a platform to lead, and improve service care delivery (“Institute of Medicine (US),” 2011, 5). Personal and professional growth empowers practitioners to nurture and practice leadership skills. Thus, it is an excellent opportunity for nurses to build and expand their knowledge and career bases.

Requirements

A master’s prepared nurse must meet several requirements before enrolling for the program. For instance, he or she should provide certification in another field of study. Students who qualify for the application must be accredited nurse practitioners. The purpose of the psychiatry study is to expand learners’ scope of practice. Thus, the program enables nurses to gain theoretical and practical knowledge required to offer psychiatric health services to patients. The educational curriculum emphasizes core courses such as advanced pharmacology, physical assessment, psychotherapy, and pathophysiology (Drew, 2014, 298). The program requires the student to complete 500 supervised clinical hours. Upon completion, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certifies successful graduates. The practitioner must, therefore, meet the various standards before undertaking the course.

Role of an Advanced Psychiatric Nurse

Mental health care delivery has transitioned from the traditional hospital-based model to a modernized approach. The change has had an impact on the duties of an advanced psychiatric nurse. The primary task of the nurse is to provide healthcare delivery to mentally ill persons. Thus, the nurse has a responsibility to assess patients, diagnose mental illness, and interpret the data obtained from the analysis (Drew, 2014, 298). As the primary caregiver, the practitioner outlines an appropriate treatment plan to handle or control the condition. During treatment, the nurse prescribes medication when necessary. He or she focuses on promoting the recovery of the client through proper management of their health status. Thus, the nurse is responsible for disease prevention and patient wellbeing.

Besides direct responsibility to the patient, an advanced psychiatric nurse has to liaise with other professionals and patient’s family members. The practitioner establishes a proper communication system to ensure that a mentally ill individual has the right support network and standard of care (Heisler & Bagalman, 2014, 4). The nurse gathers data from patient’s screenings, consult other healthcare providers, and assess feedback from family members. Through consultations, the nurse ensures that the patient receives appropriate treatment procedures. The nurse also has a responsibility to develop an attitude that positively impacts the quality of care (Adshead, Collier, & Kennedy, 2015, 104). As the manager of the psychiatric services delivered to their clients, the nurses have to create an environment that offers the necessary support. For instance, the practitioner may assume the role of therapist to promote patient wellness. Thus, an advanced psychiatric nurse ensures patients obtain proper care.

Impact on the Nurse’s Career Advancement

An advanced practice role can impact the registered nurse career advancement. Participating in education activities enables the caregivers to acquire competencies required to attend to the needs of the population. Possession of appropriate aptitudes attracts employers, thus increasing job opportunities for the practitioner. The professional skill of the nurse implies that they can tend to the present and future health issues of the people (“Institute of Medicine (US),” 2011, 5). Besides, undertaking an advanced practice role shows one’s commitment to lifelong learning. Taking part in education programs allows a nurse to sharpen his or her skills and understanding through practice and research activities. Knowledge acquired in the process makes an individual a valuable asset. Hence, he or she will have more prospects of securing employment or promotion in the workplace. Such a person can also serve in a managerial capacity.

An advanced practice role increases a practitioner’s career prospects through the education and leadership programs offered. Attaining higher education provides a platform for nurses to initiate and implement crucial changes in the healthcare sector. Taking responsibility and fulfilling continuing education requirements for advanced psychiatric nurses leads to better job prospects (“Institute of Medicine (US),” 2011, 5). For instance, a qualified practitioner can work in diverse areas such as policy or educational settings. Therefore, it eliminates the responsibility of serving in patient-facing duties only. The certification also empowers nurses to negotiate for better compensation packages. They can leverage the extra knowledge, skill, and expertise associated with advanced levels of education to ask for favorable wages. Besides, their cutting edge competencies distinguish them from other prospective employees.

In conclusion, advanced practice nurses possess knowledge and competencies that enable them to perform comprehensive medical assessments and treatment of patients with complex healthcare needs. An advanced psychiatric nurse uses the competency to meet the needs of mentally ill patients. Such practitioners play a significant role in delivery mental health services. Given their level of skill and autonomy, an advanced psychiatric nurse is a manager in charge of the welfare of the mentally ill. The nurse undertakes duties such as diagnosis and designing of treatment plans for the patients. They also utilize their therapy skills to promote the wellbeing of their clients. Besides, the nurse facilitates communication with other professionals and the family in support of the patient’s welfare. Considering the numerous responsibilities accorded to an ANP, pursuing an advanced nursing role increases one’s career prospects.

References

Adshead, S., Collier, E., & Kennedy, S. (2015). A literature review exploring the preparation of mental health nurses for working with people with learning disability and mental illness. Nurse Education in Practice, 15(2), 103-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.01.004

Drew, B. L. (2014). The evolution of the role of the psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurse in the United States. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 28(5),  298-300. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2014.07.002

Heisler, E. J., & Bagalman, E. (2014). The mental health workforce: A primer. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2217&context=key_workplace

Institute of Medicine (US). Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

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