An MSN in Psychiatric Nursing is a great way to advance your nursing career! In recent years the US has experienced a demand for Mental Health workers. This increase is due to many factors. Both the normalization of mental health as an essential health care need and the increased coverage of mental health services from insurance companies have contributed to the increased use of mental health services.
Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic stressed both primary care centers and mental health centers. However, we have a shortage of mental health workers in this country. Therefore, students interested in mental health and nursing should consider becoming Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (PMH-APRNs) or a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioners hold the credentials of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). These highly educated medical professionals practice following high-quality licensing standards. A PMH-NP possesses expertise in the areas of nursing, psychosocial dynamics, and also neurobiology. Education includes a hybrid background in both nursing and psychiatry. Their skills are typically in high demand, which creates strong compensation and also excellent career flexibility.
Ranking The Best Online MSN in Psychiatric Mental Health Degrees
The editors at TopRN began with a thorough list of all nursing schools that offer MSN Psychiatric Mental Health degree programs. From there, we focused on schools with a fully online or hybrid degree program. We then ranked the schools based on Salary, Reputation, and the Cost of Tuition. Finally, we use data from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and Niche.
1. The Ohio State University
The College of Nursing at The Ohio State University offers an online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing. The OSU traditional Master of Science in Nursing program (MSN) with an academic specialty of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is among the top programs in the country. Students can take the program either online or on-campus. Graduate nurses are qualified to provide mental health services and addiction services in various settings to both adults and children. In addition, Nurses completing the specialty are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center PMHNP certification exam. Featured classes for OSU’s online MSN Mental Health nurse practitioner degree include assessment and management of child and adolescent mental health issues, neuroscience principles, concepts, and also psychopharmacology.
Ohio State University is in Columbus. The prestigious university is classified as a Public Ivy because its academic excellence is close to an Ivy League school.
Ohio State University’s College of Nursing was established in 1914, about four decades after the school. OSU’s nursing school has been CCNE accredited for more than twenty years.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
2. University of Missouri
The Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri offers one of the best online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing in both Missouri and the country. The Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialty track prepares students to sit for the ANCC certification exam for PMHNP Across the Lifespan. In addition to the 43-credits of online coursework, students also fulfill 720 clinical hours. Graduates of the program are qualified to deliver primary mental health care to individuals of all ages. Most students take either two or four years to complete the program depending on the track.
The University of Missouri Columbia opened in 1839 and is also the flagship of the University of Missouri System. Founded a few years after the turn of the 20th century, the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing (SSON) is a top-tier institution of higher education at the national level. Both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs in nursing from Mizzou have received accreditation from CCNE.
Degree: MS(N) – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
3. University of Mississippi Medical Center
The School of Nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) offers an online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing that prepares students for a full spectrum of nursing care. The Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track is available in multiple formats. Coursework for this online 46-credit MSN program integrates the areas of pharmacological treatment, patient therapy, and also assessment skills. Furthermore, it includes a limited on-campus intensive two times each semester. In addition, degree candidates can sit for the national certification exam ANCC offers.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is Mississippi’s only Level One trauma center and the state’s only academic health science center. In addition to the nursing school, UMMC also houses six other health science schools. The School of Nursing has been serving the residents of Jackson and Mississippi since 1948. The nursing programs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center have accreditation from the CCNE.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track
4. University of North Dakota
The College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines at the University of North Dakota offers one of the best online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing programs available. The UND online Psychiatric Mental Health (PMH) Nurse Practitioner (NP) Master of Science (MS) program is among the only graduate nursing program in the mental health of its kind in the region. This program offers a No GRE/GMAT application, clinical placement assistance, and also three start dates each year. Graduates of UND’s PMH-NP program are qualified to sit for the national certification exam offered by ANCC. In addition, the students can complete the program in as few as eight semesters.
The University of North Dakota’s PMHNP program ranks among the best online programs by several higher education rating companies. In addition, the nursing programs provided by the UND’s Department of Nursing are CCNE accredited. UND’s nursing programs have been available for more than 100 years.
Degree: Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMH) Nurse Practitioner (NP) Master of Science (MS)
5. Indiana University at Purdue Indianapolis
The School of Nursing at Indiana University at Purdue offers an online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing. The IUPUI Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with an academic specialty in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) ranks among the leading online programs in Indiana and also the country. This online degree program from IUPUI requires 42 credit hours, plus 525 clinical hours. The online program is a 3-year plan but can be fulfilled in two years if pre-approved by the school. Note, however, a six-day lab requires in-person attendance that on-campus.
The Indiana University at Purdue School of Nursing programs has accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The nursing school opened in 1914, with the first male nurse graduating in 1967. In addition, the nursing department has five research centers, including end-of-life communication, enhancing quality of life, and cancer control, among others.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
6. Midwestern State University
The Robert D. and Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Service at Midwestern State University offer an online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing. The Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track is one of the most innovative programs in both Texas and the country. However, this psychiatric nurse practitioner online program from Midwestern State is only available with a Fall start date. Degree candidates must complete at least 48 credit hours, including a clinical specialty. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification exams. MSU’s PMH online program includes coursework in assessment and treatment and also pharmacological options to treat a wide variety of patients.
The Wilson School of Nursing at Midwestern State University offers CCNE accredited programs at various academic levels. The school became a Texas Tech University System member in September 2021. In addition, the nursing school maintains state-of-the-art simulation labs to ensure students are well-prepared.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track
7. Wayne State University
The College of Nursing at Wayne State University offers another one of the best online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing degrees. The WSU Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with an academic track for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) prepares students to sit for the ANCC PMH-NP certification exam. Degree candidates are required to complete a minimum of 52 credit units. Featured classes include theoretical foundations for nursing, advanced physiology and pathophysiology across the lifespan, and also the effects of drugs and alcohol. The clinical courses for this degree must begin after the student has at least one year of psychiatric mental health experience as an RN.
Wayne State University is a public university in Detroit. The school opened in 1868 and is also the third-largest university in Michigan. Wayne State’s College of Nursing was established in the mid-1940s and has been a leader in nursing education for more than seven decades.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
8. University of South Carolina
The College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina offers an online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing. The USC Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) with a specialty track for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners is among the nation’s leading online graduate nursing programs. Clinical requirements for this psychiatric nurse practitioner program can be met using telehealth delivery to rural patients. In addition, the academic coursework components are available entirely online. The minimum credits required for graduation are 47, which students typically complete in eight semesters. Graduates of this PMH-NP program are qualified to sit for the ANCC’s psychiatric nurse practitioner national certification exam.
The Nursing College at the University of South Carolina was chartered in 1942 and accredited in the late 1950s. Since then, the school has graduated more than 10,000 nursing professionals. In addition, the nursing program is offered on USC’s multiple campuses in the state.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track
9. Saint Louis University
The Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University offers one of the best online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing. The Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) with an academic track for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMH-NP) is a recognized Missouri graduate program. Saint Louis University’s psychiatric nurse practitioner program requires at least 41 academic credit units. Coursework for the degree includes psychopharmacology, ecological approach to human behavior, family development, and also ethics in healthcare. In addition, students enrolled in SLU’s program must maintain a GPA of 3.00 in graduate classes.
Saint Louis University’s (SLU) Nursing School opened in the late 1920s and now offers top-ranked nursing programs at various levels. Programs are supported by cutting-edge simulation labs that provide valuable experience. In addition, SLU offered the first accelerated BSN program in the country in 1971.
Degree: MS Nursing: Nurse Practitioner – Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
10. University of Nevada Las Vegas
The School of Nursing at the University of Nevada Las Vegas offers one of the best online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing programs. The UNLV Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMH-NP) academic track requires degree candidates to complete 46-semester credits. Therefore, students enrolled in the program have up to sixty months to complete the program’s coursework. Some of the classes include family theory, diagnostic reasoning, clinical decision-making, psychopharmacology across the lifespan, and also clinical synthesis. In addition, those applying to this PMH-NP degree must have a minimum of 500 hours of direct care.
The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Nursing began in the mid-1960s with a two-year ADN program. Recognized as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, the school ranks among the nation’s best for both masters and doctoral programs.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMH-NP) track
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11. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences also has one of the best online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing programs. The MCPHS Master of Science in Nursing program specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (MSN PMHNP) is for licensed nurses. This graduate degree is one of New England’s best PMH nursing programs available. Students can complete the online program in two years, and there are also clinical rotations available in the student’s community. In addition, the forty-five credit degree features classes in telemedicine, counseling, and pharmacology.
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences opened in 1823. It is both the largest and second oldest pharmacy college in the country. The school maintains satellite campuses in Worcester and Manchester, New Hampshire. In addition, MCPHS is a member school of the Colleges of Fenway that facilitates college collaboration with four other local schools.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
12. Ohio University
Ohio University offers an online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing that trains nurses to provide mental health services. The school’s Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with an academic track of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner ranks among the leading programs in Ohio and also the country. This graduate nursing degree requires 500 clinical hours and 38-semester credits across six semesters. Applicants to this nursing program are not required to submit scores for GMAT or GRE for approval. Coursework covers the topics of therapeutic modalities, psychotherapy, and also mental health assessment. This master’s nursing degree has only one admittance date each calendar year.
Ohio University’s College of Health Sciences and Professions offers CCNE accredited programs at the master’s and also doctoral levels. In addition, Ohio University is a Yellow-Ribbon School and ranked among the top nursing schools for veterans.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track
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13. Georgia State University
Developed for working nurse professionals, Georgia State University offers an online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing degree. The GSU online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an academic specialty of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is a 48-credit program. Students can complete all of the coursework entirely online and the clinical components in their home community. Health problems in adults, theories of psychiatric nursing, and psychiatric case management are some of the core concentration classes.
The Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions at Georgia State University is the only nursing school in the state that offers a variety of nursing programs both online and on-campus. The most recent APRN exam scores are an impressive 96%. In addition, of the nearly 2,000 students attending classes at the College of Nursing, about 85% are female.
Degree: MSN in Psychiatric Mental Health
14. University of South Alabama
Among Alabama’s top psychiatric nurse practitioner programs is the University of South Alabama’s online MSN. The school’s Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with an academic concentration of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is for nurses with a BSN. Students must complete a minimum of forty-five credit hours within five years. In addition to the online coursework, students must also complete 600 clinical hours. Featured coursework for this APRN degree in mental health includes an introduction to family psychology, evidence-based practice, advanced nursing assessment, plus three practicums.
The University of South Alabama’s College of Nursing was founded in 1973, about a decade after South Alabama held its first classes. The university offers nursing programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and also doctoral levels that have received CCNE accreditation. Approximately 4,000 students attend courses from the University of South Alabama’s College of Nursing, with more than 13,000 nursing professional graduates worldwide.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
15. Seton Hall University
With an academic specialty in Psychiatric Mental Health for Nurse Professionals, the MSN program, offered by Seton Hall University, ranks as the Garden State’s best online psychiatric nurse practitioner program. Degree candidates enrolled in this must complete a minimum of 49-semester units over 36 months. Featured coursework for this PMHNP program includes advanced assessment and decision making across the lifespan, clinical pharmacology, the theoretical basis of nursing, and also four nursing practicums.
Seton Hall’s nursing school began in the 1930s and is a nationally recognized leader in nursing education. In addition, the school offered the first bachelor of nursing program in New Jersey. The College of Nursing at Seton Hall University offers CCNE accredited nursing degrees across various academic levels.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
16. Northern Kentucky University
The Northern Kentucky University MSN in Psychiatric Nursing is available entirely online. Students enrolled in the NKU Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) can choose a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) academic specialty. The Northern Kentucky program requires 46-semester units completed and takes most students two years or less to complete. In addition, NKU’s graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC Psych-Mental health NP certification exam. This PMH program offers students six start dates and also classes delivered in seven-week accelerated formats. Featured courses include psychotherapy psychopharmacology, a capstone, and four clinical practicums.
CCNE accredited nursing programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and also doctoral levels are available at the Northern Kentucky University Nursing School. In addition, NKU is a top online institution for higher education.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
17. Old Dominion University
Another of the best online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing programs comes from the Old Dominion University School of Nursing. The school’s Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner academic track ranks among Virginia’s leading online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs. The Old Dominion PMHNP program also requires both on-campus visits once per semester and a minimum of 504 clinical hours. Students can complete the clinical components in their home community while the coursework is delivered entirely online. Featured classes from Old Dominion University’s mental health nursing graduate degree include physical assessment, health promotion and maintenance, psychotherapy and differential diagnosis, and ethical concepts, plus two related practicums.
The Nursing School at Old Dominion University was established in the late 1960s, several decades after ODU became an independent school. After ten years of accreditation approvals, the nursing school has received full NLN accreditation.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track
18. Lewis University
College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Lewis University offers an MSN in Psychiatric Nursing both online and at the Oak Brook location. Students can also complete the Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) with an academic emphasis on Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner online as an APRN certificate. Master’s degree candidates must complete 49 credit units and 540 clinical experience hours. Core classes include psychiatric diagnosis, healthcare informatics, and pharmacology.
Lewis University’s CCNE accredited nursing programs are recognized as leading programs for both men in nursing and veterans. Lewis University has offered nursing programs in Illinois for more than four decades. The university trains nurses to work in nearby Chicago and surrounding communities.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
19. Tennessee Tech University
The Whitson-Hester School of Nursing at Tennessee Tech University offers a Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner emphasis. Tennessee Tech’s psychiatric nurse practitioner program is offered with an accelerated option for those with required experience or education. This PMH nurse practitioner program from Tennessee Tech requires the completion of 45 credit units, with 21 credits required for the mental health concentration. Sample classes include advanced pharmacology, health assessment, advanced family psychiatric nursing, and also a practicum and preceptorship.
Tennessee Tech University is a stem-oriented higher learning institution that also offers some of the best nursing education programs in Tennessee. TTU traces its roots to the University of Dixie, which started in 1909.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
20. McNeese State University
The McNeese State University offers a Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization. The program ranks among the leading Louisiana psychiatric nurse practitioner degrees. McNeese State’s forty-eight credit graduate degree in mental health requires the completion of both a thesis and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students have six years to complete MSU’s graduate degree for nursing professionals. Featured classes include advanced pharmacotherapeutics, psychotherapy, diagnostic consideration for psychiatric disorders, and also a culminating project.
McNeese State University’s nursing programs, offered through the College of Nursing and Health Professions, are have received accreditation from the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education. McNeese State was established in the late 1930s as a junior college. MSU reached university status in 1970.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
21. Wright State University
The College of Health, Education, and Human Services at Wright State University offers an online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing. The program’s academic track in Psychiatric Mental Health within its Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program (PMHNP) that is one of the country’s best online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs. WSU’s mental health graduate degree is available for applications on a rolling basis and prepares students to sit for the ANCC PMHNP national exam. In addition, the 46-credit unit program is primarily for working professionals who wish to pursue a psychiatry-related specialty.
Wright State University’s School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences offers CCNE accredited programs among the career prep offerings for health profession sectors. At the same time, the SNKHS formed in 2021, with many programs dating back to the 1960s.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
22. St. John Fisher College
St. John Fisher College offers a Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with an academic emphasis on Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The degree is available for working professionals as a part-time track. As one of the leading New York psychiatric nurse practitioner programs, St. John Fisher College’s graduate PMH degree requires fifty-three-semester credits. In addition, students also complete 600 clinical hours during the three-year program. Featured classes for this degree include psychopathology, diagnostic reasoning, and also complex systems and leadership. PMHNP specialty classes include foundations for psychiatric nursing, mental health nursing, neurobiology, and a practicum.
St. John Fisher College, located in upstate New York, was founded as a Catholic institution of higher education in the 1940s. The Wegman School of Nursing has received full accreditation from the CCNE and offers various on-campus and online nursing program options.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
23. Georgia College & State University
Georgia College & State University (GCSU Online) offers a Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) program with an academic emphasis on Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) that requires students to complete 39 online semester hours to meet program requirements. In addition, note that there is a lab immersion on campus for one week that is required. This mental health graduate degree from GCSU is available for both full-time and part-time students. Featured classes for Georgia College’s program include healthcare research, neurobiology, applied pharmacology, advanced nurse assessment clinical, and nursing theory, plus a variety of practicum and lab requirements.
The School of Nursing (SON) at Georgia College and State University offers bachelor’s programs approved by the State Board of Nursing and also master’s level nursing degrees that are CCNE accredited. GCSU began as an all-women school in the late 1880s but became a member of the state university system in 1932.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
24. Gonzaga University
The online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing available at Gonzaga University is a leading mental health graduate nursing program in the Pacific Northwest. The school’s Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) with an academic concentration regarding Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is available primarily online. Coursework for this 47-credit hour program is delivered online over nine semesters, with five on-campus visits required to graduate. In addition, through clinical rotations and practicums, students complete 660 clinical hours. Featured classes for Gonzaga’s PMH nurse practitioner program include psychopharmacology, advanced pharmacology, and also health assessment.
Gonzaga University’s School of Nursing and Human Physiology offers among its nursing programs a CCNE accredited psychiatric nurse practitioner program steeped in the Jesuit tradition. The MSN degree from Gonzaga also offers a nursing leadership or family nurse practitioner track.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration
25. Union University
The College of Nursing at Union University offers an online RN to MSN in Psychiatric Nursing. The Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Practitioner Track with a specialty in Psychiatric Mental Health prepares students to manage mental health issues across the human lifespan. This MSN in Psychiatric Nursing program from Union is ranked among the best programs in the nation. The on-campus components are available on three campuses in Jackson, Hendersonville, and also Germantown. Coursework for this program covers 46 credit units and also 560 clinical hours.
Union University is a private higher learning institution that opened in the 1820s with the nursing program beginning in the 1960s. Union University continues its religious affiliation with Tennessee Baptist Convention. The main campus is about an hour from Memphis and also two hours from Nashville.
Degree: MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization
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What is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are medical professionals who specialize in treating mental health disorders. Many choose to specialize further in child and adolescence, forensics, military-veteran, geriatrics, or psychotherapy. Their responsibilities include both assessing and diagnosing those patients who may be suffering from mental illnesses and substance abuse problems. Psychiatric nurse practitioners work within the psychotherapeutic realm and are authorized to prescribe medication to their patients. In addition, they help diagnose, create, and manage patient treatment plans.
A psychiatric mental health practitioner has the skills to provide a wide range of mental health care across the lifespan. They may work in rural or urban settings and also find rewarding careers in the below locations.
- State or Federal Medical Facilities
- Mental Health Centers
- Outpatient Clinics
- Private Practice
- Substance Abuse Programs
- Trauma Centers
- Prisons and Correctional Facilities
- Primary Care Offices
- Hospitals
Behavioral telehealth has grown at impressive rates recently. The new technology offers easy access to virtual mental health care, independent of their location.
What Does A Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Do?
PMH nurses are tasked with the responsibility to help others a sense of balance and well-being. This is accomplished through preventative strategies, treatment, and also patient education. The following details some effective techniques a PMH nurse may use to promote mental health and healing.
- Treat individuals & children who have been exposed to traumatic events.
- Work with ex-military members who are returning from combat missions.
- Assist the gerontology populations and with cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia.
- Work with teens as well adults who are currently living with serious mental illness.
- Counsel and Treat individuals who are in drug or alcohol recovery.
- Research and design interventions for those with suicidal ideation.
How Much Can You Make With a MSN in Psychiatric Nursing?
According to the federal statisticians at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 271,000 psychiatric nurse professionals working in 2020. Their combined median annual wage was $117,670, which calculates to $56.57/hour.
Job growth for a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner over the next decade (through 2030) is expected to increase by 45%. Significantly faster than the national average of 8%, this equates to more than 120,000 new psychiatric nurse professional jobs created over the next ten years.
States with the highest level of nurse practitioners in 2020 are listed below.
- California, with 15,100 nurse practitioners
- New York, with 14,850 nurse practitioners
- Texas, with 14,680 nurse practitioners, and
- Florida, with 13,010 nurse practitioners.
States with the highest nurse practitioner salaries –
- California, with an annual mean salary of $145,970
- New Jersey, with an annual mean salary of $130,890
- Washington, with an annual mean salary of $126,480, and
- New York, with an annual mean salary of $126,440
Is Becoming a Psych Nurse Practitioner Worth It?
A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner career can be quite rewarding. For those nursing professionals who have a career objective to work in mental health. With the many and varied nursing pathways, there are many opportunities to make a difference with a sector of the population truly in need.
In addition, the demand for a psychiatric nurse practitioner’s skill is strong and leads to a lucrative and fulfilling career. Remember that patients with mental health issues tend to need lifelong care as some disorders in the psychiatric realm are challenging to diagnose and maintain. This field tends to create long working hours, but those who wish to make a difference will find that earning a Psychiatric Mental Health graduate degree as a Nurse Practitioner is well worth the time, money, and effort.
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