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Working Psychiatric Nurses must be to provide assistance to patients suffering from mental illness or by assessing their mental health needs, the administration of medicine and help patients cope with the disease. Psychiatric nurses need at least an associate degree in Nursing (AND) and licensure as a registered nurse (RN) from their state board of nursing.

Career Definition for a Psychiatric Nurse

Work of psychiatric nurses in family medicine and nursing homes, clinics and psychiatric hospitals, where they have taken medicine and treatment of patients suffering from mental illness, distress or disability. Psychiatric Nurses may also provide daily assistance, such as serving meals and helping patients to dress or bathe. With advanced training, nurses and psychiatric nurses can help with crisis intervention and family and conduct behavioral therapy sessions or to teach at university level.

How to Become a Psychiatric Nurse

Required Education for a Career in Psychiatric Nursing

An associate degree in Nursing (ADN) may be adequate for a career in Psychiatric Nursing, but a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialty in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing will provide more opportunities for advancement. A Psychiatric Nurse also must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to earn state licensure as a registered nurse (RN). Additionally, specialty certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing is available from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (www.nursecredentialing.org). Courses for Psychiatric Nursing students may include child development psychopathology, clinical pharmacology and family psychotherapy.

Required Skills for a Career as a Psychiatric Nurse

Psychiatric nurses must be prepared to work with patients who are uncooperative, disoriented or aggressive. They must also be able to meet the physical demands of work. Psychiatric nurses should be on their feet all day, and some health care providers require that psychiatric nurses be able to lift a minimum of 90 pounds.
Like all professions of nursing, the demand for nurses and psychiatric nurses is expected to increase in coming years as the shortage of all registered nurses of the baby boom is nearing the age of retirement (www.allnursingschools.com). Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide clear statistics of income for a psychiatric nurse, but the median annual income for registered nurses in 2006 was $ 57,280 (www.bls.gov).