Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Offer a Unique Approach to Mental Health Treatment
Mental and emotional health is essential to an individual’s overall well being. Unfortunately, many people still do not seek treatment for mental health issues because of the stigma that persists and perhaps a belief that treatment won’t help. The truth is most mental health illnesses can be treated successfully. If you have concerns about your own symptoms or are helping a friend or relative who may be experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or “just not feeling like themselves”, it is important to find a provider who will take the time to assess, educate and create a safe and comfortable environment for treatment. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses are trained to provide a holistic and comprehensive approach to treatment.
What is an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse?
Registered nurses who seek additional education and obtain a masters degree in their nursing specialty are Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs). Most people recognize APNs by different titles, such as Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist. Clinical training is integrated into the master’s program in psychiatric mental health nursing, which includes direct client care with supervision provided by Psychiatric APNs, Psychiatrists, and other licensed mental health professionals. APNs are trained in psychotherapy and pharmacology. Psychiatric APNs are eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Upon passing the exam, the ANCC certifies the APN as specialists in adult or child and adolescent psychiatric-mental health nursing and the credentials APRN, BC may be used meaning Board Certified. With this advanced certification APNs can obtain state licensure to prescribe medications and conduct psychotherapy. APNs have a “collaborative agreement” with a physician, with whom they periodically have case-consultations. It is important to note, however, that the APN is an independently licensed clinician, and is qualified to practice independently to offer comprehensive care to clients. In addition to functions performed at the basic nursing level, APNs assess, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders and other potential mental health problems.
Why choose an APN as my primary mental health provider?
One of the essential tenets of nursing education is to treat “the whole person.” This concept of treating body, mind and spirit is what makes nursing and psychiatric advanced practice nursing unique. Nurses are trained in therapeutic communication which encourages an open exchange of information between nurse and client. The resulting therapeutic alliance between the APN and client empowers the client to express more openly and honestly their feelings about symptoms and treatment choices. Together they develop an effective plan which engages the client in the active process of making changes in their patterns of thinking and relating to others, taking medications if appropriate and perhaps adopting a healthier lifestyle. APNs who take the holistic approach to care generally allow for more time in client sessions so that this therapeutic relationship can develop and the underlying cause of the “dis-ease” be identified, thus treating “more than the just the symptoms.”
Increasingly more people are choosing Advanced Practice Nurses as their primary, acute or specialty healthcare provider. In addition to being experts in their area of specialty, APNs deliver a unique blend of nursing and medical care by providing comprehensive, personalized assessment, education and treatment. The goal of treatment is always optimal wellness for the client.
Karen L. Gibble, APRN, BC and Lisa Toy, APRN, BC are board certified as psychiatric-mental health Clinical Nurse Specialists by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and licensed in the State of Delaware with prescriptive authority. They are co-founders of Advanced Treatment Options, LLC, a nurse-run practice dedicated to providing personalized, holistic care in a professional, accepting and understanding manner. For more information: Please visit www.advancedtreatmentoptions.com or call 1-800-211-1202 ext 17122.
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