Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses: Job Description
Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with mental health or substance use disorders or the potential for such disorders. Apply therapeutic activities, including the prescription of medication, per state regulations, and the administration of psychotherapy.
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What Do Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Perform?
Typical responsibilities of advanced practice psychiatric nurses include:
- Assess patients' mental and physical status, based on the presenting symptoms and complaints.
- Diagnose psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions.
- Document patients' medical and psychological histories, physical assessment results, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, or outcomes.
- Educate patients and family members about mental health and medical conditions, preventive health measures, medications, or treatment plans.
- Write prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by state regulations and collaborative practice agreements.
- Monitor patients' medication usage and results.
- Evaluate patients' behavior to formulate diagnoses or assess treatments.
- Distinguish between physiologically- and psychologically-based disorders, and diagnose appropriately.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective advanced practice psychiatric nurses rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- APN (Advanced Practice Nurse)
- Adult PMHNP (Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
- Adult Psychiatric Mental Health APRN (Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurse)
- Advanced Practice Provider (APP)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse
- Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (BC PMH-CNS)
- Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Family Psychiatric Mental Health NP)
- Mental Health Nurse
How Many Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Are There?
There are roughly 1,349,180 advanced practice psychiatric nurses working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +0.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $143,854 |
| Hourly median | $69.16 |
| 10th percentile | $88,967 |
| 25th percentile | $116,411 |
| 75th percentile | $171,298 |
| 90th percentile | $198,742 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,330 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $123,990 |
| Washington | $112,180 |
| Alaska | $110,690 |
| New York | $105,600 |
| District of Columbia | $104,550 |
| New Jersey | $102,730 |
| Nevada | $101,990 |
| Massachusetts | $101,970 |
| Connecticut | $101,590 |
| Minnesota | $100,870 |
| Rhode Island | $99,960 |
| Arizona | $96,890 |
| Maryland | $96,830 |
| New Hampshire | $96,830 |
| Colorado | $96,520 |
| Delaware | $92,610 |
| Texas | $90,010 |
| Virginia | $88,820 |
| New Mexico | $88,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,610 |
| Georgia | $86,560 |
| Illinois | $86,410 |
| Idaho | $86,100 |
| Wisconsin | $86,070 |
| Michigan | $85,670 |
| Vermont | $85,150 |
| Maine | $82,860 |
| Florida | $82,850 |
| Utah | $82,270 |
| North Carolina | $81,860 |
| Wyoming | $81,790 |
| Montana | $81,560 |
| Ohio | $81,250 |
| Oklahoma | $81,160 |
| Nebraska | $81,020 |
| Indiana | $80,740 |
| West Virginia | $79,990 |
| Kentucky | $79,910 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 |
| Missouri | $79,770 |
| Tennessee | $79,030 |
| Louisiana | $78,880 |
| North Dakota | $78,260 |
| Kansas | $78,060 |
| Arkansas | $77,130 |
| Iowa | $76,960 |
| Mississippi | $74,470 |
| Virgin Islands | $73,890 |
| Alabama | $71,040 |
| South Dakota | $69,510 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,780 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for advanced practice psychiatric nurses shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $132,415 | 14.5% | 0.87 |
| New England | $98,890 | 5.4% | 1.14 |
| Middle Atlantic | $98,793 | 15.7% | 1.04 |
| Southwest | $90,333 | 11.4% | 0.91 |
| Rocky Mountains | $89,709 | 3.3% | 0.84 |
| Great Lakes | $84,078 | 15.6% | 1.10 |
| Plains States | $84,012 | 7.7% | 1.13 |
| Southeast | $81,528 | 25.6% | 1.05 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $208,940 | 21,460 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $192,470 | 4,410 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $188,020 | 40,750 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $178,900 | 1,610 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $172,390 | 3,770 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $169,460 | 5,260 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $169,210 | 23,400 |
| Yuba City, CA | CA | $144,220 | 1,070 |
Which Industries Hire Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
The largest employers of advanced practice psychiatric nurses work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,790,380 | $93,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 134,180 | $95,870 |
| Educational Services | 89,070 | $74,360 |
| Finance and Insurance | 48,100 | $89,650 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 21,530 | $95,070 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 14,310 | $96,360 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 4,750 | $80,060 |
| Retail Trade | 4,500 | $94,880 |
Below are examples of industries where advanced practice psychiatric nurses work:
Software Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: SAS (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of advanced practice psychiatric nurses reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How to Become Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
Typical advanced practice psychiatric nurses positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (Primary-Long)
- Mental Health Counselors (Primary-Long)
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Physical Therapists (Supplemental)
- Registered Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Acute Care Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Critical Care Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Students preparing for advanced practice psychiatric nurses typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
21 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1141.02 (Registered Nurses).
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