psych 1

Starting in the 1950s with the seminal work of two psychiatric nurses, June Mellow (1968) and Hildegard Peplau (1952), psychiatric nursing has been a well-established, well-recognized sub-specialty of nursing. The emergence of the psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) role ref l ects the growth of the advanced practice role, the acceptance of a brain-based etiology of psychiatric disorders, and an awareness of the need to provide holistic nursing care that does not artif i cially separate mind and body (Stuart, 2013).

The PMHNP role is built on fundamental, core advanced practice knowledge common to all nurse practitioners. This base of knowledge is expanded to include the very specif i c knowledge of the subspecialty of psychiatry. This chapter reviews the role of the PMHNP , the scope of prac-tice, and the regulatory process.

Advanced practice nurses specializing in psychiatry are educationally prepared at the master’s or doctoral level, possess in-depth knowledge and skills in the specialty area, and provide pri-mary psychiatric care to individuals or families at risk for or currently experiencing a psychiatric disorder.

Np core competencies i cludeScientif i c Foundations X Leadership X QualityPractice Inquiry X Technology and Information Literacy X Policy X Health Delivery System X Ethics X Independent Practice

Quality Competencies X Evaluates the appropriate uses of seclusion and restraints in the care process Policy Competencies X Employs opportunities to inf l uence health policy to reduce the impact of stigma on services for prevention and treatment of mental health problems and psychiatric disorders Independent Practice Competencies X Develops age-appropriate treatment plans X Includes differential diagnosis X Assesses impact of acute and chronic medical problems on psychiatric treatment X Conducts individual and group psychotherapy X Applies supportive psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, and other evidence-based psychotherapies to brief and long-term practice X Applies recovery-oriented principles X Demonstrates best practices of family care approaches X Plans care to minimize the development of complications and promote function X Treats acute and chronic psychiatric disorders and problems The NP role was introduced in 1965 by Loretta C. Ford, EdD, and Henry K. Silver, MD, at the University of Colorado (Mirr Jansen & Zwygart-Stauffacher, 2006). They identif i ed new roles in which experienced registered nurses (RNs) with advanced education and skills were perform-ing clinical duties traditionally reserved for physicians. Universities were slow to implement NP programs at the master’s level. However, RNs embraced the new role and rushed into continuing education programs of varying length, quality, and focus to accomplish the necessary educa-tional preparation for this new role.