Job Opportunities for PMHNP grads

The United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis, and additional resources are key for slowing it down. In 2021, one in five US adults experienced some form of mental illness. For 14.1 million people, that mental illness was considered serious or life-threatening.

At the same time, the US is experiencing a crisis-level shortage of primary care and mental health care providers. The gap between available providers and people who need care is growing wider by the year, especially in rural areas. By 2024, industry insiders project that there will be a shortage of up to 31,000 psychologists.

When this increasing demand for mental health care is combined with a decreasing supply of psychiatrists and psychologists, people who need treatment can’t get it. In 2019, nearly one-quarter of adults with a mental health condition reported that their treatment needs were not being met.

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, also known as PMHNPs, may be part of the solution to this problem. Since psychiatric nurse practitioners are healthcare or nursing professionals who are authorized to diagnose conditions, create treatment plans, and prescribe medication, they can provide quality treatment to people who need mental health services. Individuals considering a career as a PMHNP should know that the job opportunities for PMHNPs continue to increase.

Let’s take a look at what PMHNPs do, how they serve their communities, and some of the job opportunities that are specifically geared toward psychiatric nurse practitioners.

What is a PMHNP?

A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed specialized, graduate-level coursework in treating mental health conditions. They must have an active RN license, a master’s degree in mental healthcare as an NP, complete hours of clinical education hours in the field, and pass an exam called the PMHNP-BC to earn this credential.

Like other types of nurse practitioners, certified PMHNPs can provide primary care services across the lifespan. While they typically focus on providing mental health services, they can be considered primary care providers.

PMHNPs are qualified to:

• Assess patients and diagnose health conditions
• Create and oversee treatment plans for patients
• Provide emergency psychiatric care to patients in crisis
• Prescribe medication and monitor patient response
• Refer patients to other specialists
• Integrate with or work alongside primate care providers
• Provide talk therapy, substance abuse counseling, and other mental health interventions

In some states, PMHNPs have what’s called a “full” scope of practice. In others, they have a “reduced” scope of practice. As of 2023, 27 US states have awarded nurse practitioners full practice authority.

These regulations basically come down to whether or not a PMHNP can operate their own practice or whether they need an ongoing written agreement with a practicing physician who regularly reviews their patient records. In some states, PMHNPs are also restricted in how long they can prescribe certain medications.

As the primary care provider shortage continues to escalate, it stands to reason that even more states will pass legislation to expand what nurse practitioners are authorized to do. Nursing professionals who focus on mental health make a convincing argument that removing scope of practice barriers and expanding opportunities for nurses to take the lead in mental health care would take significant strain off of the healthcare infrastructure.

What is the job outlook for a PMHNP graduate?

Nurse practitioners are one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. Job openings for nurse practitioners are projected to increase by 38% within the next ten years, which would be an increase of 123,600 additional jobs.

One recent paper estimates that psychiatric mental health RNs and PMHNPs make up the second-largest group of behavioral health professionals in the United States. This same data set indicated that a large percentage of these nurses are nearing retirement age and will soon exit the workforce. This will leave job openings that need to be filled.

Nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists earn an average mean wage of $125,900 annually, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners puts this number a bit higher, with survey results from real NPs putting the average salary at around $137,000.

Your pay can vary according to your experience as well as your location. California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Nevada are the five highest-paying states for nurse practitioners. In those states, an NP’s average salary is over $135,000 per year.

What are some job opportunities specific for psychiatric NPs?

A majority of nurse practitioners work in physician’s offices. This can be an option for PMHNPs, but there are also plenty more job opportunities. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, behavioral health/substance use disorder clinics, private NP practices, and psychiatric mental health facilities are the three most common workplaces for PMHNPs.

Potential career paths for a psychiatric nurse practitioner include:

• Private practice. Many nurse practitioners in states where they have full scope of practice choose to open their own practice. Group therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, and individual therapy are all services that might be offered by a PMHNP.
• University counselor or mental health specialist. The mental health needs of young people and college-aged students are especially staggering. Counseling centers at colleges, universities, and some secondary schools are hiring PMHNPs to connect their students with the help they need.
• Psychiatric nurse practitioner preceptor. On a separate note, qualified PMHNPs may teach at institutions of higher learning or at teaching hospitals as faculty members.
• VA mental health nurse practitioner. PTSD, depression, and substance use disorder are just some of the mental health conditions that military and veteran communities often encounter. Substance abuse treatment specialist.
• Substance abuse treatment facilities, both inpatient and outpatient, are places where people go to get help with substance use disorder. PMHNPs who work in these settings may administer group therapy, individual therapy, trauma counseling, medication, and more.
• Inpatient psychiatric nurse practitioner. An inpatient facility can be a place where patients who are experiencing a mental health crisis are cared for safely and compassionately. These facilities often need NPs who are trauma-informed and who can administer emergency care as well as prescribe medications.
• Psychiatric nurse practitioner at a community health center. These types of NPs will be highly skilled in crisis intervention, patient stabilization, and case management. PMHNPs who work at community health centers are part of a team of NPs and other healthcare professionals who are all working toward the same goal: the health of the community. These jobs also provide a way for marginalized or underestimated people to get access to mental healthcare they would not have had otherwise.
• Behavioral health nurse practitioner in a hospital setting. NPs who see mental health patients in a hospital setting may need to assess, diagnose, and provide treatment to a wide variety of patient demographics, from pediatrics to older adults.

Any of these types of care could be done in person, but there are also ample opportunities for PMHNPs in the fast-growing field of telehealth.

How do you become a PMHNP?

Psychiatric nurse practitioners are RNs who have acquired additional training with a concentration on mental health. These advanced-practice nursing programs take two to three years to complete and require some experience in the nursing field before you can begin.

A Master’s of Nursing program that focuses on the PMHNP credential will also require several hundred hours of clinicals and prepare you well for the PMHNP-BC Certification exam.

If you already have your RN, you could be less than three years away from starting your first job as a PMHNP. Our fully-accredited program takes place completely online, except for clinicals and one brief on-campus residency. Clinical placement services are available so that you can concentrate on your coursework.

To learn more, reach out to an admissions counselor about the PMHNP program at Wilkes.