Psychiatric nursing dates back to the end of the 1800s, when mental health hospitals wanted patients to have access to nursing care, according to Nursesource.org. Psychiatric nursing provides patients and their families with the resources to identify, treat and prevent mental health problems.

Function

Psychiatric nursing ensures that mental health patients receive daily care, monitoring, counseling, education and companionship to ensure emotional and mental stability.

Types

Psychiatric nurses can specialize in child to adolescent nursing, substance abuse nursing, forensic nursing and geropsychiatric nursing, according to Apna.org.

Features

Psychiatric nurses develop and carry out plans made specially for mental health patients, typically in the patient's home, a residential unit or a hospital. They also diagnose and treat disorders. Psychiatric nursing requires nurses to be caring, trusting and encouraging.

Education

Psychiatric nurses can have an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree or doctorate degree in nursing or mental health nursing. Education varies by job, but all psychiatric nurses graduate with a background in psychology, biology, chemistry, sociology and pharmacology. All psychiatric nurses must at least be a registered nurse (RN), but certain roles may require a more advanced degree.

Expert Insight

Entry-level psychiatric nurses earn an average yearly wage of $35,000 a year, while nurses with more education and experience earn around $60,000 a year, according to Apna.org.

Source:

Nurse Source

About Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses

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Prospects: Mental Health Nurses