How PMHNPs Bridge the Gap in Medical and Mental Healthcare

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are instrumental in helping health care facilities provide high-quality care to patients that can lead to optimum patient outcomes. However, their work isn’t confined to only caring for patients’ physical health. They also provide mental healthcare. Nurses who decide to focus their advanced nursing degree on mental health nursing can become psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide mental health care services to patients. This care is important to both their patients’ minds and bodies as mental health and physical health are correlated. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that conditions that impact individuals’ mental well-being, such as depression, can increase their risk of experiencing chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes. 

Diagnosing and treating patients’ mental health disorders can lead to them receiving more accurate health diagnoses, as some symptoms of mental health conditions may be misconstrued as stemming from physical conditions. For example, a person experiencing symptoms associated with a heart attack may actually be experiencing an anxiety attack. A PMHNP’s expertise can be vital to minimizing this confusion and getting patients the care they need.

The ability to engage in a more holistic approach to nursing may appeal to prospective nurse practitioners seeking to make a unique impact on a patient’s health. As the importance of good mental health becomes more widely understood, the impact PMHNPs can have will become even more significant.

The State of the American Mental Health Crisis

Mental health disorders and care are prominent issues in the United States. Mental Health America’s 2024 annual report on the state of mental health in the country highlights the prevalence of mental illnesses and disorders in the U.S. and the ongoing need for treatment resources. Here are some of the key figures presented in the report:

• Twenty-three percent of U.S. adults experienced a mental illness in the past year. This correlates to almost 60 million Americans.
• One in five American youth had at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year.
• Five percent of adults and 13% of youth experienced serious suicidal thoughts.
• Eighteen percent of American adults had a substance use disorder in the previous year, and 77% of them did not receive treatment.
• The ratio of people to mental health providers in the United States is 340-to-1.

This last data point highlights the need for qualified PMHNPs in healthcare. Psychiatric Services estimates some 35,000 PMHNPs are currently actively practicing in the United States. They represent a small, specialized slice of the total nurse practitioner population, which, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, is 385,000. While all nurse practitioners provide compassionate patient care, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners deliver a specific type of patient care that addresses patients’ mental health issues. 

With more nurses becoming PMHNPs, the ratio of patients to mental health providers can be improved, which can lead to more patients being able to receive the mental healthcare they need. It could also help health care facilities improve their patients’ outcomes.

The Importance of PMHNPs

PMHNPs don’t just provide specialized care to patients experiencing mental health disorders. Because the role is a collaborative one that bridges physical and mental health, they play a centralized role that can connect different aspects of patients’ care strategies. 

This means PMHNPs may be integral when it comes to transferring patients from inpatient to outpatient mental healthcare. Currently, there is a substantial gap between the two. According to a 2023 report published by Inseparable, only 34% of patients received follow-up care within 30 days of an inpatient or emergency mental health visit. Gaps this significant can disrupt the continuity of care patients need for effective long-term treatment, which may result in poor health outcomes.

In their collaborative and multifaceted role, PMHNPs can help mitigate these gaps by following up and managing the mental and physical health care needs of these patients.

Because PMHNPs are nurse practitioners, they can deliver comprehensive patient care efficiently. This is especially true in states that allow them full prescriptive authority since they can then prescribe medications independently and without physician approval. This capacity means PMHNPs can play a fundamental role in helping a health care facility bridge the gap between patients’ medical and mental healthcare.

Learn more about our Online MSN PMHNP 

What Does a PMHNP Do? 

Nurses may want to become PMHNPs to support and treat patients who are experiencing mental health issues and substance use disorders. To achieve this goal, they must first become familiar with the main facets of the role.

Because PMHNPs are nurse practitioners specializing in the care of patients with mental health concerns or behavioral issues, their duties feature elements of both nursing and psychiatric care. This allows them to create holistic care strategies that help patients improve their health and well-being. Because patients’ mental health can impact their physical health, PMHNPs’ duties can positively impact a patient’s mind and body.

PMHNPs’ Job Duties

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners may perform many duties that are similar to those of other nurse practitioners. These include assessing patients, diagnosing various health issues and working with physicians and other health care professionals to develop effective care strategies. They can also prescribe medications independently in states that allow full prescriptive authority. 

Assessment

PMHNPs perform assessments of their patients’ mental health. This can include their symptoms and any neurological dysfunctions, past traumas and developmental issues. This deep assessment allows PMHNPs to build a care delivery strategy specifically tailored to the patient’s mental health and behavioral health issues.

Collaboration

PMHNPs may work with physicians outside of their usual practice to develop strategies that will help their patients improve their mental health. This collaboration can help PMHNPs guide an individual to the resources they need to receive ongoing support for their mental health concerns.

Counseling

PMHNPs may also counsel patients and their families. This counseling can be with the patient and related to the patient’s mental health issues, or it can be with family members who need support coping with the patient’s mental health disorder.

Documentation

PMHNPs consistently document the progress of each of their patient’s care to ensure it is working as planned. This doesn’t just mean observing the patient to see if their behaviors or actions improve over time. It also involves tracking any potential behavioral or physical changes after a patient starts taking prescription medication. PMHNPs typically do this by referencing patients’ psychiatric and mental health histories. 

Education

PMHNPs can take on an educator role by helping patients and their families understand how to treat their behavioral or mental health disorders at home. By providing comprehensive advice, PMNHPs can help ensure patients consistently adhere to their care strategies outside of the medical environment. 

The Skills of a PMHNP

The complexity of a PMHNP’s role requires these professionals to have a broad skill set. While their medical knowledge provides the foundation they need, the right set of core competencies can enable these NPs to apply their knowledge effectively.

Evaluation

PMHNPs should be skilled at paying close attention to details so they can properly evaluate patients and detect potentially nuanced changes in their behaviors. This can work in conjunction with astute decision-making and critical thinking skills that can help them make treatment strategy adjustments that will not disrupt patients’ positive progress.

Communication

PMHNPs must also have well-developed communication skills. Because their job involves discussing important information with patients, their families and other health care professionals, they need to be able to speak clearly to avoid potential misinterpretations. PHMNPs also need to be able to listen closely as their patients discuss their concerns and experiences and express empathy and compassion to ensure patients feel heard and understood.

Technical Skills

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners should possess a wide range of technical skills to be able to accurately diagnose patients. This includes knowing how to handle medical equipment used for diagnostic treatment. Because they often work with other health care professionals, PMHNPs should also understand how to effectively use a facility’s computerized and cloud-based technologies, such as to access electronic health records (EHRs). They must also know how to interpret the medical code numbers that are used to designate a patient’s current condition and any previous diagnoses.

PMHNP Salary and Job Outlook

According to Payscale, the median annual salary for PMHNPs as of July 2024 is approximately $120,470. Several factors can influence a PMHNP’s actual salary, including their education level, years of experience and job location.

The future looks bright for those seeking advanced nursing roles such as PMHNP roles. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 45% job growth for all nurse practitioners, including PMHNPs, from 2022 to 2032. This is significantly faster than the average 3% job growth the BLS projects for all professions. The BLS notes that this level of growth is likely due to an increased focus on preventive care and the complex health needs of the aging population. 

Be a Bridge in Care Delivery

As the awareness of mental health disorders and treatment continues to grow, the importance of psychiatric mental health nurses and the work they do is growing. The specialized care they provide can help patients achieve mental well-being, which can lead to improved physical health. For those who are looking to move their nursing career in a unique direction, taking the steps to become a PMHNP can be the right choice.

Enrolling in one of Walsh University’s online PMHNP programs can help you gain the knowledge and skills you’ll need to be successful in the role. Our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate, BSN-DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Master of Science in Nursing — Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program can help you fortify your nursing knowledge as you work toward pursuing a PMHNP role.

Learn how we can help you get ready to make an important difference in the lives of others.

Recommended Readings

• Top Health Care Issues Faced by Today’s Nursing Leader
• The Top 9 Qualities of a Nurse Leader
• What Does a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Do?

Sources:

• American Association of Nurse Practitioners, “Nurse Practitioner Profession Grows to 385,000 Strong”
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners, State Practice Environment
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association, “Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Are Key to Addressing the Nation’s Mental Health Crisis”
• Frontiers in Psychiatry, “Physical Symptoms as Psychiatric Manifestations in Medical Spaces: A Qualitative Study”
• Indeed, “What Is a Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner?”
• Inseparable, “Access Across America”
• Mental Health America, “The State of Mental Health in America”
• National Institute of Mental Health, Understanding the Link Between Chronic Disease and Depression
• Payscale, Average Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary
• Psychiatric Services, “Inclusion of Psychiatric-Mental Health Advanced Practice Nurses in Federal Behavioral Workforce Planning”
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, 29-1171 Nurse Practitioners
• WebMD, “How Does Mental Health Affect Physical Health?”