Nursing specialisation options allow nurses to increase their earnings while focusing on niche aspects of health care that interest them the most. Mental health care is arguably one of the most difficult sides of the profession.
The patients don’t exactly get better. There’s also a higher degree of personal risk. Psychiatric nurses experience the highest level of physical and verbal abuse from their patients out of any other category in health care.
And yet more and more professionals are still choosing to go down that path. Why? In this article, we take a look at why psychiatric care practice areas continue to grow despite their challenges.
It’s Deeply Needed
The demand for psychiatric nursing professionals is incredibly high. Granted, high demand does not necessarily equal high interest on the part of people who are looking for their ideal nursing career path.
But nurses are, if nothing else, problem solvers, and they want to have a high impact on the communities that they are serving. Many people are recognizing, more than ever, that psychiatric positions are a great way to do that.
We mentioned in the introduction some of the reasons why there are so many more gaps in psychiatric care. The work really is harder than so many other types of nursing, and that is obviously saying quite a lot. Despite this, many people are seeing the critical need for psychiatric care and deciding to try and step in.
Part of the reason for this migration might also be the fact that mental health and wellness is taking on a bigger cultural importance.
People are routinely encouraged to evaluate their mental well-being and make choices that benefit their total wellness rather than just their physical condition.
Aspiring healthcare professionals who hear this message might also recognize their potential to contribute to the ever-improving culture surrounding mental health care.
Many Options
There are several ways to have a career as a psychiatric nursing professional. One of the most appealing for many people is that of the psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Nurse practitioners, for those who do not know, have many of the same responsibilities that have typically been reserved for doctors.
They can write prescriptions, make diagnoses, and help their patients plan on a more strategic, long-term level. It’s a vital role that both eliminates healthcare bottlenecks and provides nurses with a very fulfilling and lucrative path of employment.
Nurse practitioners make almost twice as much as nurses, and they contribute to their communities at a very high level.
Do note that the salary will depend on location. For example, how much do nurses make in NC? Well, the average RN makes around $72,000.
The average nurse practitioner makes $162,000. By contrast, California RNs make $125,000, while nurse practitioners there can make closer to $200,000.
You might think, why aren’t all the nurses going to California? It’s because the cost of living is much higher.
They’re making more on paper, but in terms of quality-of-life considerations, they’re more or less equal—or maybe even slightly behind—nurses working in other parts of the country. Regardless, there are lots of ways to contribute to the mental health scene as a nurse, and all of them come with competitive salaries.
The Work is Fulfilling
In the introduction, we mentioned that patients receiving psychiatric care don’t always get better. That’s true of many mental illnesses, which are often manageable but not curable.
It can be difficult for any healthcare professional to work with people who aren’t visibly improving. Gerontology nurses face a similar challenge. But it’s always important to remember that even if a patient isn’t curable, they are still capable of progress—or at least stability.
No matter how bad things are when they meet you, they’re better for the experience they have with your care. In that way, psychiatric nursing is deeply meaningful: your job is to offer hope to people who may have spent a long time feeling hopeless.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Psychiatric Nurse?
It does depend on specialisation. Nurses will often come into contact with patients requiring psychiatric care. Even the most entry-level RN positions—hospitals, after all, serve everyone—and psychiatric patients often experience other health complications relating to neglect caused by their condition.
However, to become a psychiatric professional at a high level, say that of a nurse practitioner, you may need to go to graduate school. This typically takes two to three years, though there are endless variations to the timeline.
For example, some people are able to bundle their graduate studies with their undergraduate work while they are still in college. In doing so, they often complete both degrees in five years.
On the other hand, some people will work on their graduate degree while also holding down a regular nursing job. These people could easily spend five or six years getting their degree. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how long you take as long as you get the certification.
Interested in Becoming a Psychiatric Nurse?
If you’re ready to join the important and meaningful world of psychiatric nursing, there are several ways to earn your credential, even with a packed schedule. Online learning is a great option for those balancing other responsibilities, like a job or family. It’s also a good fit for anyone looking for more flexibility and control over their time.
Many online classes are self-paced, often featuring pre-recorded lectures and assignments you can complete on your own schedule, as long as you meet the deadlines. If that sounds a little too unstructured for your taste, there are also virtual programs that follow a more traditional format, with scheduled class meetings, live lectures, and even group work. These give you the structure of a classroom without requiring you to be physically present.
Of course, many brick-and-mortar schools also offer psychiatric nursing programs. But for students who don’t live within easy driving distance of a good school, the online route can be especially valuable. Ultimately, the most important factor is choosing a fully licensed and accredited program that fits your lifestyle. The best path is the one you can stick with.
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