| Nursing is a career that is always in great demand and | | | | Though it is a long and difficult road, all of the hard |
| one that offers almost endless possibilities. In fact, | | | | work eventually pays off. According to national |
| there has been a general shortage of qualified nurses | | | | statistics, the average psychiatric nurse earns about |
| for several years now, which means that nursing | | | | $75,000 per year in the United States. However, this |
| school graduates often have no problem at all securing | | | | average salary does vary from state to state. For |
| employment. This is especially true of the most highly | | | | example, psychiatric nurses tend to be in much greater |
| trained nurses-psychiatric nurses. | | | | demand on the West Coast than in the Mid West, and |
| Though their educational requirements differ slight from | | | | therefore they can demand higher salaries. And like |
| country to country, psychiatric nurses are professionals | | | | other nurses, psychiatric nurses often receive fantastic |
| who work in an outpatient mental health clinic, a | | | | health and retirement benefits. |
| hospital, a private practice or in a community health | | | | Private Practice |
| center. It is their responsibility to care for patients who | | | | Unlike ordinary nurses, psychiatric nurses are afforded |
| have serious mental conditions, psychiatric disorders or | | | | a lot of freedom in their jobs with regard to where |
| substance abuse issues. Though their skills and training | | | | they can practice. In many states in America, a |
| varies, all psychiatric nurses are licensed to manage | | | | psychiatric nurse is even permitted to own his or her |
| patient care, develop treatment plans and to provide | | | | own practice. |
| emergency psychiatric services. The most | | | | Responsibilities |
| highly-trained psychiatric nurses can serve as | | | | Psychiatric nurses work with individuals, families and |
| counselors and even prescribe medications. | | | | groups in an effort to assess mental health needs, |
| Schooling | | | | make diagnoses and plan treatments. Nurses who |
| A psychiatric nurse must have at least six years of | | | | have achieved the standard level of education in the |
| college education and on the job training. To begin with, | | | | psychiatric field often work in the same capacity as |
| a nurse must obtain a four-year college degree in | | | | any other nurse. They keep a close eye on the patient |
| nursing, although there are special programs that are | | | | and record any changes in behavior or side effects |
| designed for people who got into nursing late and do | | | | the patient may be experiencing due to new |
| not have an undergraduate college degree in nursing. | | | | medication. |
| After they complete their Bachelors degree in nursing, | | | | On the other hand, nurses who receive advanced |
| candidates must take the NCLEX-RN test, which if | | | | degrees can become what are known as advanced |
| they pass will grant them a license as a registered | | | | practice nurses. These psychiatric nurses often have |
| nurse. When they pass the test, a graduate must then | | | | many of the same tasks and responsibilities as |
| complete an accredited Masters Degree program, | | | | doctors. They can directly treat psychiatric disorders |
| which must include at least 600 clinical hours. This | | | | by providing counseling and even prescribing |
| means that nurses are required to spend at least 600 | | | | medications. Advanced psychiatric nurses are also |
| hours in local hospitals gaining valuable experience | | | | often qualified to offer services in hospitals, homes and |
| before that are officially licensed and allowed to work. | | | | private practices. |